About Collegiate Peaks
Number of accommodations: 44
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Sites & Availability
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Site Details
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44 Sites Available
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Reviews (267)
What Guests Are Saying
Collegiate Peaks is a beautiful, well-maintained campground near Buena Vista, offering large, private sites and exceptionally clean restrooms. Visitors enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere, proximity to hiking trails and hot springs, as well as the presence of wildlife. While some sites may not be level and there were occasional issues with water quality and host availability, the overall experience remains positive, with many campers eager to return.
What Guests Are Saying
Collegiate Peaks is a beautiful, well-maintained campground near Buena Vista, offering large, private sites and exceptionally clean restrooms. Visitors enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere, proximity to hiking trails and hot springs, as well as the presence of wildlife. While some sites may not be level and there were occasional issues with water quality and host availability, the overall experience remains positive, with many campers eager to return.
Review Summary
Shannon K
VerifiedJune 15, 2020 • Stayed at: N, Loop: COLL
Beautiful, spacious campsite; not crowded at all. Super close to Buena Vista for mountain biking day trips and a beer at Eddyline Brewery. This will be one of my go-to spots.
Pam B
VerifiedJune 15, 2020 • Stayed at: E, Loop: COLL
Beth and Bob were great campground hosts. Pit toilets were always clean, they came around every evening to check on things.
Melissa S
VerifiedJanuary 30, 2020 • Stayed at: O, Loop: COLL
We had fun even though the campground was infested with yellow jackets. We had to eat inside after it got so bad. The river running through the campground is pretty. Next time I'm not staying near the host. They had a bright spot light on late at night that shined into our site. Not very nice.
Traci G
VerifiedJanuary 27, 2020 • Stayed at: G, Loop: COLL
We've stayed at Collegiate Peaks for the last few years in the same campsite. It's a lovely campsite right next to the creek.
we've never encountered any issues with recreation.gov, the camp hosts or anything like that.
This last year (2019) was such a big snow year that the "canyon" or Cottonwood Pass experienced some avalanches that most definitely pushed some debris, logs, etc down creek, and the bees/wasps were way more present than in previous years. We couldn't even cook our meals without a swarm! So just be aware!
Michael W
VerifiedJanuary 15, 2020 • Stayed at: 036, Loop: COLL
Great campground. Love the easy nature of this location
Curtis S
VerifiedJanuary 15, 2020 • Stayed at: 034, Loop: COLL
A good campground, sites are a little close together and roads need attention. Altitude is great, close to creek, and far from main highway.
Joseph J
VerifiedJanuary 15, 2020 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: COLL
The campground is in serious need of major maintenance. Many of the campsites are rutted out including the parking spaces. This makes it difficult to park an RV. The water pump was slow and the water was a rust color.
Steve S
VerifiedJanuary 15, 2020 • Stayed at: 011, Loop: COLL
Excellent campground with spacious sites. The fishing was great at nearby Cottonwood Lake.
Jeff A
VerifiedJanuary 14, 2020 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: COLL
We camped here a couple nights on a tour of CO. Awesome area and good campground. Pretty typical forest service place, clean, good camp hosts A LOT of sights pretty close together. Our "neighbors" were cool as they pretty much always are at this type of place. If you had loud buttholes camping next to you it might suck but when folks act cool these campgrounds are awesome! Hopefully the prices will stay reasonable...
Garrett P
VerifiedJanuary 13, 2020 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: COLL
Very nice camp spot. It was really quite as well.
Location Collegiate Peaks
Address:
Salida Ranger District Office
Salida, CO, 81201
United States
From Buena Vista, Colorado, take Highway 306. At the stoplight, go west for 11 miles
toward Cottonwood Pass. Campground is located on the left-hand side of the
road. Highway 306 is paved on east side of Cottonwood Pass.
Latitude & Longitude: 38.8131 / -106.315
Elevation: 3013 feet
Policies & Rules
| Category | About |
|---|---|
| General |
Please disinfect waders and boots when fishing in beaver ponds; this will help protect endangered toads from the spread of chytrid fungus |
| General |
Be bear aware; keep all food out of sight in approved containers or locked inside your vehicle and remove all food from area after eating |
| General |
This is a high elevation facility; please use caution when traveling from lower elevations |
| General |
No hookups available |
| General |
Click here for more information on Pike and San Isabel National Forests |
| General |
Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing organisms by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org. |
| General |
If reservations are not available, some campsites are first come-first served, also called "Walk-up" sites. First-come, first-served sites must be occupied the SAME NIGHT they are paid for. Due to the remote nature of campgrounds, calling to check availability prior to arrival is not possible. |
| General |
About 15 minutes from the Collegiate Peaks campground is Cottonwood Lake Campground, a first come-first served, no reservation facility which is located on County Road 344. It is a very popular site for campers, as well as anglers. Campsites fill up quickly on weekends. Camping and campfires are restricted in on County Rd 344 to developed campgrounds only. Starting at about 1 mile west of Cottonwood Lake campground dispersed, primitive camping is allowed. |
| General |
Two vehicles or one RV/Trailer and tow vehicle per site is included in the camping fee. $10.00 for a third vehicle. |
| General |
Firewood is available for sale at host site for $10.00/bundle. |
