Camping in the San Luis Valley near Antonito, Colorado sits at elevations between 7,800-8,500 feet, creating cooler summer temperatures compared to lower elevations. The Conejos River watershed supports several campgrounds within 15-20 miles of town. The camping season typically runs May through mid-September with notable temperature drops at night even during summer months.
What to do
Trout fishing access points: Aspen Glade Campground offers prime locations for fly fishing enthusiasts. "If you like fly fishing this is the place to come! Fishing in the conejos river is spectacular. Beautiful, quiet and fish are big!" notes Rebeca H., who adds that "sites are spacious" with "water, bathrooms and trash service" available.
Scenic day trips: From Ponderosa Campground, campers can visit nearby Chama, New Mexico. "Chama is a cool place to visit, it is a trail town on the CDT," writes Michael M., who recommends driving over the pass to experience this neighboring town just 30 minutes away.
Continental Divide Trail hiking: Several campsites provide access to sections of the CDT. "Hiking on the CDT is near the campground and fishing is right in the campground," notes a Ponderosa Campground reviewer, highlighting the convenience of trail access within walking distance of established sites.
What campers like
River sounds for sleeping: Sites at Aspen Glade Campground along the water are highly rated. John M. shares: "The lower campground sits right on the Conejos River. Tons of shade under giant pine trees. Great fishing access to public waters." The "noise of the river was nice" according to another reviewer.
Star viewing opportunities: The Sacred White Shell Mountain dispersed area offers exceptional dark sky viewing. "Dark skies there. You can see the Milky Way with the naked eye," reports one camper, who spent over a week at this free BLM site located about 45 minutes from Antonito.
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the spacing at Rio Grande National Forest Mogote Campground. "The campground was very clean and campsites offered above average privacy," notes John M., who adds that "the lower loop offers sites close to the Conejos river."
What you should know
Seasonal insect considerations: Deer flies can be problematic at certain times. A Ponderosa Campground visitor notes: "Stunning spot, lots of tent sites, room for maybe 12 campers of modest length, mine is 26'. Unknown if it's seasonal but the biting flies, primarily deer flies are beyond bearable."
Cell service variability: Coverage is inconsistent throughout the region. At The Chicken Ranch, "Views are amazing! Very quiet and the star gazing is some of the best," according to Jennifer T., but many sites throughout the area report limited connectivity except for Sacred White Shell Mountain where "Verizon was good 2-3 bars with LTE."
Weather patterns: Afternoon rain showers are common during summer months. "Small rain events happen frequently in the afternoon, but they never last long and some don't make it to the area, but you can see them in the distance," reports a visitor to Sacred White Shell Mountain dispersed camping area.
Tips for camping with families
Multi-generational camping spots: Several campgrounds have long histories of family use. At Aspen Glade, Matthew C. shares: "My family has been camping here since before I was born. I grew up here. My cousins and I built a rock damn across the river and I cought my first fish here. My children now get to enjoy this piece of majic."
Kid-friendly water access: The day use areas provide safe river exploration. "Nice little day use area right next to the river," notes Angelica B. about Aspen Glade, while another camper mentioned: "We tent camped with our family of 4 for 4 nights... The river made for great bathing."
Educational opportunities: Canon Bonito and surrounding areas offer wildlife viewing for children. "Located in a beautiful valley giving away to peaceful nights," writes Joseph W., noting the pet-friendly environment and pleasant daytime temperatures around 76°F.
Tips from RVers
Level site availability: Finding flat spots can be important for larger rigs. At Sacred White Shell Mountain, "We setup camp in the back of the area and were able to get level without blocks! Most everyone else needed blocks, but they didn't seem to have much problem leveling."
Size limitations: Some campsites have restrictions or challenges for larger RVs. "Ok for small campers but I wouldn't take anything too big as the spaces are small and it is very tight to maneuver," cautions Chris T. about Los Pinos Campground, while noting there are only "4-5 improved campsites with vault toilets."
Water and dump station access: Most RVers need to plan for water hauling. "No hookups but no fee," notes a Sacred White Shell Mountain visitor, while others recommend utilizing the dump station at Great Sand Dunes National Park, about 20-25 minutes from several dispersed camping areas near Antonito.
