ROADS & TRAILS

Motorized vehicles are allowed on designated roads only. All other 

trails are non-motorized. A sign at the beginning of each trail lists who 

can use the trail—hikers, mountain bikers, or horseback riders. Stay on 

designated roads and trails.

Durable Surfaces

Limit your riding and camping to durable surfaces (trails, dirt roads, 

pavement and campgrounds). Off-trail riding is never allowed.

• Adapt your braking power to varying terrain. Avoid skidding.

• Ride the mountain as it is – don’t make the mountain rideable by 

 altering obstacles to make them easier to ride.

• Don’t create new trail markers.

• Please don’t reconstruct trails – some types of terrain are more 

 fragile than well-packed dirt. Try to avoid:

Mud: If you ride in mud, your bike will carry away soil, gouge the 

trail and speed the erosion process.

Water: Stop, shoulder your bike, and walk if the water is deeper 

than your hubs. Ride across water only if the crossing is established 

on a bare rocky or sandy surface, and the depth is no greater 

than your hubs or bottom bracket. If the water will reach your 

hubs or bottom bracket, your bike could release harmful lubricants 

and grease into the water.

Dispose of Waste Properly

Use the trash cans in the campground and day-use areas.

In other areas, pack out all trash including aluminum 

foil, cigarette butts, toilet paper and food scraps. Use the 

restrooms provided at the SRMA campground and day-use 

area. In other areas, pack out all human waste.

Leave What You Find

Examine, but do not touch cultural and historic artifacts.

Leave rocks, plants and other natural items as you find 

them so others can enjoy them as well.

Minimize Campfire Impacts

Use fire rings in campgrounds if possible. In areas where 

dispersed camping is allowed, use already-existing fire 

rings. Keep fires small. Burn all wood and coals to ash, put 

out campfires completely, and then scatter cool ashes.

Be Considerate of Other Visitors

	 • Travel in small groups.

	 • Don’t race on recreational trails.

	 • Let nature’s sounds prevail over your own.

OTHER AMENITIES

Drinking water is available at the well house near the campground 

entrance, typically May through October.

A picnic shelter, an interpretive kiosk, toilets and a trash dumpster 

are located in the day-use area at the entrance to Penitente Canyon.

For more information, check out the entrance kiosk when you arrive.

SAFETY

Most cell phones do not work within the rocky area of Penitente 

Canyon. You may have to head toward La Garita for a signal.

RESPECT WILDLIFE

Penitente Canyon is home to many animals. Be aware of habitat and 

seasonal closures, both mandatory and voluntary, and follow them. 

When you see wildlife, please:

• Don’t follow or approach animals.

• Never feed animals.

• Control your pets.

• Avoid sensitive times for wildlife such as early mornings, 

 evenings, and breeding seasons.

RATTLESNAKES

Prairie rattlesnakes are common in Penitente Canyon. Please be 

on the lookout for them. Always watch where you are stepping 

or reaching—don’t reach where you can’t see. If you encounter a 

snake, leave it alone and simply back away. Parents should always 

keep a close eye on their children in snake country.

CAMPING

The area has two group campsites and 15 individual campsites. The 

sites cannot be reserved in advance and are filled on a first-come, 

first-served basis.

Fees for group and single campsites are posted at the fee area. 

Please pay campsite fees as soon as you occupy a site. Checkout 

time for all campsites is noon.

Dispersed camping is allowed in some areas; please use existing 

sites. Exception: No camping in the Rock Garden.

Dispersed camping is not allowed in the campground or day-use 

area; use designated campsites only. No camping in parking lots.

No horses allowed in the campground.

Dogs should be on leashes in the campground and day-use area and 

under their owners’ control everywhere in Penitente Canyon.

No firewood cutting or gathering.

No shooting, possessing firearms or fireworks in the campground or 

day-use area.

Use designated fire rings in the campground and pre-existing fire 

rings in dispersed campsites.

Leave No Trace
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