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Colorado › Custer County › San Isabel National Forest

Ponderosa Group Campground

Open

Open seasonally from early May through late September, weather dependent. Reservation required via Recreation.gov at least 4 days in advance. The campground closed September 2, 2025 for a toilet replacement project.

Air Quality Alert issued July 20 at 4:10PM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO

4:10 PM — July 21st, 9:00 AM

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has issued the following... WHAT...Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke. WHERE...Custer and southwestern Pueblo Counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Westcliffe, Rye, Beulah, and Colorado City. WHEN...900 AM Monday July 20 to 900 AM Tuesday July 21 IMPACTS...Moderate to heavy smoke from the Aspen Acres Fire is possible throughout the advisory area through at least Tuesday morning. HEALTH INFORMATION...Public Health Recommendations: Increasing likelihood of respiratory symptoms in sensitive individuals, aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in people with cardiopulmonary disease and older adults. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.

Air Quality Alert issued July 20 at 9:10AM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO

9:10 AM — July 21st, 9:00 AM

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has issued the following... WHAT...Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke. WHERE...Custer and southwestern Pueblo Counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Westcliffe, Rye, Beulah, and Colorado City. WHEN...900 AM Monday July 20 to 900 AM Tuesday July 21 IMPACTS...Moderate to heavy smoke from the Aspen Acres Fire is possible throughout the advisory area through at least Tuesday morning. HEALTH INFORMATION...Public Health Recommendations: Increasing likelihood of respiratory symptoms in sensitive individuals, aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in people with cardiopulmonary disease and older adults. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.

San Isabel National Forest

Wheeled Vehicles in Wilderness

This order describes the prohibition of wheeled vehicles in all National Forest Wilderness Areas of the Rocky Mountain Region and any exceptions thereof.

About

Ponderosa Group Campground is a developed group facility within the Lake Isabel Recreation Area in south-central Colorado's San Isabel National Forest. The campground sits at 8,600 feet elevation where the shoreline of Lake Isabel meets the rocky base of the Wet Mountains, surrounded by shady ponderosa pine and aspen trees. The single group site can accommodate up to 60 overnight guests and 28 vehicles, making it well-suited for family reunions, scout troops, and other organized gatherings. The campground provides a covered picnic shelter seating 25-30 people, a group-sized charcoal grill, and eight individual campfire rings distributed throughout the site. Vault toilets with accessible features, drinking water from a hand pump, and dumpsters for trash disposal are available. A horseshoe pit and volleyball court offer on-site recreation. Lake Isabel is stocked with brown and brook trout and popular for kayaking and canoeing (no motorized boats). St. Charles Creek nearby offers additional brook trout fishing. The area provides access to motorized trails including Cisneros, St. Charles, and Snowslide trails for OHV enthusiasts, plus a scenic hiking trail along the lake shore.

Directions

From Pueblo, go 25 miles south on I-25 to exit 74. Head west 18 miles on State Highway 165. Turn into the south entrance at Lake Isabel, drive 1 mile, and follow signs to Ponderosa Group Campground.

Nearby Campgrounds

Spruce Group Campground 0.1mi St. Charles Campground 0.3mi St Charles Campground - Lake Isabel 0.5mi La Vista Campground 0.8mi Spruce Group - Lake Isabel 0.9mi Ponderosa Group - Lake Isabel 0.9mi La Vista Campground - Lake Isabel 0.8mi Southside Campground - Lake Isabel 0.9mi Southside Campground 1.1mi

Amenities

Water Yes
Fires Allowed Yes
Toilets Yes
Dump Station No
Wifi —
Pets Allowed Yes
Showers No
Electric Hookups —
Water Hookups —
Sewer Hookups —
Camp Store —
Price $150

Vehicle

Max RV Length —
Max Trailer Length —
Big Rig Friendly —
Pull Through Sites —

Contact

Phone +1 (719) 269-8500

Cell Service

AT&T None
Verizon None
T-Mobile None

Useful Links

Recreation.gov Campground Page
USFS Ponderosa Group Campground

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