San Isabel National Forest

San Isabel National Forest contains 19 of the state’s 54 fourteeners. It’s located in central Colorado, from Leadville south past Salida.

There are many gems spread around this easy-to-access national forest. Highway 285 runs from Buena Vista to Salida passing several great spots, including Clear Creek Reservoir and Chalk Creek Canyon.

National Forests Grasslands Map — Map of 11 national forests and 2 grasslands.

Activities

Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Picnicking, OHV Riding, Scenic Drives, Winter Rec – Cross Country Skiing, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing

Main Attractions

Anges Vaille Falls Nathrop	Clear Creek Reservoir by Buena Vista	Cottonwood Pass Buena Vista-Almont
Hancock by Buena Vista	Independence Pass Twin Lakes-Aspen	Saint Elmo by Buena Vista
Sangre de Cristo Wilderness Alamosa	Tincup Pass Nathrop-Almont	Vicksburg by Buena Vista
Winfield by Buena Vista

Chalk Creek Canyon – Located on County Road 162, southwest of Buena Vista. A number of sights including Agnes Vaille Falls, Mount Princeton, Saint Elmo and Hancock ghost towns and Tincup Pass (4×4). There is a campground situated near Chalk Lake, but primitive, car camping does not exist in the canyon.

Clear Creek Reservoir – Located between Leadville and Buena Vista on US 24. The reservoir is located very close to the US 24, with a campground. There’s also countless primitive sites along the county road. The ghost town of Winfield lies 12 miles down at the end of the road, passing Vicksburg, another former mining town on the way back.

Cottonwood Pass – This scenic highway connects Buena Vista and the San Isabel NF to the east, with the town of Almont (near Gunnison) and the Gunnison NF to the west. Primitive car camping is easy to find.

Independence Pass – A scenic, summer short-cut to Aspen. The drive is 36 miles from Twin Lakes. Camping is easy to find near the pass. Twin Lakes has 3 campgrounds available with 104 campsites (no RV hook-ups or shower facilities).

Mount Princeton.