Painted Rocks
Photo: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain- 18
- sites
- May–Jul, Sep–Oct
- best months
Is Painted Rocks open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 11 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
Waldo Canyon Burn Area Closure
Agency alert covering Pikes Peak Ranger District · Order 02-12-09-24-07 · USFS · Pikes Peak Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
- 18 sites for tent campingReservable on Recreation.gov
- At 7,847 ft
- Near Colorado SpringsPikes Peak Ranger District · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Painted Rocks Campground is located a short distance from Manitou Lake Picnic Area and the Centennial Bike Trail in central Colorado. The rustic campground is named for the sandstone outcroppings in the area that resemble colorful streaks from an artist's paintbrush.
Local outfitters
- Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts17 mi away
- Lostfork Basecamp40 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Trout CreekCanoeing0.2 mi
Painted Rocks SpurMountain bikingPhoto: Jacob Montgomery, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)0.2 mi- Centennial TrailHiking0.4 mi
Manitou Lake PavilionCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain0.5 mi- Manitou LakeHiking0.5 mi
Colorado CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain0.7 mi- Old Stage RoadRock climbing4.8 mi
- Rampart Range BoulderingRock climbing5.6 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Manitou Lake PavilionCamping · Next door
- Colorado CampgroundCamping · ~1 min drive
- South Meadows - Pike San Isabel NF (CO)Camping · ~3 min drive
South Meadows CampgroundCamping · ~3 min drivePhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Meadow RidgeCamping · ~17 min drive
- Thunder RidgeCamping · ~17 min drive
YMCA Camo Shady BrookCamping · ~21 min drivePhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Lone Rock Campground (co)Camping · ~23 min drive
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park LarkspurCamping · ~29 min drivePhoto: Jacob Montgomery, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Pike CommunityCamping · ~3 min drive
Also worth it near here
- Trout CreekCanoeing · Next door
- Painted Rocks SpurMountain biking · Next doorPhoto: Jacob Montgomery, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
ILLINOIS GULCH TRAILHiking · ~8 min drivePhoto: jaygannett, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Rampart Range RoadRock climbing · ~13 min drivePhoto: Jacob Montgomery, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Best time to visit Painted Rocks
Best months: May–July and September–October. 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.
Jan
41° / 16°
6 wet
Feb
43° / 18°
6 wet
Mar
50° / 23°
9 wet
Apr
57° / 29°
9 wet
May
68° / 39°
10 wet
Jun
79° / 47°
11 wet
Jul
83° / 54°
12 wet
Aug
80° / 52°
13 wet
Sep
72° / 43°
8 wet
Oct
60° / 33°
6 wet
Nov
48° / 22°
8 wet
Dec
41° / 17°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Monument, CO, 12.8 mi away at 7,080 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Painted Rocks
18 sites for tent camping
