San Isabel National Forest Reviews

We have been going here for over 20 years. We have a small cabin and it really is an awesome place to get away from the hustle of the world. Nice trails, nice lake to fish for trout. Great place to have a picnic. There is a small lodge that is open in the summer and they serve food and has a gift shop.

The drive through here is beautiful. There was still snow and Lake Isabel was frozen but that didn't detract from the amazing views.

My husband and I try to go to the Lodge each asunder during the spring,summer and fall.
Our first stop is the resturant at The Lodge, where we enjoy breakfast with very generous portion,I usually ask for a half order or a child's plate.
The people who work there are friendly, and always al ways helpful.
After breakfast, it's time to go walking around the lake, and trails that are clearly marked.
It is also a great place for a fami l you cookout, if you go for a cookout go up early and save your picnic area. Holiday weekends are very crowded,so it's best to go early. The picnic area is on a first come basis, the cabins athe the lodge are very charming and rustic, a terrific place to disconnect from every day Hassel, must make reservations for the cabins. I hope if you choose to visit,you will have as wonderful time as my family does.

Beautiful vistas around every turn whether hiking or driving through San Isabel. Have your cameras ready; it is spectacular.

We drove through since I have elderly parents. The scenery is beautiful. Such a lovely day for them.

This review is specifically for the La Vista CG in San Isabel.

This is not my favorite place to camp simply because I really like privacy and solitude when I camp. However, driving up to this small campground is very beautiful and worth the trip, especially if you've never been. The tent sites ARE quite nice and much more secluded than the electric/rv sites. However, we spent 30 years tent camping (staying in multiple CGs all throughout the state of Colorado, and now that we have a trailer, we prefer the electric sites. At La Vista campground, where we stayed, most of the RV sites have practically no foliage in most cases and little space between sites. That said, we have already booked another stay for a night next month on our way up to our most favorite place to camp, which is 2 1/2 hours further up the road. It's great for a quick overnighter. Except for the lack of privacy, this is a lovely place to visit. Also, there are no showers and the toilets are vault. The camp host is lovely and does not infringe on your space unless you wish to visit with him.

Every time our family visits CO we must go to San Isabel and enjoy the breathtaking view. I never get tired of looking at the scenic view. This is a must see for anyone in the area.

We spent a couple of nights camping, it was easy to find a spot to camp a short hike from a national forest road, so didn't use one of the many prepared campgrounds. We really liked the remote feel without the 6 hour hike. I've read that there are not wolves in the area, but a large coyote (?) wandered past the camp and it certainly looked like a wolf to us, we also found areas where large animals had slept - the grass flattened.

So so so beautiful, make sure to take your camera. We were just driving thru this time but will have to go back and stay sometime during tourist season.

Spend some time walking around the lake. We saw our first black bear of the season near the park two weeks ago. Deer are always in the area. There is a small fee to get into the park but well worth it. Take a basket lunch or cook on the grills which are readily available. There are rental boats available.

We hiked up to Brown's Creek falls. We had an 8 & 10 year old & we where able to successfully walk the trail to the falls & back. About 6.5 miles total. The trail starts out steep but then levels off & just gradually climbs from there. The trail goes over the creek 3 times so the walk was fun & beautiful. You can continue on another 3 miles to the lake. Many people on the trail had large packs to camp out at the lake. We just went to the falls & back as we already had a cabin at Chalk Creek. There is absolutely no cell service, we have Sprint, so be prepared with food & water. Unless you've done this trail many times I would suggest going with at least 2 people in case of a sprained ankle or injury.

Nice moderate hike about 3 miles up to a water fall. A decent area to sit for lunch or a break. The “moderate” designation for this hike is the elevation change for about the first mile up, after that it is pretty pedestrian. About 6 miles round trip and travelled by hikers, dogs and horses. You get used to the horse piles after a while. Just sayin...

Hiking, walking, relaxing and picnicking. Mellow place to explore and watch birds and deer. Close enough to just go out for an early morning hike.

