camp.nm
A very nice primitive campsite only six miles from downtown Silver City, New Mexico. Located in Gila National Forest, the surrounding area is worthy of exploration. This is a fine place to spend the weekend, and can accommodate two or three overland vehicles. Javelina are present here. This is a higher elevation, a short distance off of a well-traveled forest road. There is ample tree cover for shade. It is a little dusty and a little rocky. There is a fire ring. Due to proximity to town, there is the possibility of local traffic. Recommended. Surprisingly good cell service.

camp.nm
Wow! A very remote, grassy, primitive site located in the heart of Gila National Forest. Ample room for a few overland vehicles. Two stone fire rings, one of which is in the mouth of a small cave. A very small stream runs through camp. Towering rock formations on both sides. Heavenly. Gila National Forest is huge and beautiful, with countless routes for overland exploration and camping opportunities. This campsite is a gem and possible favorite. Recommended. Absolutely no cell service.

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A great free, primitive camping area near White Sands National Monument, and not far from Las Cruces. The only problem is, the lake smells like sweaty socks very badly. No fires. Ample space for multiple overland vehicles. Close proximity to military installation, so may be subject to patrols or maneuvers. There is little wrong with the destination except that the lake smells nasty. Not recommended. Good cell service.

Camping-friendly parking lot for OHV area in dunes. Vault toilet, picnic table shelters, fire rings. Costs $3-5 per night, paid via kiosk slot. Suitable space for several overland vehicles. In clear weather and calm air, very peaceful with exquisite view of sky. Dunes are fun to drive on and to explore. Prone to wind gusts. Completely empty when I was there. I suspect it may be busy during summer weekends. Accommodates several vehicles. Recommended. Good cell service.

In Gila National Forest, this is a spacious clearing off the side of a fairly technical four-wheel drive route that ultimately dead-ends due to a width restriction. Due to remote location and difficult access, it is fairly private. Encountered a couple of Continental Divide through-hikers and that was all. Sufficient room for multiple overland vehicles. Fire ring present, but infrequently used. Recommended. Very good cell service.

Heavenly! Gila Hot Springs! For a small nightly fee, this is a very well-maintained, unspoiled campground adjacent to a ranch in the central Gila National Forest. It is also against the refreshing Gila River and features three hot springs for relaxing soaks. Very friendly people in peaceful, stress free environment. I hate to have left. There are fire rings, rest rooms, and room for multiple overland vehicles. Strongly recommended. No cell service but who cares?

A secluded, grassy clearing in a shallow canyon lined with rocks and pine trees. This is a remote and primitive destination in Cibola National Forest. It is unspoiled and relaxing with a single fire ring. A short drive south of the Very Large Array radio telescope installation. There is sufficient flat space for multiple overland vehicles. I had a problem with flies during my stay, but wouldn't hesitate to stay again. Recommended. No cell service.

A small primitive flat spot along a discreet section of forest road in Lincoln National Forest, a short drive from Alamogordo, New Mexico. High elevation along a ridge. Good cell service and views. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Remnants of an old fire ring. Spur, gated forest road sees very little traffic. Four-wheel drive recommended. Recommended due to proximity to town.

A secret primitive campsite at the top of a steep hill that requires four-wheel drive. Grassy at top. Not used for camping often, but remnants of an old fire ring. Good cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Nice views. Your presence visible from well traveled forest road so even though accessibility is challenging it is not completely private. Fun secluded spot. Recommended.

A primitive secluded campsite in Lincoln National Forest among tall pines. Ground is spacious flat and covered with pine needles. A bit of a valley next to a dry creek. Old fire ring. Just off of lightly traveled forest road. Might see loggers or ranchers in trucks but otherwise very little traffic. Despite dense forested setting elevation is high yielding cool air. No cell service. Enough room for several vehicles. Recommended.

A primitive flat spot with no fire ring on a very private and seldom traveled BLM road west of Carlsbad, New Mexico. This is the top of a hill overlooking a valley to the west. Subject to foul weather. Rocky high-desert landscape. Good cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Not too far from pavement. Recommended if passing through in fair weather.

A primitive campsite off the side of a BLM road just off of a busy highway south of Carlsbad. Just outside of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Fire ring. No vegetation or cover. Good view of valley to the east. A lot of highway noise. Good cell service. Enough room for two vehicles. You will encounter other boondockers. A decent safe place to spend the night if passing through. Not recommended.

A grassy primitive camping area in sparsely vegetated section of Lincoln National Forest off of Guadelupe Rim Road. Large networks of roads and tracks to explore. Not far from ridge. Some Juniper trees. Multiple fire rings. No cell service. Exposure might be harsh in foul weather but lovely location in sunlight. Very remote and enough space for a large gathering of vehicles. Recommended.

