Openings · last 7 days
15
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 15 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-231868
When Collegiate Peaks reopens
Collegiate Peaks's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
27
Openings · last 90 days
32
Only 32 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 56 monitored sites
Of the 112 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Sep 19, 2026): 70 reserved · 42 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative). Of the facility's 56 monitored sites, 44 can be reserved online and 12 are first-come, first-served.
No online availability right now
Of the 112 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Sep 19, 2026): 70 reserved · 42 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 / 112
Reserved (of online inventory)70 / 70
Of the 112 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Sep 19, 2026): 70 reserved · 42 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 56 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 Collegiate Peaks
Overview
Collegiate Peaks Campground is located 11 miles west of Buena Vista, Colorado, along Middle Cottonwood Creek near the top of Cottonwood Pass. The campground offers well-spaced campsites and scenic views of the surrounding mountains. Visitors enjoy fishing and exploring local trails. A commercial hot springs inn and spa is located about 5 miles east of the campground.
"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
Hiking and fishing are among the most popular activities. The Denny Creek Trailhead is less than a mile away and it take hikers through Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area to destinations such as Kroenke Lake and Mt. Yale. The Ptarmigan Lake Trailhead is less than 3 miles from the campground and boasts views of vivid wildflowers. Middle Cottonwood Creek is small but fairly well-stocked with brook trout. Determined anglers can often pull rainbow and cutthroat trout from the beaver ponds west of the campground.
Facilities
The campground offers several single-family sites on three loops. Each site is equipped with a picnic table, campfire ring and grill. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Sites# 1, and 18-30 are first come-first served, also called "Walk-up" sites. All other sites are reservable. Site #2 is used by the host from mid-May through 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 9,800 feet, tucked in a dense stand of mixed conifers and aspen. Some sites sit alongside the creek while others are tucked back in the woods. Afternoon thunderstorms are common during summer months.
Nearby Attractions
Cottonwood Pass is a high mountain pass across the Continental Divide in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains. The road reaches the divide at an elevation of 12,126 feet. The Collegiate Peaks Wilderness offers challenging trails and prime backcountry fishing lakes. The Town of Buena Vista is 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.
56 monitored sites12 FCFS sitesRVs up to 50 ftNo hookups52 shadedPets OKFire pitsMax party 8
Getting there
From Buena Vista, Colorado, take Highway 306. At the stoplight, go west for 11 miles toward Cottonwood Pass. Campground is located on the left-hand side of the road. Highway 306 is paved on east side of Cottonwood Pass.
Salida Ranger District Office, 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
CampingFishingHikingHorseback Riding
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-231868 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-231868 · Collegiate Peaks · Salida CO12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Collegiate Peaks?
Campsite Sniper's current snapshot shows none of the 112 tracked site-nights open for online reservation at Collegiate Peaks. That can mean dates are reserved, closed, not yet released, or offered first-come, first-served rather than online. Campsite Sniper has also detected 32 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 Collegiate Peaks?
Campsite Sniper detected 15 site-date openings at Collegiate Peaks in the last 7 days, 27 over 30 days and 32 over the last 90.
Which sites at Collegiate Peaks fit a 35-foot RV?
1 of the 56 sites that support RV analysis has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 50 ft. 1 of those 56 site has a recorded maximum length and 55 do not; they are not counted as fitting.
Does Collegiate Peaks have online availability right now?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot, none of the 112 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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