Zapata Falls Campground

Overview

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.

Operator

BLM

Camping types

RV, Tent

Fee

From $11 per night (confirm with the operator)

Reservations

Reservable online

Phone

719-852-7074

Amenities

Location

Nearby adventures

Outdoor things to do around Zapata Falls Campground, shown on the map above. Distances are straight-line from the campground, so driving or walking will be longer; trail details are approximate. Confirm access and conditions with the land manager.

Hikes and trailheads

• Zapata Falls TrailheadTrailhead · 2.0 mi from campShow on map
• Montville Nature Trail or Mosca Pass TrailHike · 30-240 Minutes · 8.7 mi from camp

  Just above the dunefield are montane woodlands of pinon and ponderosa pine, subalpine aspen and conifer forests, alpine lakes and rugged mountains over 13,000 feet (4,000 m) in elevation. National Park Service

  Show on map
• Explore the DunesHike · 9.0 mi from camp

  Explore the tallest dunes in North America! National Park Service

  Show on map
• Mosca Pass TrailheadTrailhead · 8.5 mi from campShow on map
• Wellington Ditch TrailheadTrailhead · 9.4 mi from campShow on map
• Hike Medano Lake and Mount HerardHike · 8-12 Hours · 16.1 mi from camp

  Take your 4WD vehicle around the dunes and up to Medano Pass, hike to a small alpine lake, then continue to the summit of 13,297 ft (4,053 m) Mount Herard for an aerial perspective on the… National Park Service

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Rivers and rafting

• Splash in Medano CreekPaddling and rafting · 1-8 Hours · 8.8 mi from camp

  Medano Creek is a popular seasonal stream enjoyed by all ages. National Park Service

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Scenic sights

• Zapata FallsWaterfall · 2.4 mi from camp

  Zapata Falls is a waterfall located in the San Luis Valley near the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on Bureau of Land Management land adjacent to Rio Grande National Forest and south… Wikipedia

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• California PeakPeak · 13,848 ft · 5.4 mi from camp

  California Peak is a high mountain summit in the Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. Wikipedia

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• Ellingwood PointPeak · 14,049 ft · 6.5 mi from camp

  Ellingwood Point is a high mountain summit in the Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. Wikipedia

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Climbing and snow sports

• Cuchara Mountain ResortSkiing and snowshoeing · 32.2 mi from camp

  A ski area at Cuchara in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. AI-written

  Show on map

Trail and sight data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and National Park Service. Text marked Wikipedia is from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0, lightly shortened. Text marked AI-written was drafted by an AI model from public data and may contain errors.

Reviews

Data sources

• Recreation.gov (RIDB) — Public domain (U.S. Government work)

Listing details come from the sources above and may be out of date. Confirm fees, dates and closures with the operator before you travel.