RC 4 G1

San Luis Valley Field Office • Colorado

BLM

Directions

From U.S. 285, turn west onto Saguache County Road G. After six 

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.

For more information, please contact:

BLM San Luis Valley Field Office

46525 Highway 114

Saguache, CO 81149

719-655-2547

Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm

Closed weekends and holidays

PENITENTE CANYON 

Special Recreation Management Area

Mountain

Biking

Rules of the Trail

While enjoying Penitente Canyon, please 

remember to:

Stay ON the trail. Improper bike riding techniques 

can harm trails and diminish trail experiences for others. Stay on 

existing trails; don’t create new ones or cut switchbacks. Respect 

all route closures and “No Trespassing” signs. Limit your riding to 

durable surfaces (trails, dirt roads, pavement and campgrounds). 

Control your bicycle. Inattention for even a moment 

could put you and others at risk. Obey speed regulations and 

recommendations, and ride within your limits.

Share the trail. Let your fellow trail users know you 

are coming—a friendly greeting is one method. Anticipate other 

trail users as you ride around corners. Bicyclists should yield to 

all other trail users, unless the trail is clearly signed for bike- only 

travel. Bicyclists traveling downhill should yield to those headed 

 uphill, unless the trail is signed differently.

Photos by Kevin Krill - Crested Butte Photography

Plan Ahead and Be Prepared

Check with the BLM’s San Luis Valley Field Office or area bike 

shops before riding at Penitente Canyon. Make sure you bring 

all necessary equipment and remember that safety is your 

responsibility. All recreational activity is at your own risk.

What Every Rider Should Bring

There is no fee for mountain biking in the area. Please 

consider leaving a donation in the tube located at the 

Penitente Canyon trailhead kiosk. All donations are used to 

maintain and enhance recreation within Penitente Canyon.

• Food • Adequate clothing for the

• Water weather & season

• Helmet • Spare tube and patches 

• Pump • Tools

BLM/CO/GI-11/010

The Penitente Canyon Special Recreation Management Area 

has many trails for mountain bikers to enjoy among twisty 

A newly reworked trail rock canyons and towering boulders.

system offers seventeen miles of rides for all levels, from easy 

pedals to technical boulder jumping.

While in the area, you’ll ride through some of the country’s most 

fascinating history and geology. Twenty-seven million years ago, 

the largest volcanic eruption ever documented blew the country 

apart and formed the La Garita Caldera. This oblong void is 22 

The outline of this giant caldera miles wide and 47 miles long.

is hard to find, but evidence of its existence is all around you at 

Penitente. Fish Canyon tuff, the rock blown out by the explosion, 

forms the canyon walls.

CR G

Villa Grove

Saguache

Hooper Center

La 

Garita

Del Norte

Monte Vista Alamosa

Great Sand Dunes 

National Park

and Preserve

17

112

114

160

285

Humans have visited this area for thousands of years. From 

prehistoric groups to Utes and Jicarilla Apaches, people have 

oxcarts to Hispanic settlers used added to the rich history here.

haul wood from the mountains – you can still see the wagon ruts 

carved into the rocks along the Penitente Canyon Loop Trail. The 

area was named after the religious brotherhood Los Hermanos 

Penitentes, who worshipped in the vicinity years ago.

Today, the Bureau of Land Management manages Penitente 

Canyon for mountain bikers, rock climbers, hikers, nature watchers 

and others who are drawn by the peace and mystery of the area.

Penitente Canyon