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. With more people seeking dispersed sites since the ordered closure of campgrounds in late March, campers have been venturing deeper along Forest Service roads than in years past. We hope weve provided all of the information you need to plan a great dispersed camping trip in New Mexico. The campground is located within Gila National Forest, which is already one of the most remote and rugged wilderness areas in the United States. In addition, with a little knowledge, some basic map reading skills, and some of the excellent resources available we think youll have no problem finding a perfect dispersed campsite for your next trip. Maps are available at all SFNF offices and online that designate roads and trails that are open to motor vehicle traffic. In January, Los Alamos hiker Coco Rae published Hiking Trails in Valles Caldera National Preserve, the first comprehensive guide to the 20-year-old preserve's trail system. Fenton Lake State Park doesnt seem to be interesting from the outside. You cant make reservations, but there is a kiosk that lets you pay for your site using a credit card. Santa Fe, which is located in New Mexico, has to offer everything if you are looking for dispersed camping in New Mexico. The campgrounds trailhead connects to a 350-mile network of Pecos Wilderness trails, including Holy Ghost Trail, connecting to Skyline Trail and scenic Stewart Lake. For starters, its an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. In addition to the basic pit toilet, there are four cosmic observation pads where you can set up your telescope or simply enjoy the night sky. Another BLM managed area, the Joe Skeen Campground is the creme de la creme if you are looking for a true campground. Along with the lack of shade, both wind and dust can be issues depending on the time of year. Contests and special offers from The Santa Fe New Mexican and advertising partners. Caja Del Rio dispersed camping is part of the Santa Fe National Forest overseen by the U.S. Forest Service. RVs and trailers should stick to the first couple pullouts rather than attempting to drive up to the plateau. The campsites here are spacious and level, making them perfect for boondocking in RVs and . However, not all of them have this luxury. 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. Title: Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) Outdoor Recreation Management, Crew LeaderDates: March 27See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn. Your real name will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more! Beautiful views of the desert in every direction. The access roads arent terribly rough if you have high-clearance, but 4WD is certainly helpful. In the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico, the campground is set amid pine and fir trees, just where the aspen trees will start to appear. The first campsites appear just off Forest Road 24 near Headquarters Well. . Here are 5 of the best places for free camping in NewMexico: The site is pretty nice. Cowles - first come/first served; fee; Dalton Canyon Area - dispersed camping area; Davis Willow - dispersed camping area; El Porvenir - first come/first served; fee; no potable water; E.V. Holy Ghost Creek borders this dispersed camping area. However, theres a ton of room to spread out, so youre sure to find something quiet and peaceful, especially if youre willing to brave the rough roads. The Santa Fe Trail, Old Spanish Trail and El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro cross portions of the forest, giving you direct access to historic routes. with a maximum RV limit of 36 feet. In addition, the New Mexico Dispersed camping map below shows all of the campsite locations, with detailed descriptions following. website belongs to an official government organization in the From Interstate 25, take Exit 1 and then turn east onto University Road/Dripping Springs Road. To help maintain the riparian environment (the river banks or area close to a body of water) healthy and safeguard sensitive species and plants found here, please keep your campsites at least 100 feet away from lakes and streams. Location: Based out of Durango, CO . Aguirre Spring Campground has the convenience of being close to the states second-largest city, yet its location on the east side of the mountains makes the site feel remote. Many of these will accommodate large RVs and trailers. [] I am Ted Mosby from Cleveland, Ohio. The campsites here are close enough to Bonito Lake as well as some great hiking and ATV trails in the national forest. The first couple campsites along the gravel section of the access road are best for RVs and trailers. Camping is permitted throughout the full length of the road. Most of the states cities and towns have easy access to the outdoors, whether it be the Pecos Wilderness outside of Santa Fe, Cibola National Forest outside of Albuquerque, or the Organ Mountains near Las Cruces. There is also an equestrian campground just down the road where you can fill up with water and dump your tanks. The MVUM will have details about seasonal road closures. Although Parks Ranch is called a campground, dont expect any amenities other than fire rings and tent pads. Dont let these amenities fool you though as these sites are remote and give you a true wilderness experience. These campsites are exposed to the elements. Theres even a vault toilet here. Although this isnt a typical dispersed campsite, it provides great access to the surrounding wilderness while also being easy to access for a variety or rigs. 