Openings · last 7 days
8
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 8 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-231869
When Mount Princeton reopens
Mount Princeton's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
10
Openings · last 90 days
14
Only 14 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): 22 reserved · 16 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative). Of the facility's 19 monitored sites, 13 can be reserved online and 6 are first-come, first-served.
No online availability right now
Of the 38 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Sep 19, 2026): 22 reserved · 16 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)22 / 22
Of the 38 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Sep 19, 2026): 22 reserved · 16 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 Mount Princeton
Overview
Mount Princeton Campground is located in beautiful Chalk Creek Canyon in central Colorado. This popular facility 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
Stream fishing is best above Cascade Falls, about 2 miles west of the campground. Nearby Chalk Lake is heralded as a great family fishing lake with rainbow, brook and brown trout.
Nearby ATV/UTV and 4X4 rides include Mount Antero, Baldwin Lake, Tincup Pass, Hancock Pass, Pomeroy Lakes, Hancock Lakes.
Facilities
The campground offers single-family sites, a few of which are wheelchair accessible. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. Wheelchair accessible vault toilets are provided. Firewood is sold on-site. Parking spurs are gravel.
Sites #1, and 14-17 are "walk-up", first-come, first-served sites. All other sites are reservable. Site #2 is used by the host from mid-May to Labor Day weekend, after that it is available as a "walk-up", first-come, first-served site.
Natural Features
The campground is situated at an elevation of 8,600 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 stand of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir offers partial shade in the campground. Chalk Creek can be accessed from the campground. It flows 27 miles eastward from the Collegiate Peaks before joining the Arkansas River. Chalk Lake is about a mile west of the campground.
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 unique restaurants, shops, and art galleries. The area boasts more than 100 miles of Arkansas River to raft, fish, float or kayak, 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, ziplining and swimming.
19 monitored sites6 FCFS sitesRVs up to 45 ftNo hookups15 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 7 miles to the campground.
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
CampingFishingHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteSwimming Site
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-231869 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-231869 · Mount Princeton · Salida CO12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Mount Princeton?
Campsite Sniper's current snapshot shows none of the 38 tracked site-nights open for online reservation at Mount Princeton. That can mean dates are reserved, closed, not yet released, or offered first-come, first-served rather than online. Campsite Sniper has also detected 14 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 Mount Princeton?
Campsite Sniper detected 8 site-date openings at Mount Princeton in the last 7 days, 10 over 30 days and 14 over the last 90.
Which sites at Mount Princeton fit a 35-foot RV?
2 of the 19 sites that support RV analysis have a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 45 ft. 2 of those 19 sites have a recorded maximum length and 17 do not; they are not counted as fitting.
Does Mount Princeton 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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