Purgatoire Campground
Purgatoire Campground is nestled near the headwaters of the Purgatoire River in the beautiful Culebra Range of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The primitive campground is laid out on two loops. One is a large grassy meadow with sites that accommodate equestrian campers and one that is wooded with aspen and spruce. Constructed by the Youth Conservation Corp in 1976, Purgatoire was originally named Potato Patch Campground. The river provides nice fishing and a trailhead attracts hikers and horseback riders.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 13 |
| Equestrian | 6 |
| RV, no hookups | 1 |
| Host/management | 3 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
20 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | Standard | Back-in | 21 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | |
| 04 | Standard | Back-in | 18 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | |
| 06 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | |
| 07 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | |
| 08 | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 |
| 09 | RV | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | |
| 10 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 |
| 11 | Equestrian | Back-in | Gravel | 8 / 2 | ||
| 12 | Equestrian | Back-in | Gravel | 8 / 2 | ||
| 13 | Equestrian | Back-in | Gravel | 8 / 2 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 45 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Campsites come with campfire rings, picnic tables and vault toilets. Equestrian sites can fit large horse trailers. Drinking water is from a hand pump and parking aprons are grass and gravel. Trash service is provided.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Pike-San Isabel National Forests |
| Booking | Call 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov at least 4 days in advance. Friday and Saturday night minimum required stay on weekends. Three nights minimum on holiday weekends. |
| Fees | $25.00 per site fee includes two vehicles. Extra vehicles are $10.00 each. Day use is $10.00 per vehicle. Fees are payable by cash, check or money order. Self-servicing fee tube is available. First-come, first-served sites must be occupied the first night. |
| Rules | Maximum 8 persons per site: 2 tents and 2 vehicles or 1 recreation vehicle. Dogs must be leashed at all times. No discharge of firearms or fireworks. Only licensed vehicles can operate inside campground. Camping is not allowed behind a locked gate. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From La Veta, Colorado, take State Route 12 south for 25.3 miles to Purgatoire campground sign. Turn right onto gravel Route 34. Go 0.2 miles to "T" intersection. Turn right and drive 4 miles on rough gravel road to campground.
| Nearest town | Canon City, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 37.2525° N, 105.1092° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite. Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. No-Shows A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended. Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedComanche Powderhouse Fall Rx
30 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 29.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Outdoor gear ↗ | 41.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Seco Bubble ↗ | 56.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Purgatoire Campground - San Isabel National Forest
Worth a stop
The nearby towns of Stonewall and Cuchara offer shopping and restaurants.
- 5.3 miBear Lake Day Use Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miNorth Fork3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.5 miCoal Creek ↗4.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.2 miWildcat4.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Spanish Peaks Wilderness begins about 8.4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 8.4 miSpanish Peaks Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 19,237 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Natural features
The campground is in an aspen and conifer forest near the North Fork River at an elevation of 9,800 feet. The river, also known as the Purgatoire River, flows 196 miles to the confluence of the Arkansas River. Pike-San Isabel National Forest includes over a million acres of wilderness and over half of Colorado's mountain peaks that reach above 14,000 feet.
Recreation
The North Fork Trail # 1309 is located on the north end of the campground and offers non-motorized access to hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders. The 5-mile trail delights with mountain vistas and shade from forested terrain. The river, which is creek-sized at these upper reaches, provides opportunities for anglers to cast for trout.
Guidebooks for Colorado
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Purgatoire Campground?
Sites at Purgatoire Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Call 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov at least 4 days in advance. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Purgatoire Campground?
$25.00 per site fee includes two vehicles. Extra vehicles are $10.00 each. Day use is $10.00 per vehicle.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Purgatoire Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Purgatoire Campground?
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Purgatoire Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Purgatoire Campground have?
23 sites, including 13 standard sites without power, 6 equestrian sites, and 1 RV site without hookups.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Purgatoire Campground?
The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Purgatoire Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Purgatoire Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Purgatoire Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Maximum 8 persons per site: 2 tents and 2 vehicles or 1 recreation vehicle.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Purgatoire Campground?
The North Fork Trail # 1309 is located on the north end of the campground and offers non-motorized access to hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Purgatoire Campground?
Canon City, Colorado. The nearby towns of Stonewall and Cuchara offer shopping and restaurants.
Source: Getting there
What if Purgatoire Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Blue Lake Campground (4.5 mi, partly first-come), Bear Lake Campground (5.3 mi), and Cordova Pass (8.1 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby