Camp Hale in Colorado

Camp Hale started in 1942 in west-central Colorado. It was set up to provide winter and mountain warfare training for World War II soldiers. Eagle Park became the site for the camp because it provided suitable training in skiing, rock climbing, and cold weather survival skills.

Camp Hale was created for military use - it included the 10th Mountain Division, the 38th Regimental Combat Team, 99th Infantry Battalion, and soldiers from Fort Carson. It was also the site for weapons and equipment testing. In 1965 Camp Hale was closed, and the Forest Service gained control of the land in 1966.

There were several types of munitions used in the area, including anti-tank rockets, recoilless rifles, rifle grenades, hand grenades, high explosive and illumination mortars, artillery, practice anti-tank land mines, and small arms.

The section of Camp Hale where the troops lived and worked is called the cantonment area. Sections of the East Fork Valley of the Eagle River, usually referred to as Eagle Park, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As a result, there is an emphasis on preserving the rich history of the area.