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A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

Forest Service campground

Cold Springs

Forest Service campground in Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG, Gilpin County, Colorado. About 9,200 feet. 2.8 miles from Black Hawk.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
Elevation
About 9,200 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
40 32 standard non-electric, 5 walk to, 3 tent only non-electric
Longest rig
45 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Gilpin County

Overview

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.

Recreation

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 but 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. Off-road enthusiasts will find many jeep roads in the vicinity.

Facilities

There are 38 sites in the campground. Sites 1 through 5 are pull-over's with wooden retaining walls. 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 & 11 are pull-over's 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. There is a playground for small children.

Natural Features

The campground is located in a mountainside aspen and lodgepole pine forest, at an elevation of 9,200 feet.

Nearby Attractions

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. The scenic park offers over 35 miles of hiking trails. Mountain biking and horseback riding are allowed on some trails. Every stream and pond in the park is open to fishing.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • scenic drive

The land around Cold Springs

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated September 2, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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