If you want an off-the-grid existence while yet being close to the amenities of a city, New Mexico has a variety of places where you may spread your snowbird wings. Listing for: American Conservation Experience. The campground is located within Gila National Forest, which is already one of the most remote and rugged wilderness areas in the United States. If youre looking for dispersed camping near Santa Fe, then the Caja should be high on your short list. The dirt access roads can get extremely rough and rutted after it rains. Our final New Mexico dispersed campsite in this guide isnt actually a dispersed site. Info:Bureau of Land Management Las Cruces District, 575-525-4300. Check out The Dyrt PRO to get campsite reviews, offline maps, and the best map layers for finding public dispersed camping! Home. Given that Santa Fe is only 15 minutes away, you should have no problem finding everything you need for your trip. The SFNF offers a multitude of recreational opportunities to its visitors. . Its a little over an hour away and is notable for its badland scenery, especially its hoodoo formations. Only a handful of campsites. Camping near Santa Fe National Forest. Monongahela national forest map pdf - Canadian guidelines Cognitive Guide Cramming into nooks and crannies all along U.S. Forest Service roads throughout Santa Fe National Forest, recreationists haven't allowed the COVID-19 pandemic to keep them from enjoying their . From Interstate 25, take Exit 1 and then turn east onto University Road/Dripping Springs Road. Dont let these amenities fool you though as these sites are remote and give you a true wilderness experience. The most popular campsites are right on the lakeside itself. Its not free, but the New Mexico annual camping pass is still a heck of a deal. Call the Sadia Ranger District for more information: (505) 281-3304. This popular campground is open from May through October in the Santa Fe National Forest. The Caja del Rio area in Santa Fe National Forest is my favorite place for dispersed camping near Santa Fe. Holloman Lake is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The hiker would not have survived for that long if he hadn't known some survival basics, such as prioritizing his liquid intake by situating himself by a nearby stream and relying on his filtering . Holy Ghost Group Area I believe there are plans to install shade shelters in the near future. Locals from adjacent settlements use it largely for picnicking, but it also serves those who stay overnight before starting a horseback or backpack trip into the Pecos. If you want a home base to camp that allows you to travel into Santa Fe itself often, Black Canyon is a perfect distance. P. List 3. This area is one of the most biologically and recreationally diverse regions for boondocking in New Mexico. The sites do have fire rings and theres a lot of space between sites, so you wont feel crowded next to other campers. You can access these sites from either direction, although RVs and trailers should arrive via Highway 217 from the east for the smoothest approach. Cramming into nooks and crannies all along U.S. Forest Service roads throughout Santa Fe National Forest, recreationists havent allowed the COVID-19 pandemic to keep them from enjoying their days and nights out in nature. The campground is bordered by Holy Ghost Creek, which provides picturesque views of the forest and mountains. Title: Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) Outdoor Recreation Management, Crew Leader . If you plan on mountain biking or running/hiking, there are some fun single-track routes (Water Canyon and Perimeter Trail) accessible from the campsite. Ok, now were on to the fun part! 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! Status: Seasonal, Full time, Non-Exempt . The entire area of Holy Ghost Creek is home to a variety of fauna and birds. This is the name that will be used to identify you within the system. The most loved ventures at Holy Ghost Campground are hiking and horseback riding. We hope weve provided all of the information you need to plan a great dispersed camping trip in New Mexico. I know a lot of full-time boondockers who split their winters between New Mexico (utilizing the annual camping pass) and Long Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs) managed by the Bureau of Land Management in Arizona (the LTVAs near Quartzsite are very popular) and Southern California. Still have questions about dispersed camping in New Mexico? 52 Photos. These regions usually do not have any amenities, though you may occasionally encounter a toilet building or a picnic table and grill. Camping in store parking lots (here are which stores allow overnight parking for camping) and casino camping (camping in a casino parking lot) are two additional options. The dispersed camping lifestyle is one of the best reasons to look for the, 6 Must See Dispersed Camping Near Water in Colorado, 8 Amazing Dispersed Camping Near Sedona, Arizona, 13 Amazing Dispersed Camping Near Buena Vista, Colorado. You arent far from both Bloomfield and Farmington when camping here, which makes it fairly easy to stock up on everything you need before heading out. To be safe, I recommend AWD/4WD and high-clearance if you plan to venture up to the top of the Caja Del Rio Plateau. $0 - $200 avg/night. There are no facilities at Dog Canyon, although you may be able to use the facilities at Oliver Lee. Maps are available at all SFNF offices and online that designate roads and trails that are open to motor vehicle traffic. Given that Santa Fe is only 15 minutes away, you should have no problem finding everything you need for your trip. I'm in New Mexico. Just be mindful that this campground offers little to no shade, so youll have to bring your own with one of the best campervan awnings for boondocking in New Mexico. You can cross reference the two and often see areas that have established campsites in Google Maps. Please always follow the7 Leave No Trace principles(especially packing out all your trash,properly disposing of human waste, respecting campfire bans, and only using previously-used campsites) when dispersed camping in New Mexico. Holloman Lake is very close to White Sands National Park and a heck of a lot less busy. Santa Fe National Forest Campgrounds, Santa Fe: See traveler reviews, 2 candid photos, and great deals for Santa Fe National Forest Campgrounds, ranked #14 of 22 specialty lodging in Santa Fe and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. The natural area is a beautiful combination of desert scrub and low-elevation pinion-juniper and oak woodlands. Read Also: Camping World In Asheville North Carolina. The amenities at established campgrounds range from electricity hookups for motorhomes to just a toilet. The first campsites appear just off Forest Road 24 near Headquarters Well. 5. This will show you how to find camping, how to eat healthy, how to lose weight. 