Featured amenities
Pet Friendly
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 (228)
What Guests Are Saying
Penitente Canyon Campground offers a clean and well-maintained environment with friendly camp hosts and excellent access to beautiful hiking and biking trails. Many campers appreciate the spacious sites, amenities like clean toilets, and the unique rock formations in the area. However, some negative feedback highlights issues with the camp hosts' behavior and poor cell phone reception, suggesting that visitors may want to make reservations in advance.
What Guests Are Saying
Penitente Canyon Campground offers a clean and well-maintained environment with friendly camp hosts and excellent access to beautiful hiking and biking trails. Many campers appreciate the spacious sites, amenities like clean toilets, and the unique rock formations in the area. However, some negative feedback highlights issues with the camp hosts' behavior and poor cell phone reception, suggesting that visitors may want to make reservations in advance.
Review Summary
Roberta S
VerifiedDecember 7, 2025 • Stayed at: 12, Loop: Main Loop
Campsite 12 was awesome. However it looks like 11 would be amazing for a future visit. We camped in November and we were the only ones. Bathroom was clean and the campground was well taken care of. Will be back for sure. Nice hiking and biking trails to work off Thanksgiving dinner!
Roberta S
VerifiedDecember 7, 2025 • Stayed at: 12, Loop: Main Loop
Campsite 12 was awesome. However it looks like 11 would be amazing for a future visit. We camped in November and we were the only ones. Bathroom was clean and the campground was well taken care of. Will be back for sure. Nice hiking and biking trails to work off Thanksgiving dinner!
Jennifer M
VerifiedNovember 30, 2025 • Stayed at: 10, Loop: Main Loop
I was there on a quiet weekend which was great. Excellent hiking nearby in the canyon. Sites are large and spaced out. Bathrooms clean. Beautiful views.
Jennifer M
VerifiedNovember 30, 2025 • Stayed at: 10, Loop: Main Loop
I was there on a quiet weekend which was great. Excellent hiking nearby in the canyon. Sites are large and spaced out. Bathrooms clean. Beautiful views.
Joshua K
VerifiedNovember 20, 2025 • Stayed at: Group Site 1, Loop: Main Loop
Wonderful campsite
Joshua K
VerifiedNovember 20, 2025 • Stayed at: Group Site 1, Loop: Main Loop
Wonderful campsite
Denise L
VerifiedNovember 13, 2025 • Stayed at: 4, Loop: Main Loop
Beautiful campground.
Denise L
VerifiedNovember 13, 2025 • Stayed at: 4, Loop: Main Loop
Beautiful campground.
Bryant A
VerifiedNovember 3, 2025 • Stayed at: 1, Loop: Main Loop
Camp hosts are TERRIBLE - families beware and do not camp at site 1 which is next to the camp host site.
The camp hosts have 3 aggressive dogs that will bark until late in the night and if your kids happen to wonder close to their campsite they dogs will attack them. When I kindly went up to them and asked the guy if their dogs would be barking all night because we have 2 toddlers trying to sleep, he cursed me out, saying his dogs will bark at strangers, cars and people riding bikes. He blamed us for his dogs barking and said they wouldn't be stoping it.
The husband yelled at mountain bikers riding by, saying they were antagonizing his dogs. We've been camping for decades and never experienced camp hosts this bad. We had to move campsites.
Bryant A
VerifiedNovember 3, 2025 • Stayed at: 1, Loop: Main Loop
Camp hosts are TERRIBLE - families beware and do not camp at site 1 which is next to the camp host site.
The camp hosts have 3 aggressive dogs that will bark until late in the night and if your kids happen to wonder close to their campsite they dogs will attack them. When I kindly went up to them and asked the guy if their dogs would be barking all night because we have 2 toddlers trying to sleep, he cursed me out, saying his dogs will bark at strangers, cars and people riding bikes. He blamed us for his dogs barking and said they wouldn't be stoping it.
The husband yelled at mountain bikers riding by, saying they were antagonizing his dogs. We've been camping for decades and never experienced camp hosts this bad. We had to move campsites.
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.
Latitude & Longitude: 37.8418 / -106.28
Elevation: 2413 feet
Policies & Rules
Pets
- Pets must always be kept under control.
Nearby Campgrounds
Last updated: June 4, 2026
