West Chicago Creek
Book this listing through our partner Recreation Gov
About West Chicago Creek
Overview
West Chicago Creek Campground sits along its namesake creek at the base of Mount Evans and is located off Highway 103 on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in central Colorado. It is a popular facility for hiking and fishing enthusiasts.Recreation
The area provides easy access to many hiking trails that lead into the Mount Evans Wilderness. West Chicago Creek offers good fishing for rainbow, brown and brook trout.Facilities
There are 15 sites available all suitable for RV and tent camping. Each site contains a tent pad, picnic table, charcoal grill and fire ring. Other amenities include a vault toilet, water spigot and trash dumpster. There are no RV hook-ups. Firewood is available for sale during peak season at the campground.Natural Features
The campground sits at an elevation of 9,600 feet in an aspen and lodgepole pine forest.The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland are located in the foothills and slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. The forests and grassland cover 1.5 million acres and extend north to the Wyoming border, south to Mount Evans and west across the Continental Divide.
The area encompasses mountains, lakes and five scenic byways, designated by Congress for their scenery, wildlife or history, including the highest road in North America. Mount Evans Road, also known as Colorado Highway 5, allows visitors to drive from 10,500' to 14,130' above sea level in just 14 miles.
Nearby Attractions
Nearby Idaho Springs, a former mining town, makes for a nice outing. History buffs will appreciate the Argo Gold Mine and Mill Museum.West Chicago Creek Reviews
Have you stayed here? Be the first to leave a review!
Top Spots in or near Idaho Springs
Hell's Hole Trail
Idaho Springs, Colorado
4.5
8.12 mi
/ 1881.01 ft gain
The name is uninviting, but Hell’s Hole is a scenic, shallow basin in the Mount Evans Wilderness near Idaho Springs. Starting elevation is about 9500 feet. Right after the trailhead, you pass through a few camping sites in the Chicago Creek Picnic Area. About five minutes into the hike is the permit station. Permits are free, but registration is required for Mount Evans Wilderness. You’ll hike ...
Lower and Upper Chicago Lake
Idaho Springs, Colorado
4.7
9.22 mi
/ 2270 ft gain
From the parking lot, stay to the right of Echo Lake and you will run into the Chicago Lakes Trailhead. Follow the switchbacks down and across Chicago Creek. After crossing the creek, follow the sign indicating that the trail follows the dirt road and hang a left; from here, you'll reach the Idaho Springs Reservoir is a little over 1.5 miles. Continue past the reservoir and past the cabins to r...
Idaho Springs Reservoir via Echo Lake
Idaho Springs, Colorado
4.0
3.64 mi
/ 826.12 ft gain
This is a great hiking area an hour outside of Denver, Colorado. It's still easily accessible in the winter and most of the time it can be hiked without snowshoes.
Starting at the Echo Lake parking lot, hike around the right side of the lake until you reach a fork in the trail. Follow the path on your right until it leads you down into the valley and across the creek. Shortly after the crossin...
Echo Lake Park Loop
Idaho Springs, Colorado
4.0
1.23 mi
/ 103.02 ft gain
Located at the base of Mt. Evans Road, Echo Lake sits next to Squaw Pass Road, providing a great jumping-off point for numerous adventures. The park serves as a trailhead for hiking or snowshoeing into the Mount Evans Wilderness, offers picnic areas, and includes a nearby campground with 17 sites. The area has dark night skies for photographing the Milky Way, and when the lake is frozen inter...
Bristlecone Loop
Evergreen, Colorado
5.0
0.29 mi
/ 73 ft gain
On the way to the summit of Mt. Evans sits a small 160 acre preserve of some of the world's oldest living trees. The Mount Goliath Natural Area protects a rare site of Bristlecone Pines that make excellent photographic subjects.
Immediately after parking you're surrounded by a miniature forest full of gnarly twisted shapes. While there are many interesting trees close to the small visitor cent...
Mount Evans and Mount Spalding Loop
Evergreen, Colorado
4.3
8.47 mi
/ 1706 ft gain
Mount Evans is a simple, yet drop dead gorgeous 14er. That being said, no 14er is easy by any means. However as far as 14er's go, this is a cake walk. Coming in at a rating of class 2, there tends to be some scrambling but nothing a well balanced person can't handle.
To begin this adventure, we drove up to the Summit Lake parking lot at around 5am. There is a $5 fee for parking but that can be...
Camping and Lodging in Idaho Springs
Evergreen, Colorado
Echo Lake
Overview
Echo Lake Campground is located on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in central Colorado near its namesake lake at the ...
Black Hawk, Colorado
Pickle Gulch
Overview
Pickle Gulch is a group picnic and camping facility located just off the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway/Highway 119. Visitors enjoy t...
Black Hawk, Colorado
Cold Springs
Overview
Cold Springs Campground is located on the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest, north of Blackhawk on the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway...
Jefferson, Colorado
Timberline Campground
Overview
The Timberline Campground, near Kenosha Pass, is about 7 miles southwest of the small town of Grant. The abundance of aspens at ...
Colorado Trail
Kenosha Pass Campground
Overview
Kenosha Pass Campground is a small, conveniently-located campground heralded by backpackers on the Colorado Trail and by those l...
Rollinsville, Colorado
Kelly Dahl
Overview
Kelly Dahl Campground is located adjacent to the Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway, near the historic mining towns of Nederland, Rollins...
Unfortunately, we don't have up-to date pricing data for this listing, but you can check pricing through Recreation Gov.
Book NowAdd your business today to reach The Outbound's audience of adventurous travelers.
Discover
Community
© 2026 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy
