Colorado · Camping

Zapata Falls Campground

Zapata Falls CampgroundPhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
May–Sep
best months
  • At 9,084 ftHigh camp: expect cold nights, even in summer
  • San Luis Valley Field Office

Zapata Falls Campground is a Bureau of Land Management campground in Colorado's San Luis Valley Field Office, about 0.3 miles from the California Peak and Twin Peaks hikes and the Zapata Falls Trail. It sits within the San Luis Valley, a high desert region of the state. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 81°F with lows near 52°F, while winter brings highs in the low 30s and regular snow days from December through February. That station sits about 900 feet lower than the campground, so temperatures here run cooler. Several other places are close by. Oasis Campground and Great Sand Dunes Oasis are both about 5 miles away, and Pinon Flats Campground is roughly 9 miles off.

Local outfitters

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  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Zapata Falls Campground

    Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      33° / 11°

      5 wet · 5 snow

    2. Feb

      39° / 16°

      5 wet · 5 snow

    3. Mar

      48° / 24°

      6 wet · 5 snow

    4. Apr

      56° / 29°

      6 wet · 4 snow

    5. May

      66° / 38°

      7 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      77° / 48°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      81° / 52°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 50°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 44°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      60° / 33°

      5 wet · 2 snow

    11. Nov

      45° / 22°

      4 wet · 4 snow

    12. Dec

      34° / 12°

      5 wet · 5 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Great Sand Dunes Np & Preserve, CO, 8.4 mi away at 8,183 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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