Hey everyone! Today's video will include
our usual style campground tour here in
a few minutes. Before we get to the
campground and the Camp Hale National
Historic Site we make a stop on top of
the Continental Divide seven miles to
the south. Here at Tennessee Pass is the
10th Mountain Division Memorial. The 10th
Mountain Division was a unit of nearly
15,000 men who trained in mountaineering
and skiing at Camp Hale during World War
Two. Nearly 1,000 of those were killed in
the mountains of Italy while another 4,000
were injured there.
A large monument contains the names of
those who died in battle. A smaller
monument here recognizes the 99th
infantry battalion who also trained at
Camp Hale.
As we head north along the top of the
Rockies Scenic Byway we enter the valley
where Camp Hale once stood. Our first
stop is at the Camp Hale Memorial Pond.
Proceeding north about a half mile on US
Highway 24 leads to our next stop. A
series of well-worn interpretive signs
provide more information on the
surrounding valley and the 10th Mountain
Division.
The third turnoff leads us into the
heart of Camp Hale.
Making a right turn before the Eagle
River bridge will lead us to the Camp
Hale Memorial Campground about a mile to
the south. We'll come back here after we
visit the campground.
During the building of Camp Hale, the
Eagle River was modified to flow in a
straight line through the valley.
As we drive by there are few remnants
of the buildings in the valley but we do
see a few cross streets that are now
overgrown in vegetation. Some are so
overgrown that we would miss them
without the help of old street signs
that are still in place.
Satellite views from Google Maps still
show the foundations of most buildings
and give a great perspective on how Camp
Hale once looked.
Many returning veterans of the 10th
Mountain Division accomplished
significant achievements in their
lifetime. Former Senate Majority Leader
and Presidential candidate Bob Dole was
seriously wounded in the mountains of Italy
while serving in the 10th Mountain
Division. The Colorado resorts of Arapaho,
Aspen, and Vail were all started by
veterans of the 10th while virtually
every major ski resort across America
had tenth veterans involved in some part
of their operations. Other veterans were
pioneers in the manufacturing of ski
equipment & clothing. The Colorado Trail
passes just south of the camp ground
between Kokomo pass and Tennessee pass.
We're coming up on the Camp Hale
Memorial Campground. Here we have 21
campsites with a 60-foot max length for
the parking pads. There's no drinking
water available.
One on the right
twenty-one is on the left.
two on the right 20 left three right
four on the right
it's 19 on the left. Parking at the
restrooms.
18 left
That's number five
but it was camp host.
number six on the right
seven and eight right side
Site number nine. There's a path
next to it.
Site #10
eleven with camper. restrooms across
number twelve next to the restrooms
Lot's of big spaces here. 14 right 13 left
fifteen in front of us on the right
17 is the Wildcat camper
sixteen left
18 right
I believe this is four and three on the
Left. nineteen was on the right
20 right
was to compress from 2021 right and then
There are several
fishing ponds located south of the
campground. Nearby Pearl Creek and
Resolution Creek are also recommended
fishing spots.
There has been some debate in recent
years about returning the Eagle River to
its original meandering path as it was
before the creation of Camp Hale. For now
it will continue to flow in a straight
line as it has since the soldiers
trained here
Back near the highway are more signs
including this one mentioning the
Tibetan freedom fighters who were
trained by the CIA at Camp Hale in the
late 50s and early 60s
The land where a Camp Hill once stood
was turned over to the U.S. Forest
Service in 1966.
A couple miles further up the highway we
arrive at Camp Hale North and the end of
our video. There is plenty more to see in
the area.
If you camp here, be sure to obey
all signs. Asbestos contamination has
been confirmed in some areas and there
is the possibility of old ammunition
that hasn't been recovered yet
Thanks for watching