Tent Sites
John H
VerifiedApril 15, 2024 Stayed at: 14, Loop: Main Loop
Beautiful spot, great little hike on the blue trail
Helpful
Featured amenities
Pet Friendly
About Penitente Canyon Campground
The canyonlands of Penitente Canyon offer a blend of peaceful surroundings and diverse recreation opportunities less than 10 mi 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.
Available sites
17 total sitesSeasonal information
2026
(Current year)
2026 Season availability
Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
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Mar
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Currently open - Apr 1 to Dec 31
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Rates, Sites & Availability
Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.
17 Sites Available
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1, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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10, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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11, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
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12, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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13, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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14, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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15, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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2, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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3, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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4, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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5, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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6, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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7, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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8, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
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9, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
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Group Site 1, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
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Group Site 2, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
No sites found matching your criteria.
No available sites
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Site Details
Select a site to view details
17 Sites Available
Site
Price
⛺
1, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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10, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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11, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
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12, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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13, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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14, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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15, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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2, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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3, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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4, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺
5, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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6, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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7, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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8, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
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9, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺
Group Site 1, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺
Group Site 2, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews
259 reviews
Summary
Penitente Canyon Campground is praised for its stunning rock formations, beautiful sunsets, and quiet, secluded atmosphere, making it a perfect spot for stargazing and hiking. The campground features clean facilities, well-stocked bathrooms, and ample hiking and biking trails nearby. However, some visitors reported issues with aggressive dogs from the camp hosts and challenges in finding certain campsites, which may detract from the overall experience.
Based on guest feedback
4.1
Overall rating
Based on 259 reviews
5 stars
47.5% (123)
4 stars
33.2% (86)
3 stars
8.1% (21)
2 stars
3.1% (8)
1 star
8.1% (21)
Showing 259 reviews
Verified Only
Sort by: Newest First
John W
VerifiedOctober 27, 2023 Stayed at: 14, Loop: Main Loop
The campground is nice. We enjoyed hiking the canyon. There is a nearby country church with a fabulous outdoor rosary to walk.
Helpful
John W
VerifiedOctober 27, 2023 Stayed at: 14, Loop: Main Loop
The campground is nice. We enjoyed hiking the canyon. There is a nearby country church with a fabulous outdoor rosary to walk.
Helpful
Andrea W
VerifiedOctober 24, 2023 Stayed at: 4, Loop: Main Loop
Stunning.
Helpful
Andrea W
VerifiedOctober 24, 2023 Stayed at: 4, Loop: Main Loop
Stunning.
Helpful
Alex B
VerifiedOctober 17, 2023 Stayed at: 10, Loop: Main Loop
What a beautiful spot! Great hiking and hiking trails and the climbing looked interesting, although short routes overall. Bathrooms were in good shape, road and campsites were well maintained. Some small trash around, but this is a camper problem not a site problem. Thanks!
Helpful
Alex B
VerifiedOctober 17, 2023 Stayed at: 10, Loop: Main Loop
What a beautiful spot! Great hiking and hiking trails and the climbing looked interesting, although short routes overall. Bathrooms were in good shape, road and campsites were well maintained. Some small trash around, but this is a camper problem not a site problem. Thanks!
Helpful
Tom M
VerifiedOctober 15, 2023 Stayed at: 13, Loop: Main Loop
Very nice primitive camp site…difficult to find, however! Lots of room for settling up. Great place for biking!
Helpful
Tom M
VerifiedOctober 15, 2023 Stayed at: 13, Loop: Main Loop
Very nice primitive camp site…difficult to find, however! Lots of room for settling up. Great place for biking!
Helpful
Martie S
VerifiedOctober 5, 2023 Stayed at: 10, Loop: Main Loop
The DarkSky Colorado Board and guests had a great time! The nght sky was beautiful! The only glitch was that a group -not with the DarkSky Colorado Board- showed up and said they were in campsite 7. This group said that they had booked through rec.gov. Fortunately, the camper from our group was able to camp with a couple in our group at campsite 8. He wanted to resolve the situation in a peaceful way. However, he asked me to bring this double-booking matter to your attention.
The DarkSky Colorado Board and guests applaud the local BLM for working with us to ensure a wonderful campoing experience!
Many thanks!
Helpful
Location & Directions for Penitente Canyon Campground
Blm San Luis Valley Field Office, Monte Vista, CO 81144 United States
Elevation: 2,413 ft
Getting There
From U.S. 285, turn west onto Saguache County Road G. After 6 mi you will pass the La Garita Trading Post. Go another 0.5 mi to a Y intersection; take the left fork (County Road 38A). The entrance to the recreation area is another 0.5 mi, on your ...
From U.S. 285, turn west onto Saguache County Road G. After 6 mi you will pass the La Garita Trading Post. Go another 0.5 mi to a Y intersection; take the left fork (County Road 38A). The entrance to the recreation area is another 0.5 mi, on your right. Elevation = 7.9 ft.
Highway access
The campground is accessible via U.S. Highway 285, which is approximately 6.5 miles away.
Near Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
The closest entrance is: Great Sand Dunes Entrance Station
Approximate drive: 51.6 mi · over 1 hr (89 min)
Policies & Rules
Pets
- Pets must always be kept under control.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: October 24, 2026
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Explore Monte Vista, CO
Population: 4,141
Nearby city: Pueblo, CO
Approx. 95 mi away (straight-line distance)
Elevation: 7,664 ft
Monte Vista, CO
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