Cascade Campground

Twenty-one single-family campsites rest within a dense forest of Douglas fir and aspen, standing at an elevation of 9,000 feet inside Chalk Creek Canyon. Each site includes a picnic table and a campfire ring, with vault toilets and drinking water available for guests. Firewood sold on-site helps visitors adhere to the "Don't Move Firewood" rule, preventing the spread of tree-killing organisms. The campground sits near Cascade Falls and offers easy access to Chalk Creek, which flows eastward from the Collegiate Peaks before joining the Arkansas River. Stream fishing is particularly strong above Cascade Falls, while nearby Chalk Lake provides family-friendly angling for rainbow, brook, and brown trout. Off-road vehicle enthusiasts can explore recommended routes such as Mount Antero, Baldwin Lake, Tincup Pass, Hancock Pass, Pomeroy Lakes, and Hancock Lakes. Hikers utilize the Colorado Trail, The Narrow Gauge trail, and the Cascade Loop Trail, which runs across from Chalk Lake Campground. The facility operates with a mix of reservable sites and walk-up, first-come, first-served spots, including Site #1 used by the host from mid-May to Labor Day weekend. Visitors often combine their stay with a short drive to Salida and Buena Vista for dining, art galleries, and antique shops, or take a 15-minute trip to the historic ghost town of St. Elmo to see its old saloon and county courthouse. The area features more than 100 miles of the Arkansas River for rafting, fishing, and kayaking, along with fifteen 14,000-foot mountains. A private hot springs resort lies within five miles, offering rest and relaxation after a day in the high country.