Campsite · Southwest NM
Aden Hills Off-Highway Vehicle Area
Approximately 8,700 acres of Chihuahuan Desert scrub, designated in 1993 for off-road/cross-country travel.
Campgrounds and campsites across New Mexico — fees, reservations, facilities, and access details for public lands.
Approximately 8,700 acres of Chihuahuan Desert scrub, designated in 1993 for off-road/cross-country travel.
Over 10,000 acres of rugged badlands with dramatic views of Angel Peak, a nearly 7,000-foot sandstone landmark. A short rim trail and interpretive panels; the free, first-come Angel Peak Campground has nine tent sites with shelters and vault toilets. Stay limit: 14 Days.
A beautiful remote camping area. Trail #94 begins at the rear of the campground, about 30 miles from the Wilderness Ranger District office.
A remote camping experience about 30 miles from the Wilderness Ranger District office, accessible from Forest Road 150 (North Star Road).
In northwestern New Mexico, a large volcanic plug rising to 7,785 feet — one of the most well-known landmarks in the region and a favorite among climbers. A successful climb rewards with an expansive view of the Rio Puerco Valley.
The 61,600-acre Cebolla Wilderness is made up of sandstone mesas, canyons, and grassy valleys, within the El Malpais National Conservation Area. It contains La Ventana Natural Arch and is rich in prehistoric archaeological sites, petroglyphs, and historic homesteads. Stay limit: 14 days.
A 33-mile backcountry byway (County Road 42) in El Malpais National Conservation Area, forming the western boundary of the West Malpais Wilderness and connecting NM 53 and NM 117. Stay limit: Day Use.
Less than two hours from Albuquerque, nestled in the Jemez Mountains with hiking and fishing in the shade of ponderosa pines.
Extending 3,100 miles between Mexico and Canada, the trail offers high-quality, primitive hiking and horseback-riding. Where it crosses BLM lands in New Mexico the route is identified with line-of-sight signs or rock cairns.
The earliest Euro-American trade route in the United States, linking Mexico City to New Mexico across three centuries and 1,600 miles. Many historic parajes (campsites) became modern Rio Grande Valley cities; jointly administered by the BLM and NPS.
Partially developed, shady campgrounds within hiking distance of the east end of Quemado Lake.
Established in 1987 to protect the Zuni-Bandera volcanic field. Includes sandstone cliffs, La Ventana Natural Arch, Chain of Craters Back Country Byway, Joe Skeen Campground, and the Cebolla and West Malpais Wilderness Areas. Sacred to Acoma, Laguna, Zuni, and Ramah Navajo peoples. Stay limit: 14 Days.
Camping along New Mexico's largest reservoir, with developed RV/hookup loops and miles of primitive shoreline sites. A hub for boating, fishing, and swimming in the southern Rio Grande valley.
On the banks of the Pecos River. Note: currently closed until further notice for shelter repairs.
Beautiful cliffs along the West Fork of the Gila River; a great stop on the way to Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (15 miles north).
Open for day use or overnight camping; no water. RVs longer than 22 feet are not allowed.
Within Chaco Culture National Historical Park, tucked among the boulders and cliffs of Gallo Wash, surrounded by petroglyphs and a cliff dwelling.
A riparian oasis 20 miles north of Lordsburg with one of the highest bird diversities in the state. The river offers canoeing or rafting during spring runoff, hunting, and year-round fishing and camping; it contains smallmouth bass and several catfish species.
19,000 acres of sandy arroyos, slick rock and rolling terrain split into two OHV zones, with about 42 miles of marked trails for motorized trail bike and mountain bike riders. Stay limit: 14 days.
Over 55,000 acres of rolling stabilized dune lands and cliffs, open for intensive use of motorcycles, sand dune buggies and other OHVs. Stay limit: 7 Days.
Perched on the breaks overlooking the Pecos River, 1,920 acres of OHV trails on bare rock and sandy washes for all skill levels. Single track trails are ideal for mountain biking. Stay limit: 14 Days.
Rising above the grassy plains of San Agustin to 9,450 feet, Horse Mountain offers sweeping views across west-central New Mexico and habitat for mule deer, elk, golden eagles, mountain lions, and bobcats.
Consists primarily of the Ignacio Chavez (33,300 acres) and Chamisa (13,700 acres) Wilderness Study Areas. Steep canyons and high rugged cliffs provide rewarding challenges for the backcountry hiker.
In the Black Range Mountains off NM Highway 152 between San Lorenzo and Hillsboro, with scenic sites along a winding mountain road.
In a stunning ponderosa pine and meadow environment at 7,880 feet; warm days and cool nights.
A dispersed camping area east of Las Vegas on NM 65 and FR 153, with vault toilets, tables, and grills.
