The Old Camp Hale In Colorado Has An Intriguing WWII Connection That Few People Know

For many of us, our knowledge of World War II comes from our parents, grandparents, documentaries, and high school classes, making this critical time in history seem as though it occurred millions of years ago and on a different planet. While most of the war did occur on different continents, Colorado does have close ties to this tumultuous and uncertain time, which is via the old Camp Hale:

Located between Leadville and Red Cliff are the ruins of Camp Hale, which served as a U.S. Army training facility during World War II.

Constructed in 1942, Camp Hale was named for General Irving Hale and served as a winter and mountain warfare training center that taught soldiers to survive in cold weather, as well as mountain climbing, Nordic skiing, and in weapons and ordnance.

During its peak, Camp Hale housed 15,000 soldiers, making for 3 army regiments who were deployed after training.

Upon the end of WWII, Camp Hale was decommissioned. Still, instead of remaining desolate, it was used in several different capacities, including a secret training center for the CIA, an army weapons-testing site, and even as an off-shoot of Fort Carson.

In 1965, Camp Hale was once again decommissioned, only this time, the land was given to the U.S. Forest Service, who has since used the property as a youth development training center.

While many of the original WWII-era buildings have been torn down, there are still a few remains that can be seen, all of which are located around the beautiful White River National Forest.

When you visit, you may want to set aside extra time to walk around, as there are several plaques, signs, and memorials to see during your visit.

Have you had a chance to visit this beautiful and historical area? Tell us about your experience in the comments. Camp Hale is not the only place in Colorado with close ties to World War II, as evidenced by This Rare Footage In The 1940s That Shows Colorado As You’ve Never Seen It Before.