Penitente Canyon Campground

Overview

The canyonlands of Penitente Canyon offer a blend of peaceful surroundings and diverse recreation opportunities less than 10 miles from a major highway. Although the BLM manages the 4,552-acre Penitente Canyon primarily for rock climbers, the area also offers opportunities for heritage tourists, mountain bikers, hikers and equestrians.

Recreation

Penitente Canyon Recreation Area is a destination known for its world-class sport rock-climbing routes and its extensive singletrack trail system, mainly used by mountain bikers and hikers. The area is rich in both natural and cultural history, making it ideal for heritage tourists interested in the Old Spanish Trail and early American frontiersmen, as well as wildlife watchers and photographers. 

• Standard Nonelectric

• Rv Nonelectric

• Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric

• Overnight

Facilities

Penitente Canyon Recreation Area is a destination known for its world-class sport rock-climbing routes and its extensive singletrack trail system, mainly used by mountain bikers and hikers. The area is rich in both natural and cultural history, making it ideal for heritage tourists interested in the Old Spanish Trail and early American frontiersmen, as well as wildlife watchers and photographers. 

• Standard Nonelectric

• Rv Nonelectric

• Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric

• Overnight

Natural Features

Geology

The rocks in Penitente Canyon are remnants of up to 18 volcanic eruptions that took place in the San Juan Volcanic Field between 20 and 30 million years ago. The largest of these eruptions spewed 1,000 cubic miles of ash 27.8 million years ago, creating a huge underground chamber. Rocks overlying the chamber collapsed to create the La Garita Caldera.

History

Ancestors of the Utes, Jicarilla Apaches and Puebloans have all left evidence of time spent hunting and camping here, along with explorers and trappers. The valley’s first settlers were Hispanic farmers and sheepherders who migrated from northern New Mexico. 

Native Americans left scattered pictographs (painted rock art) throughout these Canyonlands (the largest concentration in the San Luis Valley). Please leave all rock art as you find it. Do not touch, walk on, climb on, or disturb it in any way.

Nearby Attractions

• USFS-Rio Grande National Forest and Natural Arch.

• BLM-Elephant Rocks Recreation Area.

• La Garita Trading Post-food, gas, and small store.

