Royal Gorge / Wet Mountains

6,500–9,500 ft · CO🚗 Directions

San Isabel NF and Wet Mountains south of Canon City. Ponderosa at lower elevations, mixed conifer above 8,000 ft. Monsoon-driven moisture window. Less explored foraging territory.

Permit Info →

Updated Apr 13, 6:40 PM

Foraging Potential10/100

❌Moisture

❌Soil Temp

❌No Freeze

✅No Drought

Precip 7d

0.25"

Precip 14d

1.60"

Soil Temp

28°F

SWE

Snow Water Equivalent — how much water is in the snowpack vs. normal. Declining SWE means snowmelt is adding moisture to the soil.

15%

Drought

None

Snowmelt

slowing

Limiting Factors

Insufficient moistureSoil too coldOutside season windowHard freeze in 48h

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Nearby Camping

Royal Gorge Park East Ridge Campground

developed

~7.9 mi from centerFee required/night

Echo Canyon Campground

developed

~10.1 mi from center

Reserve →

Les Huston Geology Field Camp

developed

State~14.3 mi from center

Reserve →

Dispersed Campsite

developed

~15 mi from center

Penrose Common Rec Site

developed

BLM~17.5 mi from centerNo Fee but OHV permit/ registration is required. Out of state residents are required to retain a Non-resident registration./night

Penrose Commons Campground

developed

~17.6 mi from center

Sand Gulch Campground

developed

BLM~18.9 mi from centerIndividual Sites: $20 per night Group sites: $40 per night There is an $8 non-refundable reservation fee for each reservation. /night

Banks Campground Group Site

developed

~19.6 mi from center

The Bank Campground

developed

BLM~19.6 mi from centerIndividual Sites: $20 per night Group sites: $40 per night There is an $8 non-refundable reservation fee for each reservation. /night

Banks Campground

developed

BLM~19.7 mi from center

Reserve →

Cotopaxi Arkansas River KOA

developed

~20 mi from center

Reserve →

Lake Creek Campground

developed

USFS~20.4 mi from centerFee required/night

Pike-San Isabel National Forests

Reserve →

Lake Creek Campground

developed

~20.5 mi from centerFee required/night

MINGUS RANCH

developed

USFS~20.5 mi from center

Reserve →

Ophir Creek Campground

developed

USFS~22.5 mi from centerFee required/night

Pike-San Isabel National Forests

Reserve →

Ophir Creek Campground

developed

~22.6 mi from centerFee required/night

Alvarado Campground

developed

USFS~23.4 mi from centerFee required/night

Pike-San Isabel National Forests

Reserve →

ALVARADO CAMPGROUND

developed

USFS~23.6 mi from centerExtra Vehicle $8.00/night

Reserve →

DAVENPORT CAMPGROUND

developed

USFS~23.9 mi from center

Pike-San Isabel National Forests

Reserve →

Vallie Bridge

developed

~25.8 mi from center

Coaldale Campground

developed

USFS~27.2 mi from center

Pike-San Isabel National Forests

San Isabel Scout Ranch

developed

Rocky Mountain Council Boy Scouts of America~27.9 mi from center

Reserve →

Spruce Group Campground

developed

USFS~28.3 mi from centerFee required/night

Pike-San Isabel National Forests

Reserve →

Ponderosa Group Campground

developed

USFS~28.3 mi from centerFee required/night

Pike-San Isabel National Forests

Reserve →

LA VISTA CAMPGROUND - LAKE ISABEL

developed

USFS~28.4 mi from center

Reserve →

Kettle Creek Campground

developed

~28.4 mi from center

La Vista Campground

developed

USFS~28.4 mi from centerFee required/night

Pike-San Isabel National Forests

Reserve →

Hayden Creek Campground

developed

USFS~28.4 mi from centerFee required/night

Pike-San Isabel National Forests

Reserve →

St. Charles Campground

developed

USFS~28.5 mi from centerFee required/night

Pike-San Isabel National Forests

Reserve →

Hayden Creek

developed

~28.5 mi from center

ST CHARLES CAMPGROUND - LAKE ISABEL

developed

USFS~28.5 mi from center

Reserve →

Yucca Flat Campground

developed

~28.6 mi from center

SOUTHSIDE CAMPGROUND - LAKE ISABEL

developed

USFS~28.6 mi from center

Reserve →

Southside Campground

developed

USFS~28.6 mi from centerFee required/night

Pike-San Isabel National Forests

Reserve →

Northern Plains Campground

developed

~28.7 mi from center

Eagle View Campground

developed

~28.8 mi from center

LAKE ISABEL CABIN

developed

USFS~28.9 mi from center

Reserve →

Prairie Ridge Campground

developed

~28.9 mi from center

PONDEROSA GROUP - LAKE ISABEL

developed

USFS~29.3 mi from center

Reserve →

Valley View Hot Springs

developed

Orient Land Trust~30 mi from centerFee required/night

watertoiletshower

Reserve →

Juniper Breaks Campground

developed

~30.1 mi from center

North Crestone Creek Campground

developed

USFS~30.3 mi from centerFee required/night

Rio Grande National Forest

Reserve →

Arkansas Point Campground

developed

~31.5 mi from center

Rincon Campground

developed

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area~31.7 mi from center

North Crestone Campground

developed

USFS~31.7 mi from center

Reserve →

Point Barr

developed

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area~32 mi from center

YMCA Camp Jackson

developed

~32.1 mi from center

Burnt Gulch Trail 4WD Parking & Camp

developed

~32.2 mi from center

Burnt Gulch Trail Camp

developed

~32.4 mi from center

San Luis Valley Campground

developed

~36.6 mi from center

Reserve →

Greenhorn Meadows Park Campsites

developed

~37.8 mi from center

Clayton Camp

developed

~37.8 mi from center

Camp Joseph

developed

~37.9 mi from center

Little Medano Campsite

backcountry

~39.4 mi from center

Pinyon Flats Campground

developed

USFS~43.2 mi from centerFee required/night

watertoilet

Pinon Flats Campground

developed

NPS~43.3 mi from centerThe entrance fee for Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is $25 for 1-7 days. This fee is not included in the camping fee. Interagency passes are accepted at the entrance station. If you do not have an interagency pass, you may<a href="https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/72144" rel="nofollow"> purchase pass in advance</a> or pay upon arrival./night

Reserve →

Oasis Campground

developed

~47.5 mi from center

Group Campsite

dispersed

~49.6 mi from centerFree/night

⚠ Road Access Notice

Always verify road access is public before following GPS directions to mountain areas. Many forest roads are seasonal, gated, or require 4WD. Dispersed camping follows USFS/BLM rules (typically 14-day limit). Check ranger district offices for current road and campground conditions.