Rio Grande National Forest

USDA Forest Service
Rio Grande
National Forest
1803 W. Highway 160
Monte Vista, CO 81144
719-852-5941

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
719-852-6271

Access

From South Fork, CO, take US Rt. 160 east 5.3 miles to Embargo Creek Rd. and County Rt. 18 signs. Turn left onto Rt. 18 and go 1.4 miles to a "T" intersection (County Rt. 15). Turn right onto Rt. 15 and go 0.3 miles to another "T" intersection (County Rt. 65). Turn left onto Rt. 65 and go 3.2 miles to "Y" intersection (Forest Rt. 640/650). Bear left onto Rt. 640 (dirt, single lane with no turnouts) and go 7.6 miles to campground sign. Turn right at sign into campground.

NOTE: The majority of the county routes are dirt.

Attractions

The elevation is 9,400 ft.

The campground is composed of two large loops along Cathedral Creek. The left hand loop features a large meadow and a few open sites. The right hand loop has a dense Aspen and spruce (including Blue) woods and a more rustic feel. John Charles Fremont's winter camp is nearby. He attempted an ill-fated expedition across the Rocky Mountains for a transcontinental railroad route in late 1848.

Considerations

The parking aprons are dirt and the interior road is rough. T here is an RV waste station next to the Rainbow Grocery at intersection of US Rt. 160 and State Rt. 149 in South Fork, CO - no fee.

The water spigot is a hand pump and is located in the right hand loop.

HIKING
Cathedral Lake Trail #794 (foot, horse & mountain bike) - 3.5 miles

FISHING
Rainbow trout (stocked)