Sawmill Road to Hazel Bazemore Peak — Comanche National Grassland Desert Rimrock via Carrizo Canyon
Forgotten canyon. Petroglyphs. Zero crowds.
Comanche National Grassland’s Picture Canyon and Carrizo Canyon units in Baca and Las Animas Counties hold some of the most overlooked canyon scenery in the American West. From the dirt roads east of La Junta, the Carrizo Canyon route drops off the prairie rim into a narrow sandstone gorge where the canyon walls close to 30 feet across and ancient Fremont petroglyphs cover sheltered overhangs. The route follows Forest Road 128 south along Carrizo Creek for about 22 miles, crossing the creek bed multiple times before climbing back to the mesa top near the Oklahoma border. The canyon petroglyphs at Picture Canyon are the undisputed highlight — over 1,500 documented images in one of the most concentrated rock art sites on the Great Plains.
This is genuinely mild terrain in dry weather — a high-clearance 2WD truck manages fine when Carrizo Creek is running low, but the creek crossings turn dangerous with any upstream thunderstorm. Flash flood risk in summer is real and fast. Best visited April through June and September through November; summer heat is brutal and afternoon storms build quickly. No permit required. Dispersed camping in designated areas within the grassland. Fuel and water must come from La Junta (roughly 40 miles northwest) — carry extra of both. USDA Forest Service Comanche National Grassland manages the unit; road conditions line worth a call before you go.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Easy |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 22 mi / 35.4 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5400 ft |
| Best season | April-June, September-November |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 2WD (4WD recommended) |
| Nearest town | La Junta, CO |
| Land manager | USDA Forest Service, Comanche National Grassland |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | USFS Comanche National Grassland |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this trail, or do I need a lift?
Stock high-clearance trucks handle it fine — the 600ft of elevation gain is gradual and the dirt/sand surface doesn't demand serious articulation. 4WD helps in soft sand sections near Carrizo Creek but isn't mandatory if you're confident in 2WD high-clearance.
When does this trail get impassable — summer heat, winter snow, or mud season?
July and August are brutal in southeastern Colorado desert — triple-digit heat with no shade and no cell service is a real risk. Spring snowmelt (March) can turn the clay-heavy sections into axle-deep mud; stick to April-June and September-November.
Do I need a permit to drive this, and is there a fee?
No permit required and no fee to drive or camp on Comanche National Grassland. Dispersed camping is allowed; the only hard rule is stay 300ft from water sources and don't disturb the petroglyphs — federal cultural resource laws apply and violations carry serious penalties.
What's the gnarliest section and what should I actually expect?
The water crossings along Carrizo Creek are the crux — after rain they can run surprisingly deep for a 'easy' trail, and the sandy creek bottom will suck in a lightly loaded rig if you hesitate. Otherwise it's a mellow canyon drive; the difficulty rating is honest.
La Junta is 30+ miles away — where do I fuel up, and is there water on the trail?
Fill up in La Junta before you leave; there's nothing along this route. Carrizo Creek has water but treat everything — cattle graze this grassland heavily and the water quality is unreliable. Bring more than you think you need; the nearest help is a long dusty drive with zero cell service the entire route.
Trail track
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