Camp Hale Campground near Leadville, Colorado
Camp Hale Campground is between Leadville and Minturn just below Tennessee Pass. It’s in a large valley with mountains all around, views for days. Camp Hale is a Historic Monument with multiple plaques and remnants from the 10th Mountain Division training days. The campsites are spread out among lodge pole pines.
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At A Glance: Camp Hale Campground
Rating: 3 out of 5
Vibe: A valley campground surrounded by mountains, spread among lodge pole pines. Good for group camping with families in the open space
Skip It If: You want to have a lot of activities (hiking, water, etc) near camp for yourself and/or the kids, it’s a sparse campground
Elevation: 9,200 feet
Location: North of Leadville, between Leadville and Minturn, just below Tennessee Pass (map)
Reservations: Available at Recreation.gov on a 6-month rolling calendar
Cost: $25/night per site
Season: May through October
Vehicle Accessibility: Gravel road, parking area, and site spurs throughout the campground, accessible to all vehicles
Maximum Vehicle Length: Parking spurs accommodate vehicles up to 60 feet
Water Access: No potable water, bring all water you need
Restroom Type: Vault/Pit toilets
Campfire Regulations: Campfires are only allowed in established fire pits, bring your own campfire
Wildlife Considerations: Bear-proof food lockers are provided at every site and you will likely see elks, moose, and other wildlife in the meadows
Amenities & Extras: Hiking trails, no cell service, multiple plaques and remnants from the 10th Mountain Division’s WWII training days
Would We Return? Yes, but only with the right group of friends where our kids can play together as there isn’t a lot in the campground to keep a solo kid entertained.
Get The Same List I Pack From
The free family camping packing list is the one I actually use while I load the car. It covers shelter, layers, first aid, kid gear, and the kitchen stuff that’s easiest to forget. It is free, printable and just one page.
Camp Hale Campground: Camping at a WWII Historic Site
We camped here with friends and having a group of people to roast marshmallows with so we had fun. We hiked, we played on hammocks, we chilled by the campfire. It was a solid camping trip but it was made by the people, not the location. Spillway Campground in Eleven Mile Canyon was the same story for us.
If you’re looking for a place to camp within driving distance of Leadville or Minturn this is a solid option. If you would rather be near water, our Silver Dollar Campground review covers Turquoise Lake, just west of Leadville. However, if you’re looking for a place to camp as a destination I’m not sure we’d recommend the Camp Hale Memorial for more than a night or two.
Our Experience: We camped on an August weekend with another family. Both families went all out with car camping luxury — hammocks, sleeping tents, picnic canopies, dog beds, dirt toys, twinkle lights, etc. We did not bring bikes and I do regret that as we could have them as we could have explored a bit further.
Our evening was festive…for a few families with infants! The wee one went to bed early while the parents did our best to stay up late around the campfire. All in all, we had a great time and it was very worth the trip. Next time we’ll make a trip into Leadville for Before & After Coffee & Cocktails or stop by Rocky Mountain Taco in Minturn.
Meals We Cooked: Campfire Brats, Oatmeal Bowls and Noosa Yogurt
Gear We Used: Big Agnes Big House 6 (+ Vestibule), Nemo Roamer Sleeping Pads, Folding Camp Seat, Kid-Sized Camp Chair, 4ft Folding Table, Collapsible Camp Chair
Let’s Make Packing Easier
I love lists. I live for lists. And I want to share them with you. This is my color-coordinated packing list, and it has everything you need for a family camping trip. It’s all on one page and detailed without being overwhelming.
