Colorado · Camping · Near Pitkin

Bootleg Campground

May 27, 2022
season: May–Sep
best months

Is Bootleg Campground open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 7 alerts for Pike and San Isabel National Forests.

FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Interlaken Hotel Tree Hazards
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Sharpe Fire Update
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Turquoise Lake Road (County Road 4) Closure
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Food Storage Prohibitions on Pike-San Isabel National Forests
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · Order 02-12-00-23-07 · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests

As of Nov 9, 10:30 PM MST · Source: USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

At 8,400 ftHigh camp: expect cold nights, even in summer
Salida Ranger DistrictPike and San Isabel National Forests

Bootleg Campground is a Forest Service campground in the Salida Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Colorado. It sits within the national forest's recreation sites, and the nearest town is Buena Vista, about 8 miles away. Vault toilets are the only listed amenity. A fee is charged for stays. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Buena Vista show July highs around 83°F with lows near 49°F, while September cools to highs in the mid-70s. Winter is cold, with January highs around 41°F and lows near 11°F. The Narrow Gauge hike starts about half a mile away. Mt. Princeton Campground and the Mount Princeton hike are both within about 2 miles, and Chalk Lake is about 2 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip

Sleep close
Bootleg Campground
Campground
Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
Eat after
Mountain Spirit Winery Ltd.
Brewery
Brewery · 13 mi from Pitkin
If it rains
Evans Firewall & Savard Building
Museum
On your way back · 8 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

Local outfitters

BV Overlook Campground and Lodging9 mi away
Mt. Princeton RV Park10 mi away

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Also worth it near here
- Narrow GaugeMountain biking · Next door
- Cascade Creek TrailHiking · ~3 min drivePhoto: oxtopus, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Chalk Creek Boulder aka Boulder of SorrowRock climbing · ~4 min drivePhoto: oxtopus, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Agnes Vaille FallsWaterfall · ~4 min drivePhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Best time to visit Bootleg Campground
Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
1. Jan
  41° / 11°
  4 wet
2. Feb
  43° / 14°
  5 wet
3. Mar
  50° / 21°
  6 wet
4. Apr
  56° / 27°
  6 wet
5. May
  67° / 36°
  7 wet
6. Jun
  78° / 43°
  7 wet
7. Jul
  83° / 49°
  12 wet
8. Aug
  80° / 47°
  12 wet
9. Sep
  74° / 40°
  8 wet
10. Oct
  62° / 29°
  6 wet
11. Nov
  50° / 20°
  5 wet
12. Dec
  40° / 11°
  5 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Buena Vista 2s, CO, 8.4 mi away at 7,954 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.