Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Antonito, CO has a lot to offer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Colorado camping has to offer. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Antonito, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
A short drive up the gravel road that leads to the Bureau of Land Management___s Zapata Falls Campground (CG) will let visitors to the area see the San Luis Valley and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve from a whole new perspective. The campground offers bird___s-eye views of the valley floor below, the San Juan Mountains to the west, the adjacent Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, and several 14er___s and many other towering peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range that Zapata Falls CG sits on ___ not to mention spectacular sunrises, sunsets and night skies!____ Zapata Falls CG has 23 single campsites, 1 group site and 1 camp host site nestled among pi__on pines along two one-mile long loops. The sites on one loop are designed for tent campers. Parking spurs on the second loop vary a little in length but in general can handle RVs, towed campers, or other configurations of vehicles up to about 50 feet long.____ A new trailhead in the campground supplies a link to the South Zapata Creek Trail and the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. A second trail, next door to the campground in the day-use area, leads visitors on a mildly steep half-mile hike to Zapata Falls, which gives the campground its name.
Zapata Falls Recreation Area is a destination known for its waterfall viewing and sweeping vistas of the San Luis Valley, its soaring mountain ranges, and the adjacent Great Sand Dunes National Park. From the waterfall, the trail continues onto the Rio Grande National Forest, for those seeking a backcountry experience in the high country above and the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness.__ Recreation Sites ___ Standard Nonelectric ___ Rv Nonelectric ___ Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric ___ Overnight
___ Road signs from highway to Recreation Area. ___ Improved gravel roads in Recreation Area (no pavement). ___ No public drinking water system. ___ 6 vault (or pit-type) toilets. ___ Trash bins throughout campground and day-use areas. ___ 23 Individual sites (11 Tent, 12 RV, 1 Group Tent, 1 CG Host Site, 7 Picnic sites. ___ Standard campground amenities-table, tent pads, fire ring, food storage locker, parking. ___ Interpretive, informational, and directional signs. ___ Trailhead and overflow parking areas. ___ Foot and horse trails. ___ All facilities open year-round. ___ Cell phone service is good.
Zapata Falls Special Recreation Management Area The Zapata Falls Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) is rich in history and geology and offers opportunities to hike, camp, mountain bike and view spectacular scenery. Zapata Falls and the 628 acres surrounding them are State Trust Lands owned by the Colorado State Land Board and are also a designated Colorado Natural Area. They are cooperatively managed with the Bureau of Land Management. History The name ___Zapata___ is the Spanish word for shoe and is tied to the history of settlement in the San Luis Valley. In 1864, Mexican families established the community of Zapata at the western base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and raised sheep and other livestock. In the 1870s, cattleman consolidated land holdings and established one of the San Luis Valley___s first and largest cattle ranches know as Zapata Ranch, which remains an active ranch today.__ Geology Zapata Falls SRMA perches on the edge of an active rift valley. The San Luis Valley was formed when geologic activity along the Rio Grande Rift, a giant crack in the earth___s top layers, caused the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains to rise and the flat plain of the San Luis Valley to sink. Bedrock lies 5,000 to 13,000 feet below the valley floor, beneath layers of gravel, soil, and water. Approximately two million years ago, alpine glaciers inched down the steep slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Water flowing from the glacier and snowfields in the valley above found a weak spot near the end of a moraine ___ a huge rock pile deposited thousands of years ago by a glacier. For thousands of years, water has carved its path, forming Zapata Falls. Don___t Take the Plunge at Zapata Falls The cold waters of South Zapata Creek drop more than 25 feet through a narrow, rocky canyon. Please use extreme caution when hiking or wading around the base of Zapata Falls. In spring and summer, the water is cold, the current may be strong, and the rocks are slippery. In winter, climbing to the base of the falls is a slick proposition. Zapata Creek freezes into a sheet of ice blanketed by snow. Beware, the ice may not be thick enough to support your weight. There is no view of the falls from above; trying to climb the rocky walls is dangerous to you and to people below you. The falls are home to the black swift, a rare and elusive bird that nests only in the misty reaches of waterfalls. Stay on the trails to keep from disturbing the birds nesting in the cliffs.__
Zapata Falls Trail__ To reach Zapata Falls, you will need to take a short but arduous hike to Zapata Creek. The falls are upstream from where the trail meets the creek. The only way to view the falls is to get your feet wet by wading carefully upstream to the base of the falls. Length: 1/2 mile each way Elevation: 9,000 to 9,400 feet Connections: South Zapata Lake Trail (U.S. Forest Service Trail #852)____ Other Nearby Attractions: ___ NPS-Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.____ ___ USFS-Rio Grande National Forest and Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. ___ BLM-Blanca Wetlands Recreation Area. ___ USFWS-Baca and Alamosa National Wildlife Refuges. ___ Great Sand Dunes Oasis-Restaurant, gift shop, and lodge (near GRSA Park entrance). ___ Ft. Garland Museum and Cultural Center. ___ Colorado Gators Reptile Park. ___ UFO Watchtower. ___ Sand Dunes Hot Springs Pool. Other Nearby Campgrounds: Pinyon Flats CG, Great Sand Dunes NPP
Aspen Glade Campground sits on the Conejos River in southern Colorado, providing a premium setting for fly fishing and peaceful nature watching.
