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A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

Forest Service group campground

Pickle Gulch

Forest Service group campground in Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG, Gilpin County, Colorado. 9,093 feet. 3.3 miles from Black Hawk.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
Elevation
9,093 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
6 6 group walk to
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Gilpin County

Overview

Pickle Gulch is a group picnic and camping facility located just off the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway/Highway 119. Visitors enjoy the area for its scenic and off-road driving, and nearby hiking and fishing opportunities.

Recreation

Many hiking and biking trails are found nearby. Scenic driving is available along Highways 119 and 72, which is also 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

Pickle Gulch is an area that offers day-use picnic sites and six campsites to accommodate large groups. The picnic site can accommodate up to 150 people and is equipped with picnic tables and campfire circles. A parking area, vault toilets and a playground are provided. The group campsites are all walk-to sites for tent camping only. Each campsite is equipped with picnic tables, a campfire circle and tent pads. Vault toilets and drinking water spigots are shared between sites. A separate day-use area contains two volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, picnic tables and a vault toilet. Firewood may be gathered from the surrounding forest, if available, or purchased from the host.

Natural Features

The site offers many scenic views of the surrounding area. It is set among a fairly level forest of lodgepole pine trees, dotted with aspens.

Due to the mountain pine beetle infestation and removal of hazardous trees, there may be little to no shade at these sites.

Nearby Attractions

The historic mining town of Central City is nearby. The town hosts various popular events, including Lou Bunch Day and the Central City Opera and Jazz festivals.

Golden Gate Canyon State Park is a short drive from the campground. This scenic park offers more than 35 miles of hiking trails. Mountain biking and horseback riding are also allowed on some trails. Every stream and pond within 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
  • day use area
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • scenic drive

The land around Pickle Gulch

The ringed pin is this group 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 August 11, 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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