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 National Historic Site with multiple plaques and remnants from the 10th Mountain Division training days. The campsites are spread out among lodge pole pines.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Rating: 3 of 5
Location: North of Leadville (map)
Reservations: Available at Recreation.gov
Amenities: Pit Toilet, Hiking Trails, No Cell Service
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.
If you’re looking for a place to camp within driving distance of Leadville or Minturn this is a solid option. 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.
No Potable Water. Now What?
There is no potable water at this campsite. The spigots are turned off, likely for the upcoming seasons as well. You will need to plan ahead by bringing water with you. We have two collapsible 5-gallon water containers. This gives us plenty of water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning up. These are the collapsible water containers we have had for years and swear by: Collapsible Water Containers for Camping.
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.
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, ALPS Mountaineering Camp Seat, Kid-Sized Camp Chair, 4ft Folding Table