Totally enjoyable day outing. Easy access from Pueblo, beautiful vistas, and relaxation since the roads are good and safe.

Some of the most beautiful area in Colorado that is close enough to make a day trip out of it. Great fishing, hiking, biking, natural water slide (have to walk quit a ways to get to it) castle and leaf changing area. If you lucky you will spot wildlife. Very friendly area

We took the scenic through the San Isabel National Forest. It is worth the trip. We saw some wild animals and a herd of free range horses. Some of the scenery is breath taking and some is ho-hum but it is worth the drive.

San Isabel National forest is one of our favorite local escapes. There are many lakes and hiking trails. Bishops Castle is another great area to explore. There are also areas to camp. Very beautiful!

We routed our way through this area, with no idea of how much we would enjoy it. Breathtaking scenery for our drive, and wonderful little adventures along the way, like Bishops' Castle, and lakes.

One absolutely amazing time the fishing is great for hiking is wonderful the fall foliage is absolutely breathtaking meandering through the forest watching the elk and deer play was amazing getting up on the highway bridges and walking around you could just stand there for hours and take in the beauty accessibility is wonderful and the reception from the locals is simply the best

My favorite time to visit is fall for the turning of the colors but it's highly popular year round!
Great trails, lodging cabins and don't forget the fishing 🎣!
The scenery is so beautiful and is awesome for singles, romantic couples and of course families! There's no disappointment here!
Do yourself a Hugh favor and take the short drive to check it out!

LODGING:
We stay at the Pine Lodge when we go. John and Sharon are great hosts. The rooms are not super fancy, but are comfortable and practical. We have stayed here more than 10 times the last few years.

EXPERIENCE:
The lake, trails, and campgrounds are a blast to explore on a bike. The Lodge restaurant has some historic photos of the area and is a nice spot to eat breakfast. When we were there the hummingbirds were putting on a show outside the restaurant window's. The area was completed by New Deal workers in the 1930's and miners before that (Marion Mine). Bishop's Castle built by Puebloan Jim Bishop is becoming known world wide.

FISHING:
We tried everything and ended up using flies to catch the fish. The bigger the fly the bigger the fish. We had success at night during a full moon and in the early mornings. The early mornings, when it doesn't rain the night before, are prime times to go.

Beautiful drive to the lake don't forget to stop at Bishops Castle. Definitely worth the drive. Quaint town

This is a beautiful spot with amazing views for pictures and hiking. If you can pay for gas then there"s really no need to go spend a fortune while you're in Pueblo.

Small lake with boat rentals, plenty of fishing spots around lake and dogs ARE allowed so make sure you take a doggie bag with you just in case you run across piles of poo left by inconsiderate dog owners...but minus the poo conditions....plenty of picnic areas, walking trails and nature at it's finest...small restaurant good food and lodging, cabins...lots to do and see...Bishops Castle right up the road...

The forest is spectacular, especially in fall with the mix of green, yellow, and red trees. The Bishop Castle is a fascinating marvel of one-man building a huge castle - well worth visiting.

The west side has a beautiful lake and you may even spot some bears wandering around. Drive northwest from here to Westcliffe and pass Bishop's Castle for an unsusual adventure and climb.

I love the beauty of the forest and there is many points where you can put off the highway to take pictures or just enjoy. There is one negative which is the places are not clearly marked. So if you are looking for a particular place it will be hard to find it.

We spent the 4th of July weekend visiting San Isabel National Forest. We stayed in the KOA in Colorado City, but drove into the forest each day. It is very pretty. Lake Isabel is gorgeous, very accessible, and pretty crowded (at least that weekend). Lots of people fishing, though we had no luck, many people did. The campsites looked very nice, we may try those next time. Beautiful hiking trails and views. We will definitely be back! There is a $6 daily park fee.

This National Forest has many campgrounds, trails for hiking, horseback riding and ATV travel. The area contains deer, elk, fox and turkey viewing and a chance for bear sightings. Lake San Isabel is stocked and 18-21 inch Rainbow Trout are caught on a regular basis with some reaching 24-26 inches in length.

