Recreation Region: San Carlos Ranger District

Lake Isabel Picnic and Day Use Area

This is a developed area for picnicking, hiking, fishing and boating. Nonmotorized boating and fishing are available at Lake Isabel. The area also has access to motorized and nonmotorized trails, including Cisneros, St. Charles and Snowslide, and a paved trail that travels along the lake shore but does not completely circle the lake.

Current Conditions

This area is open year-round. Some areas are inaccessible during the winter months. The gate on the southside is closed during the winter months.

General Information

The Interagency Senior Pass and the Interagency Access Pass qualify for a 50% discount at concessionaire run sites. The discount only applies to the fee for the site/vehicle physically occupied by the pass owner, not to any additional site(s) or vehicle(s) occupied by members of the pass owner's party.

The following restrictions apply to this campground:

Pets must be on a leash at all times within the day use area.
Campfires are restricted to fire rings only. Be sure any campfire is completely extinguished before leaving.
Bears are common in the area, and a bear closure order is in place. All bear attractants, both food and nonfood items that can attract bears, should be kept in a bear-resistant manner. Bear bags, bear boxes and coolers within hard-sided vehicles are safer ways of storing attractants. Pop-ups, tents and open-top vehicles are not safe storage areas. Tips for camping in bear country are available from camp hosts.

Day Use:
$10 per vehicle per day

A fee of $10 per vehicle is charged for day use during summer months, except for visitors registered in the campgrounds.

Pets must be on leash at all times.

Contact Name: San Carlos Ranger District

Contact Phone: 719-269-8500

Address: 3028 East Main Street Cañon City, CO 81212
Phone: 719-269-8500
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Closed on federal holidays)

Getting There

Latitude / Longitude

Latitude: 37.98243887

Longitude: -105.05906139

Directions

This area is located in south central Colorado, 43 miles southwest of Pueblo. From Pueblo, go 25 miles south on Interstate 25 to exit 74. Go west 18 miles on state Highway 165. Turn into the south entrance at Lake Isabel, go about 0.1 mile and look for the parking area.