Cascade Campground is a popular and relaxing place to stake a tent in central Colorado. The campground is located below the Collegiate Peaks between Salida and Buena Vista. To find the campground, take U.S. 285 south from Buena Vista for about 15 miles, then head west on County Road 162 for 9.5 miles. The 21-site camping area is located just beyond tumbling Cascade Falls in Chalk Creek Canyon, named for its chalky white kaolinite walls. Restrooms and water are provided, and firewood is available for purchase. RVs are welcome, and some sites are handicap accessible. The campground is heavily used, and reservations are highly recommended.
Pro Tips
Visit recreation.gov at least 4 days in advance of your visit to make a reservation. You’re required to book both Friday and Saturday nights for a weekend reservation, while a three-day minimum is required for holiday weekends; walk-up campers are exempt. The campground typically opens May through September; check with the Salida Ranger District office at 719-539-3591 for exact dates. A maximum of eight people are allowed in each side, along with two tents and two vehicles or one RV.Spend a relaxing day or two soaking at nearby Mount Princeton Hot Springs. The privately owned resort features a variety of natural hot springs pools alongside Chalk Creek, as well as other spa and leisure options.Check out neighboring St. Elmo, one of the best preserved ghost towns in the state. Founded in 1880 and once home to 2,000 residents, the town was abandoned after the collapse of the Colorado mining boom. Many important structures still stand today.Chalk Creek offers lots of clear, cold water filled with brown and rainbow trout for fishermen. Much of the creek has public access, although some sections are private. Lots of big trout are found in the creek’s North Fork above St. Elmo, as well as up the South Fork and Pomeroy and Hancock lakes.Recommended season(s): Summer.
—Brett Green & Stewart M. Green
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