Always pleasant driving thru trees. Sad to see dead/burned trees but that is nature. Many Nat. forests in Co.

Have a cabin in the San Isabel area and love the area because of the great variety of things to do without all the crowds north.

We took a fall drive to see the leaves. It was beautiful! Clean, cool, and full of color. Close to Bishop's Castle too. Worth the drive!

Beautiful park in the fall, and there seemed to be plenty of accommodations near the lake. We found quite a few picnic tables scattered around the lake, and lots of people were out walking the trail around the water. Even though we saw several people, it wasn't overly crowded and we had plenty of space for our family to spread out and enjoy the scenery.

Over the years I've camped as a Boy Scout in the Rockies above San Isabel, and visited it later from the east coast when I was lonely for family and Rocky Mountain beauty. The forest has everryting an outdoorsman could want amoung it's variety of lakes and streams. And it doesn't lack for historical places, restaurants, and other things to do. I've a friend who lives in Rye, and my Mama and I have visited his wonderful home as dinner guests, after having a "Dutch Lunch" at Gus's Tavern on Abriendo in Pueblo. Like all of the mountainous regions of Colorado it boasts great beauty, and includes the Sangre de Cristo mount range. You can also find skiing at several places, and if you know Colorado's great highway system, built by Steve MacNichols as governor and former Head of Transportation, you'll know that NOTHING is far from where you'd like to go - just a few hours takes you to marvelous views and experiences. Fishermen also can find paradise there.

Charles L. Riccillo,
Pueblo, CO

We packed a picnic, paid the $6 to get the car in, and took a walk around the lake! We brought books, but we were more caught up in reading the signs about the local wildlife around the lake. We had some scavenging King Fisher birds as well Chipmunks that helped themselves to our food. It was comic relief and a perfect place to kick back. There were no bugs or snakes that we saw, so the trip was just overall relaxing. There's plenty of room to park and be secluded if you are looking to nestle into a cove alone.

Enjoy a scenic and exciting drive up to an astounding view at 8500'. This natural beauty is all you would expect and more with ever-changing landscapes and vistas. Green conifers- White stands of Aspen- Blue Skies and Clear Water. Do not pass up the opportunity to visit this fabulous gift from Mother Nature. Be on the lookout for bighorn sheep, mountain goats, wild turkeys, hawks and all manner of beasts native to this wonderland. Have a great time as you marvel at the stone wonder that is Bishop's Castle and climb to the top for one-of-a-kind views.
Enjoy this beautiful place and please remember to leave behind only footprints.

San Isabel National Forest is beautiful, 15 degrees cooler than the flats, and free.
It is a beautiful place to hike, perhaps camp if that's your thing. Lots of trails, lots of road that make hiking easy. Beautiful Vistas! You can see Kansas from up on some of those mountains!

I have only been there spring, summer and fall. Never been one for cold weather outings so I can't say about the winter season. (but I have seen the effects when I go out early spring.)

The smell of pine permeates the air. There is often running water nearby that you can hear. The ground is rocky where others have tread but soft with tree litter, pine needles and moss if you get off the trails.

Be careful about the altitude...it will sneak up on you. In the 60's the roads and trails were filled with Olympic athletes preparing for the Olympic Games in Mexico City. They were acclimating to the altitude expected in Mexico.

We had an excellent hike today, and the aspens are at peak color around the lake and up to 9,000'. Enjoy!

The restaurant is great and the trails are beautiful!! One of the best places to go in Colorado avoid the crowds

I love San Isabel. I grew up spending lots of time here in the 80s now 700 miles away I miss it! I just left a great weekend there. I brought my kids back to this quaint place. It's still very unspoiled!! Lots of fishing around lake Isabel, splashing through the ice cold streams, hiking & picnicking. Wildlife, foxes, deer, chipmunks and many types of birds, it was a nature lovers paradise.
You can camp outside in a tent, rent a cabin or be lucky enough to know people with a fabulous home to stay at. Bishops castle is up the road & has gotten SO much bigger, it's a must see.The lodge at San Isabel has a restaurant as well as your fishing worms, and San Isabel Shirts, Hats & Coffee cups & Camping necessities.
Go, but don't spoil this piece of paradise. Pick up your trash, and leave it more beautiful than when you got there!