Recently refurbished roadside campground near the historic Red River mining area and ski resort; busy on summer weekends.
Bandelier's only developed campground, set in a piñon-juniper mesa above Frijoles Canyon. A practical basecamp for exploring the Main Loop and backcountry trails among ancestral Pueblo dwellings.
A small campground along NM Highway 152 near Middle Percha Creek, on the eastern edge of Kingston, NM.
Popular Taos Canyon site near Capulin Campground and Shady Brook. No drinking water; adjacent to Rio Fernando for fishing.
Set in a beautiful canyon close to Taos, with good access to Rio Fernando de Taos for fishing.
Primitive dispersed camping 16 miles north of Pecos on NM 63, then 1 mile on FR 646. Pit toilet, tables, few fire pits; no water; no fees.
55 sites in Valle Vidal elk and bear country — a great hunting, hiking, and fishing destination northeast of Cimarron.
Built in 1937 in the historic logging town of McGaffey, west of the Continental Divide in the Zuni Mountains at about 8,000 feet.
Over 606,000 acres of withdrawn public lands on the west side of Otero Mesa, jointly managed by the BLM and the U.S. Army. Open to the public only when authorized by the Army through a Fort Bliss Training Complex Recreational Access Permit; closed during training exercises.
West of the community of Manzano in the Manzano Mountains.
The Ojito Wilderness is a desert landscape of steep-sided mesas, rocky terraces, box canyons, deep meandering arroyos, and austere badlands. Occasional badland settings with unusual hoodoos accent the landscape; piñon and juniper are dotted throughout, with rare stands of ponderosa pine in shady recesses.
The Old Spanish National Historic Trail links Santa Fe and Los Angeles across six states and 2,700 miles, taking its name from the Spanish colonies in northern New Mexico and southern California. Designated by Congress as a National Historic Trail in 2002 and jointly administered by the BLM and NPS.
Protects prehistoric, historic, geologic, and biologic resources across four areas: the Organ Mountains, Desert Peaks, Potrillo Mountains, and Doña Ana Mountains. Provides opportunities for photography, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, camping, and wildlife viewing.
Within the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument along the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River. Campgrounds offer nearby river access within the steep-walled Rio Grande Gorge; gentle waters with occasional small rapids suit many recreational activities.
A quiet, clean campground nestled among mature piñon and juniper trees, some sites with views of Quemado Lake.
A small (5-site), quiet, primitive camp in a ponderosa forest at 7,600 feet; busy in fall hunting seasons.
Primarily mesquite coppice dunes with over 100 miles of user-developed trails. Utilized for organized motorcycle races; cross-country travel allowed.
A cool oasis in the Jemez Mountains less than two hours from Albuquerque, with hiking and fishing among ponderosa pines.
Rugged, wide-open plains at an average elevation of 7,000 feet, dotted by volcanic cones and cut by steep canyons. The Rio Grande carves an 800-foot-deep gorge. Whitewater rafting, hunting, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and camping are among the activities. Some access requires a New Mexico State Land Office recreational access permit. Stay limit: 14 Days.
A remote area in northeastern New Mexico of high, narrow mesas surrounded by cliff-lined canyons, supporting piñon-juniper woodlands and perennial warm-season grass savanna. Deep canyons cut by Cañon Olguin, Cañon Largo, and Lagartija Creek contrast with the surrounding plains.
Jointly managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the BLM as a primitive recreation area. A scenic east-west canyon of sandstone cliffs, arches, and hoodoos offering hiking and primitive camping. High-clearance/4WD recommended; no restrooms or drinking water.
Thirty miles north of Santa Fe, the snow-fed waters of the Rio del Medio and the Rio Frijoles gather at Santa Cruz Lake at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Chimayo, behind the 125-foot Santa Cruz Dam. The lake covers 121 surface acres and offers boating, fishing, hiking and camping.
About 3,900 acres managed for semi-primitive recreation including fishing, hiking, and backpacking, with minimal development at the canyon mouth. Narrow trails along the San Juan River Quality Waters lead to fishing spots; Simon Canyon Ruin, a Navajo Pueblito dating to 1754, overlooks the canyon.
Part of the Conchas Lake recreation area.
On the east side of Cochiti Lake, within the boundaries of the Pueblo de Cochiti Reservation; observe Pueblo protocols.
The Three Rivers Petroglyphs are outstanding examples of prehistoric Jornada Mogollon rock art. A basaltic ridge contains over 21,000 petroglyphs. A rugged 0.5-mile Petroglyph Trail links many of the most interesting glyphs, and a short Village Trail leads to a partially excavated prehistoric village.
Located at an elevation of 6,800 feet in the Magdalena Mountains.