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 many places in the forest that you can experience the trails! Santa Fe National Forest Campgrounds. In addition, the New Mexico Dispersed camping map below shows all of the campsite locations, with detailed descriptions following. According to users, the road condition is broken down as such: The initial four sites are accessible to lower clearance vehicles, but youll need a 44 vehicle with higher clearance if you want to camp further back. . When searching for a good campsite ourselves, we prefer to use acombination of several online apps/websitesalong with publically available USFS/BLM maps. This article discussed everything about the best dispersed camping near Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dark Canyon is perhaps the best and is suitable for small to medium RVs and trailers in addition to tents and vans. Overall, this is a great option for free camping in the region! Although the parking lot is windswept, you will conveniently find a silent area. Theyre best suited for tent camping or van camping. This is hands down one of the most beautiful places in New Mexico, in my opinion. Rancheros de Santa Fe Campground Overall, this is a nice place to set up camp. Aldo Leopold Presentations Leopold Presentations.pdfAldo Leopold Aside from the stargazing, this campground is notable for its remoteness and wide-open desert views. Riverview Rv Park & Campground. However, I dont believe dispersed camping is actually allowed outside of the campground within the scenic area. This is really a great stop just off of Interstate 25 if you are traveling across New Mexico. The road to get here is easily passable for trailers and RVs, so this is a good option if youre traveling in a larger vehicle. 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. Unless notified otherwise, dispersed camping is permitted practically everywhere at the Santa Fe National Forest. Santa Fe - Camping & Cabins - US Forest Service Camping - Jemez Springs There are sandstone cliffs, canyons, the La Ventana Natural Arch, the Chain of Craters Backcountry Byway, and the Cebolla and West Malpais Wilderness Areas. You will have plenty of room for trailer/RV camping. This year, looking at usage to this point and where we normally are, its much higher. Caja del Rio sits at a lower elevation compared to much of the surrounding National Forest so is a popular place to camp during the shoulder seasons. The most tranquil campsites are locate right on Bonito Creek, making for a wonderful camping experience. San Antonio Campground is adjacent to the San Antonio River, tucked into a forest of ponderosa pine at 7,600 feet above sea level. Camping is permitted throughout the full length of the road. It is located near a dump, which is intriguing, yet there were no flies or odors in October. 2023 This site is owned and operated by CamperAdvise. In addition to Sunset Reef Campground and Chosa Campground, the BLM lands near Carlsbad Caverns National Park are littered with dispersed campsites. These campsites are exposed to the elements. San Antonio Campground, Santa Fe National Forest - Recreation.gov Matt Dahlseid is a digital enterprise producer and outdoors writer for the Santa Fe New Mexican. Fenton Lake State Park doesnt seem to be interesting from the outside. Create a password that only you will remember. You have a couple options after turning off Highway 522 onto Forest Road 9. Tres Piedras couldnt be easier to get to, simply take Highway 64 west (if coming from Taos area) until you pass the Tres Piedras Ranger Station. Look elsewhere for boondocking in RVs and trailers. Rancheros de Santa Fe Campground. Take your orientation skills and discover what a southwest landscape looked like when buffalo roamed the area. Angel Peak is an excellent place to stop for an overnight on your way to or from the Four Corners Monument. 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. My favorite are the dispersed campsites just off County Road C001 in the Capitan Gap area on the way to the Capitan Mountain trailhead. Free Camping in New Mexico Vibes Score: 8.3/10 Very nicely developed site. There are several different options for camping here. New Mexico has no shortage of interesting rock formations, and this cluster of boulders, near . The road is roughly six miles from the interstate to the campground. Although you may find your next campsite by simply utilizing the sources above, we also highly recommend referencing the excellent information available through public agencies maps and resources. The Caja del Rio area is part of Santa Fe National Forest. The breathtaking canyon view is spectacular, but owing to fallen trees, camping is inaccessible occasionally. 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. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Santa Fe National Forest Camping: Campendium has 195 reviews of 63 Campgrounds in Santa Fe National Forest. Another site on the more than 5.4 million acres managed by the BLMs LC District Office in New Mexico, this site is accessed via Exit 151 off Interstate 10. The Joe Skeen Campground is located west of Albuquerque adjacent to the El Malpais National Monument on BLM land. Camping is not free; it costs $30 per night for a tent and $43 per night for an RV. This is a large area of dispersed camping. 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. Conservation Legacy hiring Santa Fe National Forest, Outdoor Recreation