Iron City Campground

Area Status: Temporarily Closed

Iron City Campground is located within the Chalk Creek Canyon, which is one of the valley's most popular areas, offering access to many ATV trails. This is a small campground with 15 campsites. It is located near the historic townsite of St. Elmo. The Iron City cemetery is located on the east end of the campground. An interpretive sign at the entrance to the cemetery provides information on the early settlers and miners who are buried there.

Camping and campfires are restricted in the Chalk Creek Canyon to developed campgrounds only. Campers who are unable to find a campsite in one of the four developed campground may camp above the townsite of St. Elmo on 4x4 Road 267.

Prior to Memorial Day weekend, and after Labor Day, services (such as hosts, trash, toilet and water) may not be available.

At a Glance

Operational Hours:	Check out: 12 p.m. (noon) Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Reservations:	First-come, first-served. No reservations are accepted. Dates of operation below are weather dependent.
Fees:	$22 per site for overnight camping. 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. Fees are payable by cash, check or money order. Self-servicing fee tube is available. Sites must be occupied the first night of payment.
Open Season:	May 17, 2024 - Oct. 13, 2024
Usage:	Medium-Heavy
Busiest Season:	May-September
Restrictions:	Maximum 8 persons per site: 2 tents and 2 vehicles or 1 recreation vehicle (RV). Maximum RV length is 25 ft. Dogs must be leashed at all times. No discharge of firearms or fireworks. Only licensed vehicles can operate inside campground.
Closest Towns:	Buena Vista & Salida, CO
Water:	Water is available only during peak season.
Restroom:	Vault toilet is available only during peak season
Passes:	America the Beautiful Senior & Access passes valid for 50% discount to the camping fee for one site.
Operated By:	Concessionaire
Information Center:	Salida Ranger District

General Information

Directions:

Visitors can access the area by traveling on Highway 285 from either Buena Vista or Salida. From Buena Vista travel south on Highway 285 for approximately 7 miles then turn right on County Road 162. Travel west on CR 162 for 16 miles to the junction with CR 292, just east of the historic townsite of St. Elmo. Turn right onto CR 292 and travel for .5 miles to the campground.

Accessibility:

This site is not universally accessible.

Parking:

Parking is limited to the parking spurs provided at each site. Trailers and extra vehicles must park on the spurs provided; not behind campsites or adjacent to parking spurs.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Campground Camping

Iron City campground has 15 sites and is located within walking distance of the historic townsite of St. Elmo. No reservations are taken for sites in this campground. The campground is located in such a way that the campsites straddled County Road 292. This road is open to all types of motorized vehicles including OHV's and motorcycles.

River and Stream Fishing

Fishing is available in Chalk Creek located along the southern edge of the campground. Access to the stream is best near the bridge on the road to the campground.

OHV Road Riding

Iron City campground is popular spot for OHV riders because registered ATV's and motorcycles can ride from the campground to access points for Tincup Pass, Hancock Pass, Pomeroy and Hancock Lakes and Williams Pass.

Forest Road 292 through the Iron City campground is open to registered OHV's. Most Chaffee County roads do not permit OHVs with a few exceptions. Please visit: https://www.chaffeecounty.org/Road-and-Bridge-OHV-Roads

ATV's and motorcycles are not permitted off of parking spurs or roadways in the campground.