Alvarado Campground

PSICC — lakeside, hiking

Location: WESTCLIFFE, CO, CO

Price: From $30 per night

Price range: $30–$60 per night

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (162 reviews)

Season: May through October

Alvarado Campground, located at an elevation of 9,000 ft., is a prime location for accessing easy to challenging hikes in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. The variety of trails lead to high elevation lakes, picturesque waterfalls, and a number of stunning scenic overlooks. Alvarado is designed for a range of campers, with facilities for tent, RV and equestrian campers.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/alvarado-campground to be notified when sites open up.

At 9,000 ft elevation in Pike-San Isabel National Forests, Alvarado offers direct access to easy-to-challenging hikes in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, including high elevation lakes, waterfalls, and scenic overlooks. The campground accommodates tent, RV, and equestrian campers.

Wildlife alert: American Black Bear and Pronghorn observed in the area within 8km. Use bear-safe practices and store food securely.

Insider tips for Alvarado Campground: Book early — this is a federal campground with high demand Bring a self-contained RV; there are no hookups at most sites Equestrian facilities available for horseback riding into the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness

Skip Alvarado Campground if: You need RV hookups (water, electric, sewer not available). You want to camp November through April (seasonal closure).

Best time to visit Alvarado Campground: May through October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.

Nearby campgrounds: Lake Creek (Co) (Westcliffe, CO), Duncan Cabin (Saguache, CO), Hayden Creek (Cotopaxi, CO), Pinon Flats Campground (Mosca, CO).