Magnificent scenery. Beautiful lake. Offers boat rentals, fishing, picnicking, and relaxing atmosphere. Bishop's Castle is a very short distance away and is an absolute "Must see!" Don't miss this if you're in the area. Only a short drive from I-25.

Perfect place to get away from the stress of life. Winter or summer it is IT! Fees are for camping and picnicing but goes to a good cause.

This is a beautiful lake tucked into the surrounding mountains. Unfortunately, we've never had any luck catching fish in this lake. But wildlife sightings are common. The campgrounds are nicely maintained, and our trips have been pleasant. If you want to reserve a campsite with hook-ups, reserve early, because they fill up fast. The very small village nearby has shops that sell ice cream and rent small boats. There are also cabins to rent if you don't want to camp, but reserve in advance. This can be a nice day trip for a picnic and walk, or an overnight trip. If only the fishing was better....

I have been here a hundred times over the years, but it is always breath-taking when I return. The cool breezes, the fresh scent of pine, the noise the wind makes as it threads through the trees, the reflection of the sky on the lake, trails blending into the new growth or old leaves and needles.

And it is always the same. I notice different things now that other visits over the last 50 years didn't show. I am different each time but San Isabel is always the same...beautiful.

The San Isabel national forest is probably the least visited national forest in Colorado but that is not for a lack of scenery or things to do. Most people simply zip along I-25 on the east side of the mountains, maybe stopping long enough to snap a picture of one of the highlights of the San Isabel, the twin Spanish Peaks. Take time to leave the interstate and explore the southern part of the forest by taking hwy 12 , the Highway of Legends (see listing) through the town of La Veta, through the volcanic dikes, and around the peaks.to Trinidad. Other highlights include a cluster of fourteen thousand foot peaks near Alamosa, the Sangre de Christo range west of Westcliffe, the Wet Mountains east of Westcliffe, and Bishop's Castle, plus many other trails and roads.

Just stayed 4 nights at site #25 at La Vista Campground. The site was great, private, and the campground was quiet most of the time. There are no water hookups, nor can you fill your tanks from the water spigots, you MUST fill buckets, or water carriers and then funnel into your RV tanks. Fishing, hiking, and kayaking are the activities we enjoyed the most. Due to Covid, the lodge is closed except for two hours over the lunch time, on Saturdays and Sundays, for carry out only. SO if you want to visit the gift shop, buy a fishing license, or eat dinner during the week, you cannot. They are not renting boats either. The weekends seem to be more crowded with ATV's on the trails, and more people fishing. Overall, it was a pretty, easy, laid back vacation. The only thing I would change is the water filling situation.

Also, if you are hauling a camper, take the turn off south of the lake, not the turn by the lodge. It is much more easier to maneuver a trailer on that road, than going to the drive north of the lake.

Mountains are relaxing and quiet. Rainbow trout were biting so grandson was excited to catch his first one. Quaint towns tell a lot of history in a beautiful setting. Road construction keeps you in reality. Scenic Byway Highway 12 is worth the time to drive!

Very nice place. Well maintained. Bathrooms seem to be cleaned on a regular schedule. Beautiful views.

We went for three days while visiting Colorado and stayed at the Pine Lodge while other family camped in a camper in La Vista campgrounds. Everyone was super friendly, we had a blast fishing and everyone who fished caught a few. Hiking trails were amazing. Definitely will go back.

5th time there and it is absolutely amazing. So beautiful and peaceful. Great hiking, good trout fishing, beautiful scenery. The Lodge is a wonderful place to stay. They are pretty rustic cabins, but they're clean and just what you need when out in an area like this. Stayed in cabin #9 which had 2 seperate rooms with a kitchen in the middle. No problems at all, no cell service which was perfect. TV with a vcr, no cable. Would definately go again and for longer then 1 day! The restaurant was pretty good. They have everything you need to fish too. Boat rentals as well! Love this place!

