About Alvarado Campground
Number of accommodations: 35
Nearby Activities & Attractions
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
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Rates, Sites & Availability
35 Sites Available
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Site Details
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35 Sites Available
No available sites
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Reviews (324)
What Guests Are Saying
Alvarado Campground offers a clean, well-maintained environment with friendly and helpful camp hosts. Many visitors appreciate the beautiful scenery, quiet atmosphere, and excellent hiking trails in the area. While there are some concerns about site accessibility and occasional water issues, the overall experience is highly praised, making it a recommended spot for campers.
What Guests Are Saying
Alvarado Campground offers a clean, well-maintained environment with friendly and helpful camp hosts. Many visitors appreciate the beautiful scenery, quiet atmosphere, and excellent hiking trails in the area. While there are some concerns about site accessibility and occasional water issues, the overall experience is highly praised, making it a recommended spot for campers.
Review Summary
Caroline W
VerifiedAugust 12, 2022 • Stayed at: 44, Loop: ALVARADO
The campground is base for dozens of fabulous hikes, For acclimatization, run the Rainbow trail; then gear up to hike the 12-mile Venable-Comanche lake loop. Drive to various nearby trailheads for backpacking or day hikes, and return to your campsite for cool nights and the plangent sounds of nearby streams.
Caroline W
VerifiedAugust 12, 2022 • Stayed at: 44, Loop: ALVARADO
The campground is base for dozens of fabulous hikes, For acclimatization, run the Rainbow trail; then gear up to hike the 12-mile Venable-Comanche lake loop. Drive to various nearby trailheads for backpacking or day hikes, and return to your campsite for cool nights and the plangent sounds of nearby streams.
Josh H
VerifiedAugust 12, 2022 • Stayed at: 12, Loop: ALVARADO
Camp location perfectly remote to access Comanche Lake Trail, etc...
Close to Wycliffe for supplies, if needed.
Camp Host a gentleman.
Great experience. Camped 3 wonderful nights. Can't wait to go back!
Josh H
VerifiedAugust 12, 2022 • Stayed at: 12, Loop: ALVARADO
Camp location perfectly remote to access Comanche Lake Trail, etc...
Close to Wycliffe for supplies, if needed.
Camp Host a gentleman.
Great experience. Camped 3 wonderful nights. Can't wait to go back!
PAT M
VerifiedAugust 11, 2022 • Stayed at: 32, Loop: ALVARADO
Let me just say we’ve been coming for years because we love the area
What we don’t love is the lack of upkeep. This could be a gold mine for park budgets but no one ever does anything to the sites…
The biggest issue is the erosion of every site.
Then it’s the lack of a host even when he’s there…the invasion of out of state campers that don’t respect our forests or other campers…Texans are the worst. They know the host is off Mon & Tues so they camp free.
We had to put one hugh campfire out near the trailhead…he even waved at us…we raced back for a pail…it took 3 buckets of water & the wind was strong that day
Where is all that lotto money going besides the Norther half of the state
PAT M
VerifiedAugust 11, 2022 • Stayed at: 32, Loop: ALVARADO
Let me just say we’ve been coming for years because we love the area
What we don’t love is the lack of upkeep. This could be a gold mine for park budgets but no one ever does anything to the sites…
The biggest issue is the erosion of every site.
Then it’s the lack of a host even when he’s there…the invasion of out of state campers that don’t respect our forests or other campers…Texans are the worst. They know the host is off Mon & Tues so they camp free.
We had to put one hugh campfire out near the trailhead…he even waved at us…we raced back for a pail…it took 3 buckets of water & the wind was strong that day
Where is all that lotto money going besides the Norther half of the state
Russell H
VerifiedAugust 4, 2022 • Stayed at: 06, Loop: ALVARADO
We just stayed one night but what a great little campground. We will be back!
Russell H
VerifiedAugust 4, 2022 • Stayed at: 06, Loop: ALVARADO
We just stayed one night but what a great little campground. We will be back!
Fanchon F
VerifiedAugust 2, 2022 • Stayed at: 34, Loop: ALVARADO
What a nice and well-managed campground in a beautiful area of Colorado! Very near the Venable and Comanche trailheads.
My husband and I had a great one-night stay at first-come-first-serve campsite #19. Bathrooms very clean and not smelly! :-)
Initially, we had reserved site #34 but when we arrived, it was too small for us to set up our tent, plus it was very wet after a recent rain and the ground couldn't absorb any more water. The camp host at campsite #8 was so helpful and flexible, and kindly allowed us to move our campsite to a new site--thank you!
When walking around the campground, I liked most of the sites #15-#29 the best (didn't view #1-10). IMHO, sites #34-39 seem smaller and less developed. You get good views of the valley at sites #37+. Sites in the 40's are the least developed. We saw either site #40 or #44 from the Comanche trail as we finished up our Venable-Comanche loop trip.
We hope to visit the campground again soon.
Fanchon F
VerifiedAugust 2, 2022 • Stayed at: 34, Loop: ALVARADO
What a nice and well-managed campground in a beautiful area of Colorado! Very near the Venable and Comanche trailheads.
My husband and I had a great one-night stay at first-come-first-serve campsite #19. Bathrooms very clean and not smelly! :-)
Initially, we had reserved site #34 but when we arrived, it was too small for us to set up our tent, plus it was very wet after a recent rain and the ground couldn't absorb any more water. The camp host at campsite #8 was so helpful and flexible, and kindly allowed us to move our campsite to a new site--thank you!
When walking around the campground, I liked most of the sites #15-#29 the best (didn't view #1-10). IMHO, sites #34-39 seem smaller and less developed. You get good views of the valley at sites #37+. Sites in the 40's are the least developed. We saw either site #40 or #44 from the Comanche trail as we finished up our Venable-Comanche loop trip.
We hope to visit the campground again soon.
Location Alvarado Campground
Address:
Co. Rd. 140
Westcliffe, CO, 81212
United States
From Westcliffe, CO, take State Route 69 south 3 miles to the campground sign (County Road 140). Turn right and go 1.8 miles to the stop sign. Continue straight through the stop sign for 2.8 miles until you hit another stop sign (RD 141). Turn left onto RD 141 and continue 2.1 miles to campground.
(Note: RD 141 becomes dirt/gravel after 0.4 miles.)
Latitude & Longitude: 38.0789 / -105.563
Elevation: 2750 feet
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
- Real-time information is unavailable; contact the San Carlos Ranger District for inquiries.
Site capacity
- Campground limits: 8 people per site, with options for 2 tents and 2 vehicles or 1 RV.
Wildlife & food storage
- Store food securely to avoid attracting bears; keep food out of sight and remove after use.
Safety & rules
- Only certified weed-free hay is allowed at the campground.
Site types & loops
- Electric hookups are not provided at this campground.
- Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
General
- Click here for more information on Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Fires & fuel
- Do not transport firewood; purchase it locally and burn it on-site to protect trees.
- Purchase firewood at the host site for $10 per bundle.
Fees & deposits
- Camping fee includes 2 vehicles; $10 charge for each additional vehicle.
Utilities
- Water available via handpump/spigot; do not connect RV hoses to the system; fill tanks before arrival.
- No dump station available; nearest facility is at a nearby campground not operated by ExplorUS.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: May 20, 2026
