La Vista Campground - Lake Isabel
Campground · Colorado · 25 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
San Isabel National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 25
- Bookable sites
- 45 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 10
- People per site
- 14
- Accessible sites
- 8,591 ft
- Elevation
Overview
La Vista Campground is situated in a meadow overlooking the west side of the 40-acre Lake Isabel. It is set along the Frontier Pathways and Historic Byway in the Wet Mountains along one of the Colorado Birding Trails.Lake Isabel is one of the few lakes in Colorado developed purely for recreation purposes. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the lake attracts many campers who come to hike, canoe, fish and spend time bird watching. St. Charles Creek flows near the campground and offers additional fishing opportunities.
Recreation
Lake Isabel welcomes non-motorized boating and fishing. Brown and brook trout are stocked in the lake and the St. Charles headwaters reap brook trout.Visitors can enjoy hiking, bicycling or motorcycling on either the Snow Slide Trail and Cisneros Trail. The 15-mile Cisneros Trail, also open to ATV riders, leads to the heart of the Wet Mountains, through forests and open, wildflower speckled valleys. Along the way, the trail connects to St. Charles Trail, which heads to St. Charles Peak.
Facilities
Walk-in tent sites are 15 to 50 yards from the parking spurs. RV sites come with electric hookups and all sites include a picnic table, campfire ring and access to vault toilets and drinking water.Natural Features
Shady pine and aspen trees are scattered throughout the campground. At 8,600 feet, the area enjoys cool summer days, a welcome relief from the heat in the plains far below.The Pike and San Isabel National Forest includes over a million acres of wilderness and over half of Colorado's mountain peaks that reach above 14,000 feet.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (719) 489-2034.Nearby Attractions
Charges & Cancellations
Cancellations
Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite.
Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.
No-Shows
A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date.
No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite.
Refunds
Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended.
Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay.
For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.
In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.
The facts
- 25 bookable sites
- 31 sites in total, including non-bookable
- 14 accessible sites
- Vehicles up to 45 ft
- Up to 10 people per site
- Loops: LAKE, VIST, WALKIN 1, WALKIN 2
Site types
- 13 Standard Electric
- 10 Tent Only Nonelectric
- 6 Management
- 2 RV Electric
Amenities
- Electric hookups
- Shade
- Pets allowed
- Water hookups — not available
- Sewer hookups — not available
Not recorded upstream: campfires allowed, fire pits, picnic tables, grills.
31 campsites at La Vista Campground - Lake Isabel
Check-in 02:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Access | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 011 | LAKE | Rv Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 45 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 012 | LAKE | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 45 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 013 | LAKE | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 45 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 014 | LAKE | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 45 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 015 | LAKE | Rv Electric | Pull Through | Gravel | — | 45 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 016 | LAKE | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 017 | LAKE | Management | Back In | Gravel | — | 45 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 018 | LAKE | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 45 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 019 | LAKE | Management | Back In | Paved | — | 40 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 020 | LAKE | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | 25 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 021 | LAKE | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | 45 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 022 | LAKE | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | 40 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 023 | LAKE | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | 25 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 024 | LAKE | Management | Back In | Paved | — | 20 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 025 | LAKE | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 45 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 026 | LAKE | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 027 | LAKE | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 32 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 028 | LAKE | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 029 | LAKE | Management | Back In | Paved | — | 45 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 001 | VIST | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | — | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 002 | VIST | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 003 | VIST | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 004 | VIST | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 005 | VIST | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 006 | VIST | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 008 | WALKIN 1 | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Hike In | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 009 | WALKIN 1 | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Hike In | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 010 | WALKIN 1 | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Hike In | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| XXX | WALKIN 1 | Management | Back In | Gravel | — | 45 ft | 10 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 007 | WALKIN 2 | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Hike In | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| XXX | WALKIN 2 | Management | — | Gravel | — | — | 10 | ♿ 🐾 |
Getting there
37.98444, -105.05944 · 37°59'4.0"N 105°3'34.0"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 1.0 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 5.6 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about La Vista Campground - Lake Isabel
- Can you reserve a site at La Vista Campground - Lake Isabel?
- Yes, La Vista Campground - Lake Isabel is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does La Vista Campground - Lake Isabel have?
- 31 sites in total, of which 25 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at La Vista Campground - Lake Isabel?
- 45 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at La Vista Campground - Lake Isabel?
- Yes, pets are allowed at La Vista Campground - Lake Isabel.
- Does La Vista Campground - Lake Isabel have hookups?
- Electric.
Also listed by
La Vista Campground - Lake Isabel also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by La Vista Campground - Lake Isabel's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- $30 or $35 for premium sites. Two vehicles included in the camping fee. $10 for additional vehicles. Fees are payable by cash, check or money order if not reserved online. Self-servicing fee tube is available. First-come, first-served sites must be occupied the first night.
Restrictions:
- Maximum 8 persons per site: 2 tents and 2 vehicles or 1 recreation vehicle.
- Dogs must be leashed at all times.
- No discharge of firearms or fireworks.
- Only licensed vehicles can operate inside campground.
- Camping is not allowed behind a locked gate.
Camping near La Vista Campground - Lake Isabel
- Southside Campground - Lake Isabel 0.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- ST Charles Campground - Lake Isabel 0.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Lake Isabel Cabin 0.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Ponderosa Group - Lake Isabel 1.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Spruce Group - Lake Isabel 1.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Davenport Campground 4.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Ophir Creek Campground (CO) 5.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Mingus Ranch 8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Southside Campground 0.2 mi · Campground
- Ponderosa Group Campground 0.8 mi · Campground
- Spruce Group Campground 1 mi · Campground
- South Colony Basin 24.3 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 877-444-6777, FOR NON REAL TIME CAMPGROUND INFORMATION, CALL (719) 269-8500.
- Email lstewart@goexplorus.com
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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