Colorado / Saguache County / San Luis Valley Field Office

Penitente Canyon Campground

Open — Open year-round with reservations available through Recreation.gov. Water system operates May through October only; campers must bring their own water during winter months. 14-day maximum stay limit.

About

Penitente Canyon Campground sits at 7,930 feet elevation in the dramatic canyonlands of the San Luis Valley, where 20 to 30 million-year-old volcanic rock formations create a premier destination for outdoor recreation. The BLM manages this 4,552-acre area primarily for rock climbers who come from around the world to tackle its sport climbing routes, but the recreation area equally welcomes mountain bikers on its extensive singletrack system, hikers, equestrians, and heritage tourists. The geology here tells the story of massive volcanic eruptions in the San Juan Volcanic Field, with the largest eruption 27.8 million years ago creating the La Garita Caldera. These ancient rocks now provide the canvas for pictographs left by ancestors of the Utes, Jicarilla Apaches, and Puebloans, representing the largest concentration of rock art in the San Luis Valley. The campground features 15 individual sites (3 tent-only and 12 accommodating RVs or tents) plus 2 group tent sites, all equipped with tables, tent pads, fire rings, food storage lockers, and parking. Five vault toilets serve the area, and drinking water is available May through October. Improved gravel roads provide access throughout the recreation area. The campground operates year-round with a 14-day maximum stay, and reservations are available through Recreation.gov. Cell phone service is spotty in the canyons. Nearby amenities include the La Garita Trading Post for basic supplies, and the towns of Del Norte and Monte Vista provide full services.

Directions

From U.S. 285, turn west onto Saguache County Road G. After 6 miles you will pass the La Garita Trading Post. Go another 0.5 miles to a Y intersection; take the left fork (County Road 38A). The entrance to the recreation area is another 0.5 miles, on your right. Elevation 7,930 ft.

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