We have camped the past 2 nights in the San Isabel National Forest. The campgrounds are very clean. Spacious area for tent camping. Fishing is excellent. The hiking was terrific. Awesome views. A great place to be unplugged.
Be sure to bring cash. If you stay in the campgrounds they are $17 and $18 dollars a night. You must pay in cash. There is no change made. You deposit your cash in an envelope and drop in a tube. There was a camp host at each campground. They are vey helpful and have firewood for sale.

Drove through the San Isabel Forest, beautiful. Landscape so different from the east! The mountains and valleys are breathtaking.

This area brings back such memorable times of growing up with my grandparents. If you enjoy the outdoors & being with family there are plenty of campground sites, as well as picnic areas. Be sure to wear a good pair if shoes so that you can follow the paved path or stairs down to the lake. There are also paddle boats to rent & a restaurant/maybe a store with limited snacks!

A nice way to spend a few hours sightseeing. It was very foggy one day I was there and I got some really nice pics of the mountainsides as the aspens were at their peak of fall colors.

Camped at Bear Lake. Totally worth the drive! Note: You may want to visit that restroom facility at the park entrance before you make that 20-minute drive up the mountain. It's a bumpy ride in spots. Spacious campsites and no tent pads, giving you the flexibility to put up your tent in the perfect spot. Absolutely gorgeous views!

Take this drive--beautiful scenery, awesome views, nice lake setting, golden aspens in the fall.
Very relaxing & photo ready opportunities around every corner. Stop in at RYE CAFE.

We did a trail ride on Browns Creek Trail out to the waterfall! Wow. And we had the waterfall all to ourselves for a leisurely picnic lunch. I think it would be a great hike or mountain bike ride as well. I plan to return to the national forest to explore more in the future. The views were great but unfortunately the smoke from the wild fire in Washington added a lot of haze. Would love to see it on a clear day.

We escape here on a regular basis-- hikes, picnics, and road trips--one end or the other, one side of the mountains or or the other.

Only had time to drive through but it was absolutely beautiful! Still lots of snow and in fact it was snowing a little the day we went. I would not miss seeing this if you're in the area. I would like to go back and do some hiking.

I took so many pictures here! It’s beautiful around the lake & just driving through is beautiful with deer sightings & lots of beautiful trees. I like that it wasn’t overpopulated & felt like you were truly alone in nature with family for most of the ride up.

I go camping here as often as possible, it's so beautiful. The campsites are $16 a night with electric. There is a creek that runs behind the sites and the little lake at the bottom is beautiful. This is the perfect idea of what Colorado look like!

The staff are very friendly and the campgrounds were very clean and in a very secluded wildlife area with dear running about and a stream running near. You can hear the stream and it is very soothing.Ok

Beautiful, peaceful. Easy hikes. Nice lake and stream. Wonderful summer temperatures. Restaurant at lake is so so. Great place to spend a few days.

We accidentally made a wrong turn and ended up here. Although our mistake cost us 1.5 hours, driving through here was very pleasant and scenic. Definitely worth a drive through!

We were so fortunate to have arrived just as the Aspens were turning gold. I'm headed back for more just to experience the other seasons. Bring your tent and sleeping bag and camp back in the woods - for free!

Lakes, streams, water falls, natural water slides, camping, fishing, colorful aspens turning color in the fall, good snowfall and clear roads, etc.

Quite a peaceful area. Not too far from Pueblo and a nice drive to the mountains.

You can take a quiet peaceful drive from Pueblo to the mountains to Lake San Isabel. There are nice walking areas Very peaceful.

