Carrizo Canyon Picnic Area

We approached the campground from the east and traveled 23 miles down a long straight gravel road. For a gravel road it was in pretty good shape. Only one sandy patch and that was just before you arrive at the campground off the main road.

We had the place to ourselves the first two nights and then on night number three we inexplicably found out we had four additional neighbors by the time we awoke the next morning?

The one mile hike through the shallow canyon should not be missed and make sure you search out the petroglyphs located on a side trail on the opposite side canyon wall.

The views are nice once you’re out there. Getting there takes some time. Dirt roads for about 25 miles if you’re coming from the south. Definitely not big rig friendly as the road leading up to it is narrow, windy, hilly, and dirt. We have a 20’ class C and I wouldn’t recommend anything bigger than that.

In my opinion you can get better views with far less effort. There is a single loop trail that is one mile long and that’s about it.

I’m not really one to complain about bugs because after all we are in their territory, but there was an unbelievable amount of flys. I wouldn’t recommend leaving your door open or windows down at all. Within minutes of arriving our rig was filled with flies.

We did not end up staying. Drove another couple hours down the road and slept at a Walmart in Trinidad.

No Verizon service.

We loved camping in this small, remote campsite. We had our gravel bikes, and with the help of MTB Project, found some excellent riding routes with zero auto traffic. The campsite was well equipped with a flat area and generous picnic shelter. Pit toilet was clean enough. Bring some toilet paper! There were few visitors, and most of the time we had the place to ourselves. The dirt access road will be slippery with rain or snow. We had no cell service (Verizon).