Three campgrounds managed by the National Forest Service lie along the perimeter of the lake. At 8,600 feet in elevation, St. Charles Campground has 15 non-electric sites 1 mile west of the lake along the St. Charles River. Southside campground has eight dry RV sites for vehicles 30 feet or less in length that provide easy access to trails, fishing and boating. Electric hookups and tent-only sites are available at the 29-site La Vista Campground. Primitive amenities provided at all campgrounds include hand-pumped drinking water and vault restrooms, as well as fire rings and picnic tables at each site.
Aspen Acres Campground lies 3 miles from San Isabel Lake at 9,200 feet above sea level. The campground caters to RVs with full-hookup sites for rigs of all sizes. Enjoy conveniences that include hot showers, laundry rooms, grills and dump station, or relax at community areas that include a recreation hall, library and outdoor pavilion. Long-term sites are available, with telephone hookups available to your RV. Secluded spaces among the trees on the hillsides as well as sites convenient to community amenities may be reserved in advance.
Venture along one of the trails or forest roads to find a site to pitch a tent or park an RV. Choose a site on a vegetation-free, hard-packed surface that appears to have been camped in before. Minimize damage to the environment by building your fire in a previously built fire ring, using a fire pan or backpacking stove. You can also build a mound fire atop loose dirt or sand. Use a portable toilet, human waste bag, or carefully bury your fecal matter a minimum of 200 feet from streams, lakes and washes. Toilet paper should be removed in a zip-close bag or burned in a coffee can with holes poked around the bottom edge to ventilate the flame. Set the can on a fireproof surface before putting a match to it.
The Colorado forests are particularly susceptible to fire due to prolonged drought and trees damaged by the pine bark beetle. Obey all fire regulations and check with rangers or campground hosts before your arrival to ensure your camp is not affected by fires. When camping near areas that have sustained fire damage, you are more likely to encounter hungry wildlife searching for human food to replace natural food sources that have been destroyed. Dispose of trash in bear-proof canisters provided by the campground and keep the trails you hike as well as your campsite free of crumbs, fruit peels, seed husks or other food particles. Store your food out-of-sight in your hard-sided RV, in the trunk of your car, or in a bear-resistant container at least 100 feet from your tent or popup trailer. Packing food in air-tight containers can greatly reduce bear-attracting aromas. If staying in a tent or pop-up, change out of clothing that may retain odors from meals you've eaten or cooked and store them in your bear-resistant container. Keep kids and pets close to avoid attracting the attention of a hunting mountain lion.