My family has stayed here several times over the years because it had cute cabins by the San Isabel Lake. I stayed there alone in June 2014 with two big dogs and have to say I was very disappointed. I stayed in the "Honeymoon" cabin, the smallest, which was very cute, BUT it had roaches! And the plumbing was very noisy - singing and clunking all night long. When I told the desk clerk about it the next morning checking out, she was totally unconcerned and did not even apologize or offer any compensation. All the food on the lodge restaurant menu was fried and unhealthy. No salads or fruit of any kind. The new owners are from Texas, and apparently brought their culture with them. Too bad because it spoiled what used to be a very nice place to stay. Plus the Forest Service now charges to even walk around the lake. Very sad.

San Isabel is the best kept secret for the Pueblo area, not far to travel, great campground with an abundance of wildlife and good fishing. Campground is electric only but don't pass it up because of that, it is worth the trip.

Perfect for taking kids fishing, we were in cabins: 10/12. the walk to the beautiful San Isabel Lake was about three minutes... so perfect for littles. The trails were easy for hiking, and river/stream fishing was fun.
The new owner of 2021 was working very hard to be attentive to our needs. We stayed for eight nights and had two clean cabins that were actually larger than they appeared on the website. We took our kids and grands to Westcliffe horseback riding. There is a darling store for incidentals right across from the cabins. Very nice employees.

Went to this crazy castle about 10 minutes away that you have to see to believe.
Two suggestions: the wifi was very spotty, so they need to figure that out.
They do not provide any hair shampoo, soap, or cleaning supplies which would be nice.
Give it a try and enjoy this stunning countryside~

Our family loves to visit, camp overnight, fish, and in the winter tubing. Beautiful park to hike and stop and have picnic

Worth the visit! The park is beautiful, clean, and there are many picnic areas. The lake is large and there is a walk way around the lake and many areas to fish.

The is a $6 entry fee to the park which is very reasonable!

Drove up from Beulah, CO for the day. The Lodge San Isabel had just opened for the season. Had a terrific lunch. The owners of the Lodge were some of nicest people. We had some snow flurries on our drive on into the mountains. Great picnic and camping areas. Hiking trails all through the forest. Made a stop at Bishop Castle (worth seeing once) and headed on back to Beulah.

Loved the food at the restaurant. My wife and I go up to eat a great hamburger at least once per year. Breathtaking scenery with the beautiful lake and majestic mountains behind. They have a store, restaurant, and lodging with boat rental for the lake. Lots of fun for the day.

We stayed at Purgatoire Campground. The campsite is right next to the river. Wildlife everywhere. Loved it.

This is a wonderful drive great for everyone from eldery to the young. The drive is worth it and the San Isabel lodge has great food

Lovely quiet lake with no power boats. Wonderful restaurant. Crazy Bishop's Castle. Beautiful forest.

within 45 minutes of Pueblo--great place for a picnic, good facilities

Do you enjoy hiking? Mountain biking? How about riding a dirt bike or trials bike or 4-wheeler on mountain trails? Do you enjoy Backpacking? Fishing? Camping? It's all here in San Isabel, with a view to enjoy wherever you go! Stop at a U.S. Forest Service office and pick up a map - you'll see all the places to do all these things and more!

We took Grankids from CA to play in snow. We didn't have any snow here and it is not to far to drive there. We also enjoy going fishing,hiking and having relaxing picnic there. Traffic is minimal and drive was just as beautiful in December as it is in the summer and fall!!

The San Isabel National Forest is expansive and covers a variety of superb rocky mountain terrain and scenery, from high desert to foothills to the high alpine. No matter what outdoor opportunity you are looking for, you will find it here. Many of the best parts are easily accessible to the area's population centers and/or major tourist stops.

We camped one night in this area, very scenic and the campgrounds were nice. Trailhead for South Colony Lakes was close by. Would like to come back and explore.

These owners are awful ....we rented two cabins and the owner came at us saying that the cabins had a person limit which is why we rented two cabins....once she realized her mistake her and her husband continued to be rude...If you have kids DO NOT STAY HERE >>>THIS PEOPLE HAVE SOMETHING AGAINST KIDS AND ANIMALS....San Isabel is National Park...I would recommend other cabins or stay at he camping grounds...otherwise you could see your hard earned money and your family picnic ruined by the SCROOGES / owners that run the lodge

We have a travel trailer and love the campground at La Vista. The area is clean and camp hosts are friendly and helpful. The hike around the lake is beautiful and lots of places to picnic in shade and under lush pine trees. A peaceful place to relax and enjoy nature. Pet friendly as well

This is another in a long line of completely breath-taking places we visited! We're kind of proud of a lot of Utah, But this place really gets to You in a deep way! I'd sure love to live up here!

