Sites & Rates
Average nightly rates13 total sites
RV Sites
12 sites
Tent Sites
1 site
About Mount Princeton
Number of accommodations: 13
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
Hiking
Year-round
Hiking
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Parking
Restrooms
Water and Hygiene
- Restrooms
Cooking and Fire
- Firewood Available
Parking and Transport
- Parking
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Rates, Sites & Availability
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13 Sites Available
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Reviews (117)
What Guests Are Saying
Mount Princeton Campground is highly praised for its beautiful location, clean facilities, and friendly camp hosts who maintain the grounds well. Many visitors enjoy the nearby river, hiking opportunities, and local attractions, making it a great base for outdoor activities. While some campers noted issues with odors from pit toilets and close campsite proximity, overall experiences are overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing a desire to return.
What Guests Are Saying
Mount Princeton Campground is highly praised for its beautiful location, clean facilities, and friendly camp hosts who maintain the grounds well. Many visitors enjoy the nearby river, hiking opportunities, and local attractions, making it a great base for outdoor activities. While some campers noted issues with odors from pit toilets and close campsite proximity, overall experiences are overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing a desire to return.
Review Summary
Pam B
VerifiedSeptember 22, 2023 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: MOUN
Beautiful campground. Clean pit toilets. Campground not as picked up as in past years--trash blown around, some garbage still in bear safes from previous campers.
Theresa L
VerifiedSeptember 22, 2023 • Stayed at: 012, Loop: MOUN
Reservation system was confusing as it said Fri and Sat campsites were all first come first serve, which is not the case.
Also, this campground was not as bad, but the Cascade campground we stayed at over the Labor Day weekend had completely full bathrooms that you could smell even outside. Mt Princeton didn’t smell but they also were almost full. With as busy as these campgrounds are, those vaults should be cleaned more than at end of season.
Malika W
VerifiedSeptember 9, 2023 • Stayed at: 011, Loop: MOUN
Camped here for the first time after the Labor Day crowds left. It is a nice and convenient campground location. Easy access to St Emo, the hot springs down the way, Buena Vista and Salida for mountain biking. I did enjoy the time here, but what sucked was site 11 where I stayed is right next to the restrooms. Every now and then you'd get a wiff of the stench, kind of a killer.
Chris S
VerifiedSeptember 4, 2023 • Stayed at: 012, Loop: MOUN
Lovely campsite; Lovely and helpful Camp Attendants :)
Yu J
VerifiedJuly 24, 2023 • Stayed at: 012, Loop: MOUN
Beautiful and quiet campground. Big space. The creek is very close by but not too close to be loud (we were at 012). The bathroom was clean and the host was friendly. Highly recommend!
William M
VerifiedJune 9, 2023 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: MOUN
This is, in our opinion, one of the best and most scenic places to camp in the Buena Vista/Nathrop area of Colorado. The sites and vault toilets are well maintained. And, the presence of Chalk Creek is a big bonus. Birding was very good with multiple birds (Western Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, and more). The spots along the creek — Spaces 3,4,5,6 are small, but very close to the rushing creek. We had spot 10, which was spacious and had good solar exposure and room for our Clam Shelter.
Stacey H
VerifiedJune 8, 2023 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: MOUN
The campsite and camp hosts were great!
We loved everything!
Sheryl H
VerifiedSeptember 13, 2022 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: MOUN
Campsite #9 was great. The creek was just a few steps away. There was a nice distance between the campsites. Toilets were very clean. We were close to two waterfalls, the hot springs and several nice hikes. St Elmo & Buena Vista was close by as well.
Steven W
VerifiedSeptember 8, 2022 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: MOUN
great spot close to hiking, swimming and stream
Edward F
VerifiedSeptember 6, 2022 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: MOUN
Fantastic camp site, courteous and helpful host.
Location Mount Princeton
Address:
Salida Ranger District Office
Salida, CO, 81201
United States
Mount Princeton Campground is accessible via US Highway 285, located approximately 20 miles to the west. This highway connects to other major roads in the region, facilitating access to the campground.
Elevation: 2621 feet
25 mi drive to downtown Salida (about 35 min)
Policies & Rules
General
- The water system is closed at this campground. No water is available. Please bring all water necessary for the duration of your stay. Water can be obtained at nearby Chalk Lake CG if necessary.
- Do not climb chalk cliffs
- 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
- This is a high elevation facility; please use caution when traveling from lower elevations
- No hookups available
- Click here for more information on Pike and San Isabel National Forests
- 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.
- 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. These sites usually fill Friday evenings and through the weekends. Due to the remote nature of campgrounds, calling to check availability prior to arrival is not possible.
- Camping and campfires are restricted in the Chalk Creek Canyon to the four developed campgrounds only. Cascade, Chalk Lake and Mount Princeton campgrounds take reservations. Iron City campground is first-come, first-served only.
- Campers unable to find a campsite in a developed campground may camp above the townsite of St. Elmo on County Road 267( 4-wheel drive only) or near the Hancock townsite located 5 miles south on Forest Road 295. Additional camping is available in the Browns Creek area south of County Road 162 at the junction of County roads 270 and 272. Practice leave-no-trace (www.lnt.org) camping principles when dispersed camping.
- Reservations can be made 6 months in advanced.
- Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the camping fee. $10.00 for a third vehicle. $10.00 fee for day use if not camping overnight.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: September 6, 2026
