Alvarado Campground

Overview

Alvarado Campground, located at an elevation of 9,000 ft., is a prime location for accessing easy to challenging hikes in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. The variety of trails lead to high elevation lakes, picturesque waterfalls, and a number of stunning scenic overlooks.

Operator

National Forest

Camping types

RV, Tent

Fee

From $8 per night (confirm with the operator)

Reservations

Reservable online

Phone

FOR RESERVATIONS CALL (877) 444-6777. FOR NON REAL TIME INFORMATION, CALL THE DISTRICT OFFICE AT (719) 269-8500.

Amenities

Location

Nearby adventures

Outdoor things to do around Alvarado Campground, shown on the map above. Distances are straight-line from the campground, so driving or walking will be longer; trail details are approximate. Confirm access and conditions with the land manager.

Hikes and trailheads

• Rainbow TrailHike · 71.9 mi long · Long-distance trail · 3.8 mi from camp

  A long trail along the eastern foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, used by hikers, bikers and horse riders. AI-written

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• Hermit Pass TrailheadTrailhead · 3.8 mi from campShow on map
• Hermit Lake TrailheadTrailhead · 3.9 mi from campShow on map
• Hike Sand Creek LakesHike · 10-15 Hours · 10.5 mi from camp

  Sand Creek Lakes are part of the alpine watershed of Great Sand Dunes National Preserve. National Park Service

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• Willow Creek TrailheadTrailhead · 8.2 mi from campShow on map
• Hike Medano Lake and Mount HerardHike · 8-12 Hours · 16.4 mi from camp

  Take your 4WD vehicle around the dunes and up to Medano Pass, hike to a small alpine lake, then continue to the summit of 13,297 ft (4,053 m) Mount Herard for an aerial perspective on the… National Park Service

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Mountain biking

• Rainbow TrailBike ride · 29.9 mi long · 22.4 mi from camp

  A long trail along the eastern foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, used by hikers, bikers and horse riders. AI-written

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Rivers and rafting

• Splash in Medano CreekPaddling and rafting · 1-8 Hours · 23.5 mi from camp

  Medano Creek is a popular seasonal stream enjoyed by all ages. National Park Service

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Scenic sights

• Venable FallsWaterfall · 1.8 mi from campShow on map
• Mount AdamsPeak · 13,937 ft · 5.4 mi from camp

  Mount Adams is a high mountain summit of the Crestones in the Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. Wikipedia

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• Rito Alto PeakPeak · 13,675 ft · 5.6 mi from camp

  Rito Alto Peak, elevation 13,803 ft, is a summit in the Sangre de Cristo Range of south central Colorado. Wikipedia

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• Hot SpringsHot spring · 20.7 mi from campShow on map

Trail and sight data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and National Park Service. Text marked Wikipedia is from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0, lightly shortened. Text marked AI-written was drafted by an AI model from public data and may contain errors.

Reviews

Data sources

• Recreation.gov (RIDB) — Public domain (U.S. Government work)

Listing details come from the sources above and may be out of date. Confirm fees, dates and closures with the operator before you travel.