The lake was the highlight. As was the hiking. A couple of really nice trails and both were fairly beginner level. A nice forest...

Very pretty nice walk around the lake.wish there was more free parking.saw deer i think you can put canoes in the lake

This is a very nice area to visit with plenty of open space and smaller crowds than many other parts of Colorado. The hiking trails are not as steep as in many places plenty of nice small lakes and streams, and there is plenty of wildlife.

Enjoy the great outdoors by taking a drive to the San Isabel NF. You'll pass fields of sunflowers and incredible views of the mountains along the way. For great hiking, camping or sight seeing opportunities, grab a forest map and explore. It's only a short drive to get out of the city and into nature!

fantastic saw warterfall beauitiful lake deer bunnies and lots of flowers stared raining which was very cool went into westcliffe had lunch and went to lake for a walk great afternoon

whether in summer/winter this is a beautiful area. Trees and wildlife alike, and so quiet. Lake Isabelle area is so gorgeous.

I came to CO to get away for awhile and just be alone with God. THIS was the place to be! It was so insanely quiet. Just the trees and I. Beautiful running brooks, trees of all kinds, and enormous rocks to sit and read on while the leaves fell. There are bathrooms everywhere, except they do have them closed and winterized by the time I was there in Oct. There are some steps if you are headed for the picnic tables. Lots of parking. There are several little towns you can stop at for lunch if you go during the summer season. There is a fee during the summer season as well to park, just not in the off season.

What a wonderful introduction to the state from the east side. Driving through the Cimarron and Comanche National Grassland, and then viewing the Pike and San Isabel National Forest, is a delightful way to spend the day. We followed the Arkansas River all the way up through the grassland and up the west side of the San Isabels to Buena Vista before back-tracking to Monarch to spend the night...lovely!

This is my favorite place in Colorado! There is nothing fancy here it's just a nice place to go and relax. There is a lodge in the small town of San Isabel where you can get some dynamite cheese burgers and other fare. They offer some small cabins but I haven't stayed in one.

stayed for one night for my husbands birthday. the put us in a cabin knowing full and well there was a dead deer behind us that they were POURING BLEACH ON DAILY!! Pipes made a horrific moaning on and off all night and to top it off the housekeeper stole my brand new pair of running shoes! Never again! P.S. horrible food at the café!! Waitress was awesome though

San Isabel National Forest is a beautiful place. It is also quiet and a good place to commune with nature. We went there to go snow shoeing and there was not another person present which was nice.

While visiting family in Cuchara, CO we hiked several trails here. Views are breathtaking! A definite change in scenery once in the forest... lovely!

The drive was very pretty. There are many places to pull over and enjoy the scenery, and marked hiking trails.

The day we visited was sort of windy for fly fishing the lake. I ventured up the feeding river to find awesome trout filled holes the fishing was technical because of the tight canopy but well worth the risk. Many hungry trout await your well placed flies.

My husband and I have a cabin here. He helped his parents build it when he was a kid. We fell in love here 4 years ago and last year (July) we got married right on San Isabel lake. We are here every single chance we can.
Very beautiful atmosphere and the locals are very kind hearted. If you're only coming up for a day or the whole week, it's worth the drive.

We camped at the Davenport Campground in the San Isabel National Forest on our way back home from Yellowstone. It was not on our list of stops but we stumbled upon it while looking for a restroom near Bishop's Castle. It was the nicest campground that we stayed in on our entire 2 week trip. Clean bathrooms, beautiful sites, peaceful location.

This is a nice place to take a romantic stroll with your loved one, pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the outdoors. Not to mention the lake you can fish, rent paddle boats.

