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Chalk Lake

PSICC — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: SALIDA, CO, CO

Price: From $25 per night

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (85 reviews)

Season: May through October

Chalk Lake Campground is located in beautiful Chaffee County, Colorado. This popular facility sits near Chalk Lake and is within 4 miles of a private hot springs resort, making it an ideal location for rest and relaxation. "First come, first served" does not necessarily mean that the site will be available when you get there.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Camp Host, Fishing, Firewood for Sale

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

Chalk Lake Campground sits near Chalk Lake in beautiful Chaffee County, Colorado and is within 4 miles of a private hot springs resort. The facility offers fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, gold panning, and rafting activities.

Wildlife alert: Mule Deer, Red Fox, Abert's Squirrel, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Hairy Woodpecker, American Robin, Evening Grosbeak, and American Pipit are documented in the area.

Insider tips for Chalk Lake: Book early as a federal campground with high demand Arrive on weekdays (Monday-Wednesday) for better availability Bring firewood or plan to purchase it on-site

Skip Chalk Lake if: You need RV hookups - no hookups available at most sites, suitable only for self-contained RVs. You prefer first-come, first-served without reservation stress - this popular campground fills quickly.

Best time to visit Chalk Lake: May-October — Verified seasonal operations period. Weekdays — Campground normally full starting Friday, sometimes as early as Thursday.

Nearby campgrounds: Cascade (Colorado) (SALIDA, CO), Mount Princeton (SALIDA, CO), Bootleg (Nathrop, CO), Iron City (Nathrop, CO).

Cell Phone Coverage at Chalk Lake

Cell signal at Chalk Lake (SALIDA, CO): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

    Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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    CamperWatch›CO›Chalk Lake
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    PSICC — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

    Chalk Lake

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    SALIDA, CO, CO★ 4.5 (85 reviews)From $25/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
    On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

    Chalk Lake Campground is located in beautiful Chaffee County, Colorado. This popular facility sits near Chalk Lake and is within 4 miles of a private hot springs resort, making it an ideal location for rest and relaxation. "First come, first served" does not necessarily mean that the site will be available when you get there.

    Best for:AnglersHikersFamiliesSites:TentRV
    LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

    Verified facts

    RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
    Check-in2:00 PM
    Check-out12:00 PM
    SeasonMay through October
    Stay limit14 days
    Max RV30 ft
    HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
    ADA sites4 sites
    PetsAllowed
    CampfiresAllowed
    Max/site6 people

    Amenities

    RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
    Essentials
    Fire RingsCamp Host
    Recreation
    Picnic TablesFishing
    Family & Pets
    Vault ToiletsFirewood for Sale

    Straight talk

    CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

    Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

    Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
    Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups - no hookups available at most sites, suitable only for self-contained RVs✕ You prefer first-come, first-served without reservation stress - this popular campground fills quickly

    Insider tips & when to go

    CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

    Book early as a federal campground with high demand

    Arrive on weekdays (Monday-Wednesday) for better availability

    Bring firewood or plan to purchase it on-site

    Best: May-October

    Verified seasonal operations period

    Best: Weekdays

    Campground normally full starting Friday, sometimes as early as Thursday

    Things to do nearby

    RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

    Conditions today

    Live
    at campground coordinates

    Cell signal

    FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
    T-Mobile
    4G · 0%
    Verizon
    4G · 0%
    AT&T
    4G · 0%

    FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

    Wildlife nearby

    iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
    Alert: Mule Deer, Red Fox, Abert's Squirrel, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Hairy Woodpecker, American Robin, Evening Grosbeak, and American Pipit are documented in the area.

    Location

    Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
    Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
    CAMPGROUNDS DO NOT HAVE PHONE SERVICE, CALLING TO CHECK AVAILABILITY PRIOR TO ARRIVAL IS NOT POSSIBLE. FOR RESERVATIONS CALL: 1-877-444-6777· PSICC
    Getting there →

    From Buena Vista, Colorado, take Highway 285 south to Nathrop. Turn west on County Road 162 and travel 8 miles to the campground.

    Campground entrance

    Google Maps API

    Community

    #community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

    Pro tips

    • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — PSICC fills fast in peak season.
    • Check current road conditions at PSICC before arrival — seasonal closures common.

    Frequently asked questions

    RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
    How much does Chalk Lake cost per night?+
    Chalk Lake costs $25 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
    What season is Chalk Lake open?+
    Chalk Lake is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
    Does Chalk Lake have hookups?+
    No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
    What is the maximum RV length at Chalk Lake?+
    Chalk Lake can accommodate RVs up to 30 feet.
    How do I make reservations at Chalk Lake?+
    Chalk Lake is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
    What is the cell service like at Chalk Lake?+
    According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Chalk Lake is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
    What season is Chalk Lake open, and what are check-in times?+
    Chalk Lake is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

    Official resources

    Forest Service ConcessionairePrint Facility Map
    Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
    ●Data sources on this page
    Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
    recreation.gov · RIDB API
    National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
    api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
    Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
    airquality.googleapis.com
    iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
    api.inaturalist.org
    Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
    pollen.googleapis.com
    FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
    broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
    Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
    api.sunrise-sunset.org
    Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
    maps.googleapis.com
    RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
    ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

    CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

    $25 /night★ 4.5 (85)
    SeasonMay through October
    Check-in2:00 PM
    Check-out12:00 PM
    Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
    Dates full? Get an availability alert
    FAQ
    How much does Chalk Lake cost per night?+
    What season is Chalk Lake open?+
    Does Chalk Lake have hookups?+
    All 7 questions →

    Nearby Campgrounds

    Cascade (Colorado)

    SALIDA, CO

    From $25/night

    Mount Princeton

    SALIDA, CO

    From $25/night

    Bootleg

    Nathrop, CO

    From $20/night

    Iron City

    Nathrop, CO

    From $22/night

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