Forest Road 250 provides an unforgettable scenic drive, where visitors are met with sweeping views of the Conejos Canyon and River. Just upstream of the campground is a section of "Gold Medal" trout fishing, offering top-tier fishing for large quality trout. Just 168 miles of the 9,000 miles of trout streams in Colorado are designated with this title. The nearby Sheep Creek Trail is also highly recommended for avid hikers.
The 32 spacious, reservable campsites are considerably quiet, allowing for the sounds of birds overhead. Drinking water and vault toilets are provided.
Within the campground, Loop A and B are lightly wooded with Ponderosa pines. Loop C is heavily wooded with tall, mature spruce, aspen and fir trees. It lies along the fast-flowing Conejos River. The understory for all campsites is grass topped with pine needles. Aspen Glade sits near the border of New Mexico at 8,500 feet. It is situated between the Carson and Rio Grande National Forests. Wildlife in the region includes bear, deer, elk and a variety of birds.
For facility specific information, please call (805) 434-1996.
Visitors can ride a traditional steam engine at the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad on a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining towns.
$26 - $33 / night
Nestled between the breathtaking San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountains at 7,550 feet, the San Luis Valley is your gateway to adventure. This KOA is near the golden ridges of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, where you can hike dunes up to 750 feet tall. It's also at the base of Colorado's fourth tallest mountain, 14,345-foot Blanca Peak.
$25 - $169 / night
Ponderosa Campground is located at the northwest end of the Soap Creek Arm of Blue Mesa Reservoir. 28 tent and medium sized RV sites can be accommodated at Ponderosa. All sites are first-come first-served.
Note: During dry conditions, the first 7 miles of Soap Creek Road are passable to trailers and RVs. Rain can make the Soap Creek Road hazardous or impassable.
Elk Creek Campground is located in Conejos County, approximately 23 miles west of Antonito, Colorado. Located in the lower portion of the Conejos Canyon a short distance from Highway 17, it is an easily reached destination for visitors to the area. Elk Creek runs alongside the campground. The elevation of the campground is 8,500 ft.
Consider a day trip to the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (steam) which offers a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining towns. One access to the train is in Antonito, CO, about 23 miles from the campground. Fishing, hunting, hiking, scenic driving and wildlife watching are some of the popular activities in the area. Elk Creek and Duck Lake trailheads are a short distance away, both of which are access points to the South San Juan Wilderness Area.
This campground contains a variety of campsites including single and double sites which can accommodate RVs or tents. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Most sites are equipped with accessible tables, grills and fire rings.
The campground is lightly wooded with spruce and some ponderosa pine trees. The understory is grass with some campsites located next to Elk Creek. The campground is conveniently located within close proximity to the South San Juan Wilderness Area.
Nearby Elk Creek has fishing, including brown and rainbow trout. Two hiking trails are also nearby and lead into the south San Juan Wilderness. These trails access Dipping Lakes and Duck Lake and are an easy to intermediate hike.
For facility specific information, please call (805) 434-1996.