WOW! This is a free National Forest campground in a beautiful canyon flanked by walls of sandstone. A lazy river flows through it. Enough room for one or two vehicles per site. Tent pads. Fire rings. Picnic tables. No cell service. Four-wheel drive recommended for access. Road down into canyon may be treacherous in winter. There are some lovely primitive dispersed sites nearby. Clean. Unspoiled. Might be popular in peak season. Highly recommended, but this is one of my all-time favorites. Please respect this place.

On BLM land outside of Santa Fe. On the rim of a canyon overlooking the Santa Fe River (trickle). This is one of the best sites you will find so close to the city. Primitive. No fire ring or amenities. Great cell service. Enough room for two or three vehicles. Secluded with great views of mountains all around. Nearby petroglyphs. Possible light BLM road traffic. Four-wheel drive recommended. There is a neighboring campsite on the rim with a fire ring, but it was muddy during my visit. Recommended.

A flat grassy spot in high desert mountains outside of Santa Fe. Primitive. Four-wheel drive required. No fire ring or amenities. Surrounded by small scattered trees. Off of forest road according to the map which is no longer visible. This is a good place to camp for serenity and privacy and a good night sleep, but it is not a destination. Any flat spot in this area will do just as well. Good cell service. Enough room for several vehicles.

A superb BLM campground adjacent to El Malpais National Monument in western New Mexico. Lovely geography and features in the surrounding area. Canyons and cliffs in high desert. Great free campground with shelters, tables, vault toilets, grills, and fire rings. Enough room for one or two vehicles. No cell service. Clean and well kept, but very popular so expect other people.

A free forest service campground in Gila National Forest next to Apache Creek. Wooded valley with a lot of open space and scattered towering Jefferson pine trees. No cell service. Enough room for two or three vehicles per site. A lot of forest roads to explore in the area. Only a short drive from pavement, so expect other people. Fire rings, picnic tables, vault toilet, some shelters. A great place to stop if passing through.

Just off of a forest road a primitive spur with a small fire ring. Wooded coniferous area with enough space for one or two vehicles. No cell service. There is some traffic on the forest road but likely a very quiet night of sleep. Slept very well and felt safe. Accessible by two wheel drive.

This spot is my go to outside of Santa Fe. Great view of canyon and distant mountains along a BLM track. Good privacy. Great cell service. Not very level and need to put rocks under tires but enough room for one or two vehicles. Primitive stone fire ring. About 20 minute drive to pavement. Might be inaccessible when wet and muddy. Sparse vegetation. Target shooters nearby. Great area for backcountry exploration. Recommended.

Not a proper campsite. This is a parking area for the Big Tubes trailhead in El Malpais National Monument. There are picnic tables grills and a vault toilet. Enough room for 1 or 2 vehicles. Not recommended in peak season however off-season it is likely very quiet and private and suitable for some shut eye. Did not see a soul in December. Decent trees and vegetation in beautiful landscape with hiking trails to lava tubes. Primitive road impassable when muddy. Do not attempt in muddy conditions. Easy when dry. 30 minutes from pavement. Nice tracks to explore in the area.

Not a proper campsite. A quiet gravel trailhead parking area on BLM land. Rolling hills with no vegetation. No cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Unremarkable spot, but private during off-season. Not recommended. Was unable to find a decent campsite nearby and ran out of daylight so spent the night here.

An arbitrary, primitive flat spot along a forest road track near Santa Fe. Four wheel drive and high clearance not required but might be hard to access when wet and muddy. Sparse vegetation with some junipers. Very secluded with good privacy and some cell service. No fire ring or camping amenities. Decent view and enough space for 3 or 4 vehicles. Along a dead end spur so traffic is minimal. Good four-wheel drive tracks to explore in the area. Peaceful.

A popular boondocking spot with vault toilet and stone fire rings just within Santa Fe National Forest boundary, a short distance from pavement. There are likely other campers, RVs, and van-dwellers hear year round as the spot appears on iOverlander and is very accommodating. Poor privacy. Dubious neighbors. Great cell service and enough room for several vehicles. Two wheel drive is fine, well-maintained gravel. Some junipers and vegetation break wind. Recommended due to proximity to town.

A phenomenal designated dispersed camping area a short drive east of Albaquerque. Relatively high elevation, and likely a popular area during the warm season. A lot of hikers and four-wheel drive recreationists in the area with other campers during our stay in December. Moderate privacy. Rocky terrain. Four wheel drive helpful but not required. This spot has a primitive stone fire ring and great views with enough room for one or two vehicles. Vault toilet a quarter mile walk and superb cell service. Good tree cover and vegetation. Recommended.

