Cold Springs - Arapaho Roosevelt NF (CO)

Cold Springs Campground is located on the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest, north of Blackhawk on the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway/Highway 119, in north central Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area for its scenic and off-road driving, and nearby hiking and fishing opportunities. The surrounding area has many great hiking trails. There is an easy hiking trail out of the campground for families with small children. In addition, the short but steep Vista Trail climbs just a quarter-mile and rewards hikers with spectacular views of the vast Mount Evans Wilderness Area and valley below. Scenic driving is available along Highways 119 and 72, known as the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway. Numerous creeks, rivers and lakes in the area provide fishing opportunities, and off-road enthusiasts will find many jeep roads in the vicinity. There are 38 sites in the campground. Sites 1 through 5 are pull-overs with wooden retaining walls, where you climb several steps to reach the picnic tables, fire rings and tent pads; these sites are not suitable for RVs with slide-outs. Sites 9 and 11 are pull-overs which also will not accommodate large RVs or slide-outs. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring or grate. The maximum vehicle length that can be accommodated is 40 feet. Most sites are shaded and the interior roads are gravel. Water hydrants, tent pads, vault toilets and trash service are provided, and there is a playground for small children. The campground is located in a mountainside aspen and lodgepole pine forest, at an elevation of 9,200 feet. The historic mining town of Central City is nearby; popular events held in the town include Lou Bunch Day and the Central City Opera and Jazz festivals. Golden Gate Canyon State Park is just seven miles away, offering over 35 miles of hiking trails, with mountain biking and horseback riding allowed on some trails and every stream and pond in the park open to fishing.