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

Forest Service campground

South Meadows

Forest Service campground in Pike and San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands, Teller County, Colorado. About 8,000 feet. 4.9 miles from Woodland Park.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Pike and San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands
Elevation
About 8,000 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
63 60 standard non-electric, 2 tent only non-electric, 1 rv non-electric
Longest rig
80 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Teller County

Overview

South Meadows Campground, located 5 miles north of Woodland Park, provides a scenic spot for campers to rest and enjoy the many recreational offerings of the area. The campground attracts hikers and bikers with access to the multipurpose paved Centennial Bike Trail, as well as visitors looking for a central location for day trips to Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods. Garden of the Gods is a National Natural Landmark in Colorado Springs, featuring incredible rock formations, impressive vistas and a free visitor and nature center.

Recreation

The 4.2-mile Centennial Trail, a paved, accessible recreation trail, connects South Meadows Campground to Manitou Lake Picnic Area and Colorado Campground. The trail is popular for hikers, inline skaters and bicyclists. The nearby Rainbow Falls OHV Trail System and North Divide OHV Trail System are recommended for off-road vehicle enthusiasts. Fishing is available at nearby Manitou Lake and Trout Creek.

Facilities

Each site has a campfire ring and picnic table. Roads are paved and a campground host is on duty. Vault toilets and drinking water may be found throughout the campground with reduced facilities outside of peak season.

Natural Features

Campsites are tucked in a stand of ponderosa pines at an elevation of 8,000 feet. To the north is the 5-acre Manitou Lake. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer months and temperatures are generally mild, with warm and pleasant days and cooler nights.

Nearby Attractions

The town of Woodland Park is located five miles south of South Meadows Campground where campers can find gas, food, dining and shopping.

Visitors can tour the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and view the impressive architecture at the Cadet Chapel. Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods are other popular attractions.

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

What people do here

  • camping

The land around South Meadows

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 February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

Join Overlanding Life
Saved Account

Start with a region

Browse the directory