Free Camping Collection with

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Buildings

Free Camping Collection

Dispersed Camping

Dark Canyon Dispersed

8 Reviews

About

Bureau of Land Management

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Location

Dark Canyon Dispersed is located in New Mexico

Coordinates

32.29399905 N
104.34600036 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site

Stay Connected

WiFi
Unknown
Verizon
Good
AT&T
Available
T-Mobile
Unknown

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Dispersed

Features

For Campers

Phone Service
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Pull-Through Sites

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.

PERMIT might be REQUIRED

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Contact

General Info

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Robert F.

Scout

Reviewed Mar. 22, 2024

If you can, keep going up

Sweet spot. I have a high clearance truck that allowed me to continue past the lot, and up up up the mountain. If you get up to the top and keep following it, you will end up in an amazing place.

Month of VisitApril

Brian

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 8, 2023

I went further up the trail past the lot and there are a few spots up there as well. Nice view of the city and zero noise. Trail up to the top is a rough one though. High clearance needed and offroad tires recommended if going past the lot camp spot. Great off the beaten path spot.

Month of VisitNovember

Noah E.

Legend

Reviewed Jan. 27, 2023

Quiet BLM spot away from the highway

Only 30 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns NP and about 20 minutes from Carlsbad NM! This is a great spot off the highway with basically no noise from cars.

The area is a level gravel lot with some brush and scubs scattered about. Seems like a place that isn't well known. I'd recommend high clearance to get up to the main area. There are other sites as you follow the road up the hill, but the road gets more rocky the further you go up. One fire ring in the main area and some fire rings in other sites. If you want a site that you can't see the highway from, this is the spot.

Dispersed area, pack in pack out. Verizon service was good!

Month of VisitFebruary

(8) View All

Colin Y.

Guide

Reviewed Mar. 28, 2021

Damn it’s dark

This place is a lot of fun. So many trails. But be careful, when it gets dark it’s almost purple.

Chris

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 6, 2020

Hill Top View

I spent 1 night there and had the place to myself. Great location when checking out Carlsbad Caverns. Close to the road.

Nate R.

Traveler

Reviewed Sep. 15, 2020

One night pit stop

We found a little gravel track off the road and parked for the night. Some cows roaming nearby. Served as a good free camp out for us to check out Carlsbad caverns the next day.

Sam T.

Scout

Reviewed Dec. 1, 2019

Does the job

Does tho job for an overnight stay and no one to disturb you. Literally a spot in the dessert. 4 wheel drive recommended

Darrin L.

Ranger

Reviewed Aug. 23, 2016

Open spot in the desert... That's about it

I only spent one night here while on a road trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. If you are looking for amenities, shade, or pavement, this isn't the place for you. It's just a few open areas large enough for an RV to park. Some call it bookdocking. If you just need a place to sleep one night, this could be a good spot. As I recall, it was about 40 minutes from the caverns.