Tent Sites
Amber T
VerifiedAugust 10, 2023 Stayed at: 10, Loop: Main Loop
Enjoyed our stay! Would stay again.
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
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Closed periods
Jan
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Mar
Apr
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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.
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Site Details
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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
⛺
6, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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7, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺
8, Loop: Main Loop
Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺
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
Jason H
VerifiedAugust 7, 2023 Stayed at: 13, Loop: Main Loop
Nice quiet campground that does not attract families, but more a crowd who wants peace and quiet. Reviews about the rattlesnakes are true, but they keep to themselves and are cool to see (just watch your step, otherwise they have no interest in you). No camp host, but was not needed. Sites had ample privacy compared to most campgrounds. Was there on a full moon, but would imagine stargazing would be amazing here. Will be back.
Helpful
Jason H
VerifiedAugust 7, 2023 Stayed at: 13, Loop: Main Loop
Nice quiet campground that does not attract families, but more a crowd who wants peace and quiet. Reviews about the rattlesnakes are true, but they keep to themselves and are cool to see (just watch your step, otherwise they have no interest in you). No camp host, but was not needed. Sites had ample privacy compared to most campgrounds. Was there on a full moon, but would imagine stargazing would be amazing here. Will be back.
Helpful
Sarah L
VerifiedJuly 12, 2023 Stayed at: 10, Loop: Main Loop
Beautiful spot with lots of fun recreational activities close by. Was there last weekend and there is not a lot of shade and lots of bugs! Otherwise a super fun place!
Helpful
Sarah L
VerifiedJuly 12, 2023 Stayed at: 10, Loop: Main Loop
Beautiful spot with lots of fun recreational activities close by. Was there last weekend and there is not a lot of shade and lots of bugs! Otherwise a super fun place!
Helpful
Steven B
VerifiedJuly 5, 2023 Stayed at: 4, Loop: Main Loop
Penitente Canyon is an amazing place. The campsites along the road to the day use parking lot are widely spaced, flat and spacious. They get some drive-by traffic during the day. Never found the water supply.
Helpful
Steven B
VerifiedJuly 5, 2023 Stayed at: 4, Loop: Main Loop
Penitente Canyon is an amazing place. The campsites along the road to the day use parking lot are widely spaced, flat and spacious. They get some drive-by traffic during the day. Never found the water supply.
Helpful
Leah C
VerifiedJuly 4, 2023 Stayed at: 4, Loop: Main Loop
Campers beware- there’s a group of locals who chose to set up camp in our spot without a reservation. When we approached them, they were creepy (a male asking me as a female to set up my camp and spend the night with them) and rude. There was no campground host and the office closes at 4:30 apparently so there was no one to contact. We felt uncomfortable and were forced to stay elsewhere.
Helpful
Leah C
VerifiedJuly 4, 2023 Stayed at: 4, Loop: Main Loop
Campers beware- there’s a group of locals who chose to set up camp in our spot without a reservation. When we approached them, they were creepy (a male asking me as a female to set up my camp and spend the night with them) and rude. There was no campground host and the office closes at 4:30 apparently so there was no one to contact. We felt uncomfortable and were forced to stay elsewhere.
Helpful
Lisa S
VerifiedJune 26, 2023 Stayed at: 4, Loop: Main Loop
Only advanced online booking is possible. No reception at the campground. Small but cute area. Nice canyon.
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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Managed by the Bureau of Land Management