We went on a short hike here from Blue Lake to Bear Lake and it was awesome. The lakes were gorgeous and there were other little lakes around which were quiet and just as nice.

Once a year twords the end of summer we have a family get together almost like a reunion. It's always a good time visiting with family we haven't seen since last year. Hiking through the forest, playing in the river or lake is always fun.

Very pretty. Great hikes. Very pretty mountain lakes. I have driven through the area many times. Never disappointed.

Nice drive not to far from Pueblo Colorado into the mountains to a nice quiet get away where you can fish, hike and relax. There is a small store and cabins on certain sites you can rent.

San Isabel has it all. Camping, hiking, fishing, nature watching. If you enjoy nature and the outdoors then this is the spot for you! My family and I visited this spot while I was in Colorado and it did not disappoint. It has so many places to stop and take great photos! I spotted so much wildlife while I was there!

Limited good fishing spots, but if you go to the trailhead from the most distant campsite you'll have a lovely day! Hikes from here moderate with a fair amount of uphill. ...but absolutely beautiful scenery!

The St Charles campground is located in San Isabel just above the restaurant and gift shop in the center of Town. Upon arriving we were lucky enough to get one of the two RV sites and we also were able to secure the tent only site next to ours for our grown children and their kids. The creek runs right next to some of the sites and it is quite with just the creek sound at night. Shade is plentiful in the campground with trees everywhere. The live-in caretaker was very friendly and kept all the sites and bathrooms clean. I highly recommend this campground for a quick get away to the mountains.

This is a wonderful area of CO ,that few think of. Liveable, lots of wild life, not spoiled. People work hard to keep it that way.

San Isabel is only 25 miles west of Pueblo. It has a beautiful lake and the surrounding mountains are breathtaking. The small restaurant next to the lake is wonderful and has really good desserts. If you like to fish - the fishing is great!

If you have NEVER seen a black squirrel, this is the route you need to take for that to happen!! They are everywhere along this route. The San Isabel National Forest is gorgeous any time of the year but fall is my favorite!

My husband and I married here in a small, private ceremony five years ago. It was my first time visiting the area and we have been back several times since. It is always gorgeous with many new areas to explore each time.

The drive from Pueblo or Canon City thru the San Isabel Forest and by the San Isabel Lake to Alamosa, is breathtaking. The Forest is thick and peaceful and the scenes by the lake are like those from a painting. There is a car park across from the lake and you can follow a path round it to really absorb the peace.

The area is beautiful. I have not only camped there but just went there for hikes. The area includes different activities for the family.

This forest covers a lot of south central Colorado and includes the amazing Spanish Peaks, the azure San Isabel Lake, and Greenhorn Mountain. Most of the visitors are locals, and the crowds are a lot easier to deal with than in the more touristy parts of Colorado.

The natural water slide is fun. There are tons of hiking trails. Bishop's Castle is a must see. Please be respectful of the wildlife and people who live in the area.

We stayed at the Lodge at San Isabel. Our cabin was rustic, but contained all that we needed. If you want technology, the cabins have no wi-fi, cell service, or cable TV. Perfect for getting away from it all. We were able to fish at the lake, hike in the nearby forest to see the waterfalls, and enjoy the fox and deer that came to our cabin each night. The forest is breathtaking, and the drive through it is full of tight curves and changes in elevation.

We spent a week at the camp grounds. It was quite and clean. We had deer come right up to the campsite and if you decide to go up take a humming bird feeder they were everywhere. It is just a short drive from Pueblo and it is all paved roads. You have electric hookups.

Spent the weekend here and it's amazing. We took our RV and parked it just outside of San Isabel but went for day visits inside the Forest. The water (even as chilly as the air was) was beautiful (didn't get it...not until this summer). We just got back from Mexico and wanted to be near the water again and this, although is not the ocean with a beach, is a wonderful place to go.

Basic food, but really pretty good. Really friendly staff. Beautiful scenery and fudge to die for. They have a little store inside to grab keepsakes, or gear for fishing, and most importantly mosquito spray.