Purgatoire Campground
PSICC — riverside, fishing, hiking
Location: CANON CITY, CO, CO
Price: From $25 per night
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (58 reviews)
Season: May through October
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.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/purgatoire-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Purgatoire Campground offers primitive camping in the scenic Sangre de Cristo Mountains near the Purgatoire River headwaters, with excellent opportunities for fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Campers consistently praise the beautiful mountain views, minimal light pollution, and peaceful remote setting.
Wildlife alert: American Elk, Mule Deer, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, American Dipper, MacGillivray's Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Hermit Thrush
Insider tips for Purgatoire Campground: Book early — this is a popular federal campground Gravel access road is passable by car with minimal potholes Two-loop layout: grassy meadow loop for equestrian camping, wooded aspen/spruce loop for traditional camping
Skip Purgatoire Campground if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available; only suitable for self-contained RVs. You visit outside May-October seasonal window. You require paved road access — 4-mile rough gravel road to campground.
Best time to visit Purgatoire Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.
Nearby campgrounds: Blue Lake Campground - San Isabel Nf (Co) (CANON CITY, CO), Bear Lake Campground (Co) (CANON CITY, CO), Cordova Pass (La Veta, CO), Cimarron Campground (Cimarron, NM).
Cell Phone Coverage at Purgatoire Campground
Cell signal at Purgatoire Campground (CANON CITY, CO): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
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.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a popular federal campground
Gravel access road is passable by car with minimal potholes
Two-loop layout: grassy meadow loop for equestrian camping, wooded aspen/spruce loop for traditional camping
Campground operates seasonally during these months only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
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.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — PSICC fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at PSICC before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Purgatoire Campground cost per night?+
What season is Purgatoire Campground open?+
Does Purgatoire Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Purgatoire Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Purgatoire Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Purgatoire Campground?+
What season is Purgatoire Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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