$29 - $33 / night
Mogote Campground is located along the Conejos River, making it a perfect location for fishing and hiking. The pleasant campground is well shaded by groves of ponderosa pine and a mixture of cottonwood, spruce, willow and aspen. The campground is also in close proximity to the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, home of America's highest and longest, coal fired, steam operated narrow-gauge railroad.
The Conejos River is a Gold Medal River, offering a high potential for trophy trout fishing. Rainbow and brown trout are the most common species in the river. Popular hikes include the 15-mile Elk Creek Trail and the 10.9-mile South Fork Conejos Trail.
Campsites are equipped with picnic tables and campfire rings with grills. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash bins are provided. An accessible toilet is located in the upper loop. No electric hookups are available. Firewood can be purchased on site.
The campground sits at an elevation of 8,400 feet, and is separated into an upper and lower loop. The lower loop sits along the fast-flowing Conejos River and many sites face the water. The campground is perched in a wooded section along the river valley. Rio Grande National Forest stretches across 1.86 million acres in south-central Colorado. The forest encompasses a myriad of ecosystems ranging from high elevation desert at 7,600 feet above sea level to rocky crags at over 14,300 feet in the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
For facility specific information, please call (805) 434-1996.
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad can be accessed from Antonito. The train makes a 640-mile journey through abandoned mining towns, creating great entertainment for young and old.
$160 - $164 / night
$20 - $65 / night
$32 / night
A short drive up the gravel road that leads to the Bureau of Land Management___s Zapata Falls Campground (CG) will let visitors to the area see the San Luis Valley and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve from a whole new perspective. The campground offers bird___s-eye views of the valley floor below, the San Juan Mountains to the west, the adjacent Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, and several 14er___s and many other towering peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range that Zapata Falls CG sits on ___ not to mention spectacular sunrises, sunsets and night skies!____ Zapata Falls CG has 23 single campsites, 1 group site and 1 camp host site nestled among pi__on pines along two one-mile long loops. The sites on one loop are designed for tent campers. Parking spurs on the second loop vary a little in length but in general can handle RVs, towed campers, or other configurations of vehicles up to about 50 feet long.____ A new trailhead in the campground supplies a link to the South Zapata Creek Trail and the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. A second trail, next door to the campground in the day-use area, leads visitors on a mildly steep half-mile hike to Zapata Falls, which gives the campground its name.
Zapata Falls Recreation Area is a destination known for its waterfall viewing and sweeping vistas of the San Luis Valley, its soaring mountain ranges, and the adjacent Great Sand Dunes National Park. From the waterfall, the trail continues onto the Rio Grande National Forest, for those seeking a backcountry experience in the high country above and the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness.__ Recreation Sites ___ Standard Nonelectric ___ Rv Nonelectric ___ Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric ___ Overnight
___ Road signs from highway to Recreation Area. ___ Improved gravel roads in Recreation Area (no pavement). ___ No public drinking water system. ___ 6 vault (or pit-type) toilets. ___ Trash bins throughout campground and day-use areas. ___ 23 Individual sites (11 Tent, 12 RV, 1 Group Tent, 1 CG Host Site, 7 Picnic sites. ___ Standard campground amenities-table, tent pads, fire ring, food storage locker, parking. ___ Interpretive, informational, and directional signs. ___ Trailhead and overflow parking areas. ___ Foot and horse trails. ___ All facilities open year-round. ___ Cell phone service is good.
