Penitente Canyon to Host 12 Hours of Penitence Endurance Race
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MONTE VISTA, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management San Luis Valley Field Office will be hosting the 12 Hours of Penitence mountain bike endurance race on October 11-14 at Penitente Canyon Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA).
The race will utilize roads, trails and the campground in Penitente Canyon, Witches Canyon and Sidewinder Road areas from Thursday through Sunday. Penitente Canyon will remain open to the public, but users seeking solitude or other quiet forms of recreation are encouraged to find alternate locations to recreate.
“We are excited to host the 12 Hours of Penitence race,” said San Luis Valley Field Office Manager Melissa Garcia. “With the amount of activity expected in the canyon during the event, we ask everyone using the area to be cautious for the safety of competitors, staff, and the public.”
Alternate locations for developed camping are available at Rio Grande National Forest’s Poso and Storm King campgrounds. Dispersed camping is available on BLM-managed public lands throughout the San Luis Valley.
In Fiscal Year 2017, recreation on public lands in Colorado generated $618.5 million and supported about 5,000 jobs.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.