It offers nightly movies during the summer and access to hiking trails all year long. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. Here are some of the best National Forest Campgrounds in New Mexico as experienced by Fred and Suzi Dow, authors and publishers of the U.S. National Forest Campground Guide website and eBooks. The quiet campground is located in a strand of ponderosa pine in the Santa Fe National Forest. The Organ MountainsDesert Peaks National Monument preserves nearly half a million acres of rocky peaks and narrow canyons, much of it in Las Crucess backyard. A few of these cross into neighboring states, with Coronado National Forest being primarily located in adjacent Arizona. ABOVE: Grant Wingert of Albuquerque stands at the dispersed campsite he secured Friday along N.M. 126 in the Jemez Mountains for the weekend. Here are 5 of the best places for free camping in NewMexico: The site is pretty nice. Within Holy Ghost Canyon, the Santa Fe National Forests Holy Ghost Campground is located on the outskirts of the Pecos Wilderness. We hope weve provided all of the information you need to plan a great dispersed camping trip in New Mexico. Use them as inspiration, or make it easy on yourself and head to one of these great sites for your next camping trip. In terms of location, this site is about 35 minutes south of the Sierra Vista free campsite. Golden Clear Creek R V Park. RVs and trailers should stick to the first couple pullouts rather than attempting to drive up to the plateau. Youll see a couple large dispersed campsites just after you exit Highway 180 towards the campground. J. Lubchenco 2. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Do not camp in areas near trailheads, picnic areas, or developed campgrounds. The campsites here are spacious and level, making them perfect for boondocking in RVs and trailers. Because the Aspen Basin Campground provides access to a breathtakingly beautiful environment, it can be quite busy during the days of summer and fall aspen viewing days. As with most of the Western United States, much of the public land in New Mexico is managed by two entities: The United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Apart from that, theres another reason why RVers flock to New Mexico. respect the fire conditions warnings and practice no-trace camping principles. Rather, we chose to include the Cosmic Campground because it is free and also one of the most spectacular places to spend a night in the state. The bathrooms are nice, but the one in black bear loop is the nicest. The Santa Fe National Forest is located in north-central New Mexico and is comprised of 1,587,181 acres. Camping is not free; it costs $30 per night for a tent and $43 per night for an RV. Caja Del Rio Dispersed Camping is a National Forest in Santa Fe. The most tranquil campsites are locate right on Bonito Creek, making for a wonderful camping experience. The campsites themselves are quite spacious but theres not a whole lot of privacy in between them. Picnic tables, fire pits, and small corrals suited for one or two horses are available at each location. Free camping in New Mexico doesnt get much more scenic than Angel Peak Scenic Area. Rancheros de Santa Fe is a magnificent destination for your visit, located on Historic Route 66 and near the Santa Fe Trail. Whether gathering of families or gathering pinon nuts and firewood, the forest is a "querencia" - a special place. It boasts four concrete telescope pads (camping isnt allowed on these) and requires campers to use red light filters on all flashlights and headlamps to minimize light pollution. Erik, Google review, Read Also: Camping World Near San Antonio, Home Articles Camping Near Santa Fe | The Santa Fe National Forest. Job Description Position: SCC Four Corners - Santa Fe National Forest Recreation Management Strike Team Dates: May 29th - August 11th, 2023 Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Camping Program Location: Based out of Durango,CO; Project work will be in the Santa Fe National Forest, NM Stipend: $600 ($400/week living stipend + $200/week housing stipend) Ages: 18 - 30 In our estimation, the best way to experience these unique landscapes is to spend a night out under the stars and New Mexico offers some incredible free, dispersed camping to make that happen. Listing for: American Conservation Experience. Rio ChamaCampgroundPart of the Santa Fe National Forest in the northern partof the state, this free New Mexico campground has 9 total campsites and can accommodateRVs up to 20. . Please keep your campsite at least 100 feet from streams and lakes, including riverbanks or areas next to bodies of water. Do you ever get that feeling Get me out of here! Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. You wont get any wilderness experience camping here, but you can fish in the lake, and its always good to have options for free camping! One of the most important considerations when dispersed camping in New Mexico is to follow Leave No Trace principles. Guide to Camping on the Tour du Mont Blanc, Guide to Hiking from Aspen to Crested Butte, Guide to Camping on the West Highland Way, Guide to Camping on the Walkers Haute Route, The Ultimate Guide to the Coast to Coast Walk, The Complete Guide to Snowshoeing in Rocky Mountain National Park, How to find dispersed campsites in New Mexico, The Best Dispersed Camping Areas in New Mexico, Santa Fe National Forest Dispersed Camping, Lincoln National Forest Dispersed Camping, Coronado National Forest Dispersed camping, Bureau of Land Management Dispersed Camping in New Mexico(BLM), Albuquerque District Office (Albuquerque), the New Mexico BLM lists these helpful rules for dispersed camping, combination of several online apps/websites, Cibola National Forest & Kiowa National Grassland MVUM, Upper Bonito Recreation Area Dispersed Camping, Kiowa National Grassland (administered by Cibola NF). Campgrounds include: Vista Linda, San Antonio, Redondo, Paliza, and Jemez . 2. Summer gets very hot despite the high elevation. Off of NM-68, Co Rd 435 leads you into free BLM land camping. Elkhart, Indiana, might be the RV capital of the world, but most travelers would be surprised to Tennis Has Met Its Match: Play Pickleball at These 45 RV Campgrounds, 18 Campgrounds Where You Can Stay Cool This Summer. The SFNF offers a multitude of recreational opportunities to its visitors. I am Ted Mosby from Cleveland, Ohio. American Springs Dispersed Camping, Santa Fe National Forest in Los Alamos, New Mexico: 1 reviews, 7 photos, & 1 tips from fellow RVers. Their mother, Keola Salazar, said her children had spent a lot of time indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic and she and her husband, Keith Salazar, wanted to bring them to the mountains to let them be kids again.. Very dark and quiet at night. Camping near Santa Fe National Forest. Its something of a tight turn off Highway 70 through the entrance gate, especially in a big rig. Junction City - Schreiner Park Campground, Upper Teton View - Toppings Lake Dispersed Campsites 8-16, Oliver Lee Memorial State Park Campground, Video: Where to Camp in Quartzsite, Arizona. The Caja del Rio area is part of Santa Fe National Forest. Where can I park my camper in Boulder? - 2023 The breathtaking canyon view is spectacular, but owing to fallen trees, camping is inaccessible occasionally. Each of the nine campsites has a picnic table and fire rings. Visit forestcamping.com to learn more. The Capitan Wilderness is the place to go for peace and quiet. Not ideal for RVs or trailers. Though not dispersed camping in the traditional sense, the 10 campsites here are all free and have some basic amenities such as picnic tables, a covered shelter, and access to restrooms. There are no vault toilets here so plan to pack out human waste as if you were dispersed camping. However, there are some basic guidelines youll need to adhere to. The place seemed safe and remarkably tidy for a free camping area adjacent to a metropolis. A choice between dispersed camping and a free USFS campground. Heres a quick list of the free campsites I dive into below: Or, browse these free campsites on our New Mexico dispersed camping map to find one near you. However, there is no disposal station. Valles Caldera was impossible! If you have a low-clearance RV, take the first route on the left after passing through the livestock gate. The next right is FSR 64 J, which as several dispersed campsites along its length. Dont Miss: Camping Near Mt Princeton Hot Springs. The Aspen Basin Campground is situated next to the Santa Fe Ski Basins huge parking lot. 3N47 Santa Fe Fire Road is in the 823,000-acre San Bernardino National Forest north of Lytle Creek . The Dyrt PRO is our favorite resource for planning your trip. Title: Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) Outdoor Recreation Management, Crew LeaderDates: March 27See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn. Santa Fe National Forest. The 9 dispersed campsites outlined above are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to free campsites in New Mexico. The Santa Fe National Forest has a variety of lovely camping places that range from high to low altitude, from high desert to forested, and from basic to develop. Still have questions about dispersed camping in New Mexico? Caja Del Rio Dispersed Camping, Santa Fe | Roadtrippers Santa Fe Fire Road is an excellent trail for beginning off-roaders with its smooth surface and several spurs to explore. Camping is prohibited within 900 feet of any developed water source (guzzler, watering trough, etc.) Both of these public agencies broadly permit dispersed camping on the land they manage, so are often the first place you should consider when dispersed camping. Dispersed camping isnt allowed until youre about a mile in if you head to the left (high clearance is recommended, but 2wd will suffice). Thats been a recurring issue that costs the U.S. taxpayers millions of dollars every year, McLarty said. Outdoor Recreation Specialist Resource Assistant Job Fairfield In this article, the best dispersed camping near Santa Fe, New Mexico, is discussed. Please park your vehicle near existing roads or existing dispersed campsites.