Penitente Canyon Campground

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. It 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, and it is rich in both natural and cultural history — ideal for those interested in the Old Spanish Trail and early American frontiersmen, as well as for wildlife watchers and photographers. The campground has 15 individual sites (3 tent-only and 12 RV/tent), 2 group tent sites, a camp host site, and a group picnic shelter site, with standard campground amenities at each: table, tent pads, fire ring, food storage locker and parking. There are 5 vault or pit-type toilets, trash bins throughout the campground and day-use areas, and a public drinking water system available May through October. Road signs lead in from the highway, and roads inside the recreation area are improved gravel with no pavement. Trailhead and overflow parking areas, plus interpretive, informational and directional signs, serve the foot, horse, and mountain bike trails. All facilities are open year-round. Cell phone service is spotty in the canyons. 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. 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, or 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 are the Rio Grande National Forest and Natural Arch, the BLM's Elephant Rocks Recreation Area, the La Garita Trading Post with food, gas and a small store, and the town of Del Norte. Poso and Storm King campgrounds in the Rio Grande National Forest are also close by.