Featured amenities
Pet Friendly
Sites & Rates
Average nightly rates17 total sites
Tent Sites
17 sites
About Penitente Canyon Campground
Number of accommodations: 17
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Rates, Sites & Availability
17 Sites Available
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Site Details
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17 Sites Available
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Reviews (246)
What Guests Are Saying
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.
What Guests Are Saying
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.
Review Summary
kenneth m
VerifiedJune 16, 2023 • Stayed at: 7, Loop: Main Loop
Campgrounds were nicely kept and fire pits cleaned. Vault toilets were in good shape and stocked OK. No signage on camp roads indicating where loops were or campsites were located. Drove through the first four camp sites and ended up in a common parking area and had to figure out how to turn the complete rig around in a small area. Not fun! Campsite we had had a crazy layout. In the area where we should have been able to back the camper into was the picnic table so, we ended up having to park right along the side the road, in front of the camp number post. Water location not advertised at all. Found water back at the highway we turned off on to go to the camp site about a mile away. Campers were quiet and friendly. Not much activity while we were there however it looked like there may be plenty of mountain biking going on during the weekend judging on all the tire tracks we saw around the area. Would stay again but at a different site.
kenneth m
VerifiedJune 16, 2023 • Stayed at: 7, Loop: Main Loop
Campgrounds were nicely kept and fire pits cleaned. Vault toilets were in good shape and stocked OK. No signage on camp roads indicating where loops were or campsites were located. Drove through the first four camp sites and ended up in a common parking area and had to figure out how to turn the complete rig around in a small area. Not fun! Campsite we had had a crazy layout. In the area where we should have been able to back the camper into was the picnic table so, we ended up having to park right along the side the road, in front of the camp number post. Water location not advertised at all. Found water back at the highway we turned off on to go to the camp site about a mile away. Campers were quiet and friendly. Not much activity while we were there however it looked like there may be plenty of mountain biking going on during the weekend judging on all the tire tracks we saw around the area. Would stay again but at a different site.
Kimberly B
VerifiedJune 14, 2023 • Stayed at: 11, Loop: Main Loop
The bathrooms were extremely clean and well maintained. Great fire pits to allow for more warmth and the flat tent spaces and picnic tables were great. Bring your own wood for fires! We like to be more removed from others and were lucky to snag a spot that offered just that as well as an easy access trail down to the main area. However, we came on weekdays, and the campsites seemed surprisingly full. We came for rock climbing, and it was so easy to navigate and find great climbs.
Kimberly B
VerifiedJune 14, 2023 • Stayed at: 11, Loop: Main Loop
The bathrooms were extremely clean and well maintained. Great fire pits to allow for more warmth and the flat tent spaces and picnic tables were great. Bring your own wood for fires! We like to be more removed from others and were lucky to snag a spot that offered just that as well as an easy access trail down to the main area. However, we came on weekdays, and the campsites seemed surprisingly full. We came for rock climbing, and it was so easy to navigate and find great climbs.
Makel D
VerifiedJune 12, 2023 • Stayed at: Group Site 1, Loop: Main Loop
No water source even though it’s started on here.
Group site #1 is better than 2 in my opinion (but two is closer to trails.
Stray/wild dog was barking all night. Sheriff came around looking for it but four night stay they never got it. (Beginning of June 23)
No camp host. No toilet paper in pit toilets but otherwise well maintained.
Campground itself was beautiful and great location for climbing/biking.
Makel D
VerifiedJune 12, 2023 • Stayed at: Group Site 1, Loop: Main Loop
No water source even though it’s started on here.
Group site #1 is better than 2 in my opinion (but two is closer to trails.
Stray/wild dog was barking all night. Sheriff came around looking for it but four night stay they never got it. (Beginning of June 23)
No camp host. No toilet paper in pit toilets but otherwise well maintained.
Campground itself was beautiful and great location for climbing/biking.
Lena M
VerifiedJune 3, 2023 • Stayed at: 4, Loop: Main Loop
Great campground. Hiking trails nearby. Just make sure to get the water 1 mile before the campground. And watch for the rattlesnakes. Yes, they are really there!
Lena M
VerifiedJune 3, 2023 • Stayed at: 4, Loop: Main Loop
Great campground. Hiking trails nearby. Just make sure to get the water 1 mile before the campground. And watch for the rattlesnakes. Yes, they are really there!
John M
VerifiedMay 15, 2023 • Stayed at: 11, Loop: Main Loop
Arrived Sunday late afternoon. Cell coverage was good enough to reserve an Excellent site (# 11) for one night.
Hit Rec.gov
Loved sunset & sunrise. Hiked the left fork up P Canyon, past the painted Virgin, the next day. Magical. Go!! 😎
John M
VerifiedMay 15, 2023 • Stayed at: 11, Loop: Main Loop
Arrived Sunday late afternoon. Cell coverage was good enough to reserve an Excellent site (# 11) for one night.
Hit Rec.gov
Loved sunset & sunrise. Hiked the left fork up P Canyon, past the painted Virgin, the next day. Magical. Go!! 😎
Location Penitente Canyon Campground
Address:
Blm San Luis Valley Field Office
Monte Vista, CO, 81144
United States
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.
The campground is accessible via U.S. Highway 285, which is approximately 6.5 miles away.
Elevation: 2413 feet
25 mi drive to downtown Monte Vista (about 28 min)
Policies & Rules
Pets
- Pets must always be kept under control.
Nearby Campgrounds
Last updated: September 6, 2026