• Town of Del Norte

Campgrounds Nearby

• USFS-Rio Grande National Forest – Poso CG, Storm King CG

Photos

Penitente Campground Map w/ RV Spur Lengths
Penitente Campground Map w/ RV Spur Lengths
BLM
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Mountain Biker at Penitente Canyon
Mountain Biker at Penitente Canyon
BLM
Climber in Penitente Canyon adjacent to pictograph of the Virgen de Guadalupe
Climber in Penitente Canyon adjacent to pictograph of the Virgen de Guadalupe
Stewart Green
Camp Host Site
Camp Host Site
BLM
Penitente Canyon Recreation Area Map w/ Trails
Penitente Canyon Recreation Area Map w/ Trails
BLM
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Climber and Pictograph in Penitente Canyon
Climber and Pictograph in Penitente Canyon
Stewart Green
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Campground Map w/ RV Spur Lengths
Penitente Campground Map w/ RV Spur Lengths
BLM
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Mountain Biker at Penitente Canyon
Mountain Biker at Penitente Canyon
BLM
Climber in Penitente Canyon adjacent to pictograph of the Virgen de Guadalupe
Climber in Penitente Canyon adjacent to pictograph of the Virgen de Guadalupe
Stewart Green
Camp Host Site
Camp Host Site
BLM
Penitente Canyon Recreation Area Map w/ Trails
Penitente Canyon Recreation Area Map w/ Trails
BLM
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Climber and Pictograph in Penitente Canyon
Climber and Pictograph in Penitente Canyon
Stewart Green
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Campground Map w/ RV Spur Lengths
Penitente Campground Map w/ RV Spur Lengths
BLM
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Mountain Biker at Penitente Canyon
Mountain Biker at Penitente Canyon
BLM
Climber in Penitente Canyon adjacent to pictograph of the Virgen de Guadalupe
Climber in Penitente Canyon adjacent to pictograph of the Virgen de Guadalupe
Stewart Green
Camp Host Site
Camp Host Site
BLM
Penitente Canyon Recreation Area Map w/ Trails
Penitente Canyon Recreation Area Map w/ Trails
BLM
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Climber and Pictograph in Penitente Canyon
Climber and Pictograph in Penitente Canyon
Stewart Green
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Campground Map w/ RV Spur Lengths
Penitente Campground Map w/ RV Spur Lengths
BLM
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Mountain Biker at Penitente Canyon
Mountain Biker at Penitente Canyon
BLM
Climber in Penitente Canyon adjacent to pictograph of the Virgen de Guadalupe
Climber in Penitente Canyon adjacent to pictograph of the Virgen de Guadalupe
Stewart Green
Camp Host Site
Camp Host Site
BLM
Penitente Canyon Recreation Area Map w/ Trails
Penitente Canyon Recreation Area Map w/ Trails
BLM
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Climber and Pictograph in Penitente Canyon
Climber and Pictograph in Penitente Canyon
Stewart Green
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Campground Map w/ RV Spur Lengths
Penitente Campground Map w/ RV Spur Lengths
BLM
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Mountain Biker at Penitente Canyon
Mountain Biker at Penitente Canyon
BLM
Climber in Penitente Canyon adjacent to pictograph of the Virgen de Guadalupe
Climber in Penitente Canyon adjacent to pictograph of the Virgen de Guadalupe
Stewart Green
Camp Host Site
Camp Host Site
BLM
Penitente Canyon Recreation Area Map w/ Trails
Penitente Canyon Recreation Area Map w/ Trails
BLM
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Climber and Pictograph in Penitente Canyon
Climber and Pictograph in Penitente Canyon
Stewart Green
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Campground Map w/ RV Spur Lengths
Penitente Campground Map w/ RV Spur Lengths
BLM
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Mountain Biker at Penitente Canyon
Mountain Biker at Penitente Canyon
BLM
Climber in Penitente Canyon adjacent to pictograph of the Virgen de Guadalupe
Climber in Penitente Canyon adjacent to pictograph of the Virgen de Guadalupe
Stewart Green
Camp Host Site
Camp Host Site
BLM
Penitente Canyon Recreation Area Map w/ Trails
Penitente Canyon Recreation Area Map w/ Trails
BLM
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Climber and Pictograph in Penitente Canyon
Climber and Pictograph in Penitente Canyon
Stewart Green
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Campground Map w/ RV Spur Lengths
Penitente Campground Map w/ RV Spur Lengths
BLM
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Mountain Biker at Penitente Canyon
Mountain Biker at Penitente Canyon
BLM
Climber in Penitente Canyon adjacent to pictograph of the Virgen de Guadalupe
Climber in Penitente Canyon adjacent to pictograph of the Virgen de Guadalupe
Stewart Green
Camp Host Site
Camp Host Site
BLM
Penitente Canyon Recreation Area Map w/ Trails
Penitente Canyon Recreation Area Map w/ Trails
BLM
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Climber and Pictograph in Penitente Canyon
Climber and Pictograph in Penitente Canyon
Stewart Green
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Campground Map w/ RV Spur Lengths
Penitente Campground Map w/ RV Spur Lengths
BLM
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Mountain Biker at Penitente Canyon
Mountain Biker at Penitente Canyon
BLM
Climber in Penitente Canyon adjacent to pictograph of the Virgen de Guadalupe
Climber in Penitente Canyon adjacent to pictograph of the Virgen de Guadalupe
Stewart Green
Camp Host Site
Camp Host Site
BLM
Penitente Canyon Recreation Area Map w/ Trails
Penitente Canyon Recreation Area Map w/ Trails
BLM
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping
Climber and Pictograph in Penitente Canyon
Climber and Pictograph in Penitente Canyon
Stewart Green
Penitente Canyon Camping
Penitente Canyon Camping

Adventure is at Your Fingertips

Phone

Activities

Iconograph a person wearing backpacks and using walking sticks
BACKPACKING
Iconograph of a bicyclist
BIKING
Iconograph of a bird perched on a branch.
BIRDING
Iconograph of a tent.
CAMPING
Iconograph of a person climbing a rock wall.
CLIMBING
Iconograph of a picnic table
DAY USE AREA
Iconograph of a spoked wheel and an arrowhead.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Iconograph of person in the center of a swirl
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Iconograph of a spoked wheel and an arrowhead.
HISTORIC & CULTURAL SITE
Iconograph of two people wearing backpacks and using walking sticks
HIKING
Iconograph of person looking at interpretive panel
INFORMATION SITE
Iconograph of a bicyclist going up a rocky hill.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Iconograph of a person wearing a backpack and using a trekking pole climbing a steep rocky terrain
MOUNTAIN CLIMBING
Iconograph of a camera
PHOTOGRAPHY
Iconograph of a picnic table
PICNICKING
Iconograph of a person climbing a rock wall
ROCK CLIMBING
Iconography of a car surrounded by a dashed line with arrows
SCENIC DRIVE
Iconograph of binoculars
WILDLIFE VIEWING

Addresses

BLM San Luis Valley Field Office
1313 U.S. Hwy 160 E.
Monte Vista
Colorado
81144
BLM San Luis Valley Field Office
1313 U.S. Hwy 160 E.
Monte Vista
Colorado
81144

Geographic Coordinates

37.84181, -106.28002

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.

Fees

• Individual Sites = $11/night

• Group Tent Sites = $20/night

• 14 day max stay