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State Park
Kelsey Campground
Pike National Forest · Pine, CO
Verify with the state park system
State parks set their own rules and reservation systems. Fire bans, road closures, and operating dates change seasonally — check the state park website before traveling.
2 Tent15 RV
Official sources & verification
Managed by State Park
Source of truth
- Operator website
Listed website for the campground operator.
Verify by phone or mail
- Operator:303-275-5610
- Email:jvalentine@goexplorus.com
- Address:PIKE NATIONAL FOREST · Pine, CO
Live availability
via Recreation.govSee every open campground nearbySame dates & filters, across the whole area
Availability is a recent snapshot, not a live hold — you always complete the booking on recreation.gov.
About
Overview
Kelsey is one of two campgrounds within the Buffalo Creek Recreation Area, about an hour's drive southwest of Denver, Colorado. Visitors enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking and trout fishing.
Recreation
The Buffalo Creek Recreation Area is home to a 40-mile trail system most popular with mountain bikers, but hikers and horseback riders enjoy the area as well. Several trailheads are within the area, including Little Scraggy Trail, just 3 miles north of the campground. Access to the Colorado Trail and the Buffalo Burn Trail begin from this trailhead. Shinglemill Trail is also nearby.
Buffalo Creek is a popular fishing stream for brook trout. The area offers great wildlife viewing opportunities for turkey, elk, mule deer, chipmunks and porcupines.
Facilities
The campground offers single-family sites, some of which are designated for tent camping only. Each site is equipped with picnic tables and campfire rings with grills. Vault toilets are provided. Drinking water is available from a hand pump, but hookups are not available.
Natural Features
The campground sits at an elevation of 7,400 feet in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Summer temperatures are mild and range from 75-80 during the day to 55-65 at night.
The Kelsey Overlook is just north of the campground along County Road 126, offering beautiful views of the valley below.
Nearby Attractions
The drive along County Road 126 southwest from Pine Junction affords magnificent views of the valleys below. Pikes Peak, at 14,110 feet, can be seen in the distance and other prominent rock formations present themselves throughout the scenic drive.
Charges & Cancellations
Cancellations
Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite.
Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.
No-Shows
A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date.
No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite.
Refunds
Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended.
Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay.
For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.
In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.
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Amenities
Flush Toilets
Potable Water
Firewood
Picnic Tables
Fire Rings
Trash Service
Pet Policy
Pets allowed on leash
Campground Rules
- Campfires generally permitted — verify current fire restrictions before lighting
Individual Sites (17)
In this park
Trails at Pike National Forest

Eleven Mile Canyon OHV Route
17.8 mi2,900 fteasy
Mount Logan
13.1 mi4,255 ftexpert

Baldy Trail, Homestead Trail, and Sandy Wash Trail
14.1 mi2,083 ftexpert

Kenosha Pass to Georgia Pass and West Jefferson
20.1 mi3,924 ftexpert

Stevens Gulch Loop
7.6 mi1,962 ftdifficult

Elk Park Trail Overlook
4.4 mi1,873 ftdifficult
Within ~30 miles
Trails near Kelsey Campground

Little Scraggy Peak Loop
Colorado
12.2 mi2,156 ftgain
TrailExpert

Colorado Trail - Top of the World
Colorado
15.8 mi2,635 ftgain
TrailExpert

Long Scraggy Peak
Colorado
10.5 mi2,090 ftgain
TrailDifficult

Chair Rocks Via Colorado Trail
Colorado
9.3 mi1,263 ftgain
TrailDifficult

Deckers Cliff Trail
Colorado
0.3 mi43 ftgain
TrailEasy

Buffalo Campground Loop
Colorado
0.4 mi66 ftgain
TrailEasy
Hunt context
Hunting units around this campground
During hunting seasons, wear blaze orange and check regulations — see the Colorado hunting page
Nearby Campgrounds
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