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. . McLarty said his districts energy release component figures, which correlate with the amount of energy that can be released at the flaming front of a fire, are consistent with levels seen with the Dome Fire of 1996. Highly recommended! Do keep in mind that there is not water source (this is the desert after all) so youll want to come prepared with all that youll need for your trip. Dust can also be a problem. Theres plenty of options to choose from whether you prefer to roughit hunkered down in a four-seasontent and cold-weathersleeping bag while snow piles up outside or keep cozy in your RV at one ofthe states many state park campgrounds that stay open year-round. Here are a few of the most important rules to follow: If youre new to primitive camping outside of developed campgrounds, I strongly recommend reading up on the 7 Leave No Trace principles before your trip. White Sands National Park offers miles of trails, boardwalk viewing areas, and ten primitive camping sites. 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. The Albuquerque resident has been making the trip to the Jemez to camp since he was a young child, and he said the trash issue has gotten progressively worse over time. The best campsites are within about a half mile in either direction from Juan Tomas Trailhead (GPS coordinates: 35.034879, -106.320276). There are picnic tables and even a few shade structures at some of the sites, making this an amenity rich free campsite. A great alternative to camping at Holloman Lake are the free dispersed campsites off Dog Canyon Road (GPS Coordinates: 32.7442, -105.9306). God willing, there will still be significant snow coverage above 9,000' feet in March. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Its over 40 miles from the nearest significant source of light so the night skies are great for stargazing. This will help preserve the health of the riparian area and protect sensitive animals and plants found here. In fact, star parties are held regularly throughout the year with telescopes provided for all to use. Mark Komadina Park Manager mark.komadina@emnrd.nm.gov. Joe Skeen Campground is located in the El Malpais National Conservation Area, so there are a ton of things to see and do here. The Dyrt PRO is our favorite resource for planning your trip. Vault toilets are available on the entrance road in, and this makes a great spot to spot when visiting Fort Sumner or just passing through on your next road trip. Many of these MVUMs also display where dispersed camping is permitted, typically indicated by two dots on either side of a given road. Santa Fe National Forest Headquarters 11 Forest Lane Santa Fe, NM 87508 (505 . Looking to find more free, dispersed camping? : 1142 Siler Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505; (505 . Our dispersed camping checklist has all the camping essentials plus specific items for dispersed camping. Aside from a teeny little loop hike, the rest of that park was off-limits without a permit, and of course permits were long gone. Five national forests (and small sections of two others) plus a heck of lot of BLM land give you plenty of options for setting up camp without spending a single penny. We hope youve found all you need to plan for an amazing dispersed camping vacation near Santa Fe, New Mexico, and were confident youll find the right spot for your next adventure! Located in the Sendia Ranger District of Cibola National Forest and just outside of Albuquerque youll find the Manzanita dispersed camping area. ( Call the Sadia Ranger District for more information: (505) 281-3304. Its located in Northeast New Mexico about an hour off I-25. Call the Farmington Field Office for more information: (505) 564-7600. Erik, Google review, Read Also: Camping World Near San Antonio, Home Articles Camping Near Santa Fe | The Santa Fe National Forest. These maps are published by the Forest Service and display the entire network of forest service roads in a given National Forest. During the May 8-10 weekend, McLarty said he and his team found 38 improperly extinguished campfires. Listing for: American Conservation Experience. Our free printable cheat sheet outlines how to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your next trip. Be sure to let us know in the comments below if you have any questions and be sure to tell us about your trip! Angel Peak is an excellent place to stop for an overnight on your way to or from the Four Corners Monument. Visitors periodically turn the field into a shooting range, so you might hear gunshots nearby. Weve rounded up some of the best RV parks around Santa Fe, according to campers who have been before. Home. The natural area is a beautiful combination of desert scrub and low-elevation pinion-juniper and oak woodlands. The USFS advises RVs and trailers to look elsewhere for camping. If youre looking for dispersed camping near Santa Fe, then the Caja should be high on your short list. Camping is not free; it costs $30 per night for a tent and $43 per night for an RV. BLM employees in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas care for 13.5 million acres of public lands plus 42 million acres of Federal oil, natural gas, and minerals for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.