A forest service campground in Gila National Forest not far from hot springs and cliff dwellings, located directly on the Gila River. No cell service, but an immense area to explore in the diverse and beautiful forest. This is the nicest of the nearby designated campgrounds. Very popular, so privacy is low. In a valley with great tree coverage. Just a short walk from the CDT. Vault toilets and fire rings. Several spacious sites to choose from.

Popular camping and recreation area in Cibola National Forest just east of Albuquerque. High elevation with great cell service. Multiple primitive sites to choose from off of rough forest road. Lovely scenery and some views, but popular, so you will encounter other campers and mobile dwellers. Decent amount of trees and vegetation offer shelter. Scattered fire rings and seasonal vault toilets in walking distance. Good place to basecamp.

Popular boondocking spot near small town of San Antonia, NM, just off the highway. This is in a shallow wooded river basin. Serviceable primitive camping area. Some picnic tables. Not very glamorous, but clean and convenient for a night or two. Good cell service. Low privacy. Some cattle roaming.

Forest service campground with shelters, fire rings, picnic tables, and a vault toilet. Nestled in a canyon at a hiking trailhead for a wilderness area. Wooded area that was recently burned but still in pretty good shape. No cell service and a lovely free campground. Enough room for one or two vehicles per site. Long dirt forest road to access. Recommended, especially for hiking.

An improvised clearing with a small stone fire ring at the end of a forest road spur. Completely primitive and five miles from pavement. Relatively low elevation in Cibola National Forest with great views of mountains in all directions. Great cell service. Decent privacy. Scattered junipers and low vegetation offer some shelter. Nice hard ground so not too muddy. Recommended lesser know gem.

A designated forest service primitive camping area with fire rings. Dispersed, nestled against rock formations in canyon. Popular spot for rock climbers to spend the night. Beautiful landscape and great spot but low privacy. You will likely have close neighbors. No cell service. Enough room for a few vehicles. Sites aren't very well defined in large dirt parking area. Off a rough dirt road about 30 minutes from pavement.

Primitive campsite on BLM land on the west rim of Rio Grande Gorge. Very clear and exposed with great views of the gorge river and mountains to the east. Spacious enough for three or four vehicles and sparse vegetation. Decent cell service. Not a very popular spot so privacy is decent. Footpath down to river nearby. Not the best protection from the elements and no shade.

Nice primitive site with charming stone fire ring on the eastern rim of the Rio Grande Gorge. This site is adjacent to a designated camping trailhead and day use area with hike down to the river. Vault toilet within short walking distance. Enough room for two or three vehicles at this particular site. Low privacy as other campers and hikers nearby. Surrounded by junipers. Recommended.

Hidden primitive campsite with happy little fire ring at a high elevation in Carson National Forest outside of Red River. Small high clearance four-wheel drive required to access via steep track with loose rocks. In wooded area surrounded by conifers. Decent cell service and great privacy with room for one or two vehicles. Recreational 4x4 and ATV nearby. Peaceful and secluded and best in warmer months.

Dispersed site with small stone fire ring on a ridge with lovely views to the south. Visible from forest road which is a smooth primitive dirt track, but very low traffic. Decent cell service for digital mobile. Some junipers provide protection from the elements and high desert scrub. Good views of mountains to the south. Enough room for two or three vehicles. Good basecamp for area exploration.

Very nice! An extremely remote primitive campsite in a clean grassy space with a lovely stone fire ring. Flanked by a rock face a cottonwood tree and directly next to the forest road which is a long primitive track that requires high clearance four wheel drive. No cell service. Very nice wooded canyon setting with great privacy. Idyllic and peaceful. Despite being directly on forest road traffic is very very low. Recommended.

Nice primitive site in Lincoln National Forest with view to the east and a stone fire ring at the end of a short two track forest road. Good privacy not far from FS administrative site and potable water. Exposed with some high desert vegetation but not much protection from the elements. Great cell service and enough room for two or three vehicles. Easy access for all vehicles.

Fee campground and RV park within city limits of Carlsbad, New Mexico. This is a nice and affordable RV park with full-hookups and amenities. Wonderful staff and good wifi and cell service. Some sites under trees. Many exposed. Sites have picnic tables and are spacious with enough room for two vehicles. Handy if you need to basecamp or do work in town and go to the Caverns or explore during the day.

An inexpensive fee campground in Oliver Lee State Park south of Alamogordo, New Mexico. This is a very nice and under priced campground. Clean and well maintained near town and also near White Sands. Mountains and hiking to the east and sprawling valley to the west. Metal fire rings. Picnic tables, tent pads, and hook-ups except for sewer. Enough room for two or three vehicles per site. Paved loop gravel spurs. Recommended.