USDA Forest Service · Colorado
Palisade Campground
USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 8,366 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- PALISADE CG (NFSR 603) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
- Nearest town
- South Fork, Colorado
- Activities
- Boating, Canoeing, Boating, Power, Fishing, Hiking, Scuba Diving, Swimming, Facility Lake, Viewing Scenery, Viewing Wildflowers, Viewing Wildlife, Water Skiing
About
US Forest Service campground. Located right on the Rio Grande River, this is the only campground in the canyon between Creede and South Fork. It is located adjacent to Colorado Highway 149 for easy access to travelers passing through. Active railroad tracks bisect the campground. Highway 149 runs along the northeast side of the campground and there is no screening between the two. There is some highway traffic year-around and occasionally a scenic railroad excursion passes through the campground. Some of the 12 sites are out in the open, while other sites are screened with cottonwoods/aspen/spruce/fir. Firewood is not provided but may be gathered on Forest lands in the area. There is ample overflow parking near the entrance sign. A host is usually stationed at the campground. Fishing, and rafting are popular on the river. This is a popular area and heavily used in the summer. It tends to stay full from mid-June through August. Early afternoon arrival is recommended. Not reservable through Recreation.gov, so plan on first-come, first-served; check with the ranger district for current conditions and fees.
Fees
Day Use:
$12 per day
$10 per day (during shoulder season)
Overnight Use:
Single Site: $29 per night
Single Site: $10 per night (during shoulder season)
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37° | 11° | -14° | 53° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 38° | 12° | -8° | 52° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 43° | 19° | 5° | 65° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 51° | 24° | 6° | 62° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 61° | 35° | 11° | 71° | 7 of 11 |
| June | 74° | 43° | 32° | 85° | 1 of 11 |
| July | 79° | 50° | 42° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 76° | 49° | 42° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 70° | 43° | 20° | 82° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 60° | 34° | 18° | 71° | 7 of 10 |
| November | 51° | 27° | -9° | 63° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 38° | 8° | -15° | 55° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Hansen Mill Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
- Alder Guard Station · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi · 1 sites
- Highway Springs Campground · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi
- Cathedral Campground · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi
- Lower Beaver Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi
All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-06. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.