Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-231867
When Chalk Lake reopens
Chalk Lake's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
7
Openings · last 90 days
9
Only 9 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Sep 19, 2026 · of 19 monitored sites
Of the 38 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Sep 19, 2026): 20 reserved · 18 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative). Of the facility's 19 monitored sites, 11 can be reserved online and 8 are first-come, first-served.
No online availability right now
Of the 38 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Sep 19, 2026): 20 reserved · 18 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative). A free alert tells you if any date opens online.
Load status
Sep 18 – Sep 19, 2026Not open online100%
Open site-nights0 / 38
Reserved (of online inventory)20 / 20
Of the 38 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Sep 19, 2026): 20 reserved · 18 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Sep 2026No month in range currently shows online availability. 0 open site-nights across the tracked window — these site-nights are a mix of reserved, closed, unreleased and non-reservable dates.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 19 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
About Chalk Lake
Overview
Chalk Lake Campground is located in beautiful Chaffee County, Colorado. This popular facility sits near Chalk Lake and is within 4 miles of a private hot springs resort, making it an ideal location for rest and relaxation.
"First come, first served" does not necessarily mean that the site will be available when you get there. Someone may get there before you. This is a popular campground and is normally full starting on Friday, sometimes as early as Thursday, so plan accordingly.
Recreation
Chalk Lake is located next to the campground and is a great family fishing spot with rainbow, brook and brown trout. Motorized boats are not allowed on the lake. Chalk Creek also offers fishing, and it's best above Cascade Falls. Plenty of off-road vehicle trails are near the campground. Recommended rides include Mount Antero, Baldwin Lake, Tincup Pass, Hancock Pass, Pomeroy Lakes, and Hancock Lakes. The Cascade Loop Trail is located across the street from the campground. The Chalk Creek Trailhead is about 2 miles east of the campground which gives hikers access to the extensive Colorado Trail, which extends nearly 500 miles from Denver to Durango.
Facilities
The campground offers single-family sites, a few of which are accessible. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Accessible vault toilets are provided. Firewood is sold on-site. Sites: #4-9, and 14 "walk-up", first-come, first-served sites. All other sites are reservable. Site #1 is used by the host from mid-May to mid-September. After that time it is available as a "walk-up", first-come, first-served site.
Natural Features
The campground sits at an elevation of 9,000 feet in Chalk Creek Canyon, which gets its name from the soft, white, chalk-like kaolinite canyon walls. Kaolinite is a clay mineral that was deposited by percolating hot springs. A variety of wildlife makes its home in the area, including chipmunks, hummingbirds, birds of prey and mule deer.
Nearby Attractions
Take a day trip to the historic ghost town of St. Elmo, just 15 minutes from the campground. An old saloon, county courthouse and many other historic structures remain from the days of its mining glory. Rock hounds come to the area in search of quartz and aquamarine. The city of Salida and Town of Buena Vista are only a short drive away where visitors can enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops, incredible art galleries and a large selection of antique shops. The area boasts more than 100 miles of Arkansas River to raft, fish, float or kayak in, as well as fifteen 14,000 ft mountains. Visitors can choose from recreational activities like hiking, biking, ATV/UTV riding, kayaking, rafting, fishing, horseback riding, zipping and swimming.
19 monitored sites8 FCFS sitesRVs up to 30 ftNo hookups10 shadedWaterfrontRiverfrontPets OKFire pitsMax party 8
Getting there
From Buena Vista, Colorado, take Highway 285 south to Nathrop. Turn west on County Road 162 and travel 8 miles to the campground.
Salida Ranger District, Salida, CO 81201CAMPGROUNDS DO NOT HAVE PHONE SERVICE, CALLING TO CHECK AVAILABILITY PRIOR TO ARRIVAL IS NOT POSSIBLE. FOR RESERVATIONS CALL: 1-877-444-6777
CampingDay Use AreaFishingGold PanningHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteHorseback RidingHuntingMountain BikingRafting
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-231867 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-231867 · Chalk Lake · Salida CO12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Chalk Lake?
Campsite Sniper's current snapshot shows none of the 38 tracked site-nights open for online reservation at Chalk Lake. That can mean dates are reserved, closed, not yet released, or offered first-come, first-served rather than online. Campsite Sniper has also detected 9 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Chalk Lake?
Campsite Sniper detected 9 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Which sites at Chalk Lake fit a 35-foot RV?
No RV-analyzable site here has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 30 ft. 3 of those 19 sites have a recorded maximum length and 16 do not; they are not counted as fitting.
Does Chalk Lake have online availability right now?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot, none of the 38 tracked site-nights are open for online reservation. That can mean dates are reserved, closed, not yet released, or offered first-come, first-served rather than online. A free Campsite Sniper alert tells you if any date opens online.
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