Zapata Falls Special Recreation Management Area The Zapata Falls Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) is rich in history and geology and offers opportunities to hike, camp, mountain bike and view spectacular scenery. Zapata Falls and the 628 acres surrounding them are State Trust Lands owned by the Colorado State Land Board and are also a designated Colorado Natural Area. They are cooperatively managed with the Bureau of Land Management. History The name ___Zapata___ is the Spanish word for shoe and is tied to the history of settlement in the San Luis Valley. In 1864, Mexican families established the community of Zapata at the western base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and raised sheep and other livestock. In the 1870s, cattleman consolidated land holdings and established one of the San Luis Valley___s first and largest cattle ranches know as Zapata Ranch, which remains an active ranch today.__ Geology Zapata Falls SRMA perches on the edge of an active rift valley. The San Luis Valley was formed when geologic activity along the Rio Grande Rift, a giant crack in the earth___s top layers, caused the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains to rise and the flat plain of the San Luis Valley to sink. Bedrock lies 5,000 to 13,000 feet below the valley floor, beneath layers of gravel, soil, and water. Approximately two million years ago, alpine glaciers inched down the steep slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Water flowing from the glacier and snowfields in the valley above found a weak spot near the end of a moraine ___ a huge rock pile deposited thousands of years ago by a glacier. For thousands of years, water has carved its path, forming Zapata Falls. Don___t Take the Plunge at Zapata Falls The cold waters of South Zapata Creek drop more than 25 feet through a narrow, rocky canyon. Please use extreme caution when hiking or wading around the base of Zapata Falls. In spring and summer, the water is cold, the current may be strong, and the rocks are slippery. In winter, climbing to the base of the falls is a slick proposition. Zapata Creek freezes into a sheet of ice blanketed by snow. Beware, the ice may not be thick enough to support your weight. There is no view of the falls from above; trying to climb the rocky walls is dangerous to you and to people below you. The falls are home to the black swift, a rare and elusive bird that nests only in the misty reaches of waterfalls. Stay on the trails to keep from disturbing the birds nesting in the cliffs.__
Zapata Falls Trail__ To reach Zapata Falls, you will need to take a short but arduous hike to Zapata Creek. The falls are upstream from where the trail meets the creek. The only way to view the falls is to get your feet wet by wading carefully upstream to the base of the falls. Length: 1/2 mile each way Elevation: 9,000 to 9,400 feet Connections: South Zapata Lake Trail (U.S. Forest Service Trail #852)____ Other Nearby Attractions: ___ NPS-Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.____ ___ USFS-Rio Grande National Forest and Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. ___ BLM-Blanca Wetlands Recreation Area. ___ USFWS-Baca and Alamosa National Wildlife Refuges. ___ Great Sand Dunes Oasis-Restaurant, gift shop, and lodge (near GRSA Park entrance). ___ Ft. Garland Museum and Cultural Center. ___ Colorado Gators Reptile Park. ___ UFO Watchtower. ___ Sand Dunes Hot Springs Pool. Other Nearby Campgrounds: Pinyon Flats CG, Great Sand Dunes NPP
Aspen Glade Campground sits on the Conejos River in southern Colorado, providing a premium setting for fly fishing and peaceful nature watching.
Forest Road 250 provides an unforgettable scenic drive, where visitors are met with sweeping views of the Conejos Canyon and River. Just upstream of the campground is a section of "Gold Medal" trout fishing, offering top-tier fishing for large quality trout. Just 168 miles of the 9,000 miles of trout streams in Colorado are designated with this title. The nearby Sheep Creek Trail is also highly recommended for avid hikers.
The 32 spacious, reservable campsites are considerably quiet, allowing for the sounds of birds overhead. Drinking water and vault toilets are provided.
Within the campground, Loop A and B are lightly wooded with Ponderosa pines. Loop C is heavily wooded with tall, mature spruce, aspen and fir trees. It lies along the fast-flowing Conejos River. The understory for all campsites is grass topped with pine needles. Aspen Glade sits near the border of New Mexico at 8,500 feet. It is situated between the Carson and Rio Grande National Forests. Wildlife in the region includes bear, deer, elk and a variety of birds.
For facility specific information, please call (805) 434-1996.
Visitors can ride a traditional steam engine at the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad on a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining towns.
$26 - $33 / night
Nestled between the breathtaking San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountains at 7,550 feet, the San Luis Valley is your gateway to adventure. This KOA is near the golden ridges of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, where you can hike dunes up to 750 feet tall. It's also at the base of Colorado's fourth tallest mountain, 14,345-foot Blanca Peak.
$25 - $169 / night
Ponderosa Campground is located at the northwest end of the Soap Creek Arm of Blue Mesa Reservoir. 28 tent and medium sized RV sites can be accommodated at Ponderosa. All sites are first-come first-served.
Note: During dry conditions, the first 7 miles of Soap Creek Road are passable to trailers and RVs. Rain can make the Soap Creek Road hazardous or impassable.
