Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578, near Taos, New Mexico, is a fantastic spot for those who crave a bit of solitude in nature. This area is perfect for tent camping, offering a peaceful escape with plenty of flat spots to set up camp.

Visitors have noted the stunning views and the quiet ambiance, making it an ideal retreat for anyone looking to unwind. One camper mentioned, “We spent the night there and it was very quiet and peaceful,” which sums up the vibe here perfectly. The lack of amenities means you’ll need to come prepared, but that’s part of the charm—no distractions, just you and the great outdoors.

The surrounding landscape is a mix of sage, juniper, and pine trees, with beautiful mountain views that are especially breathtaking after a fork in the road. If you’re up for a little adventure, the road can be a bit rough, so a vehicle with good clearance is recommended. As one reviewer pointed out, “AWD/4WD needed on the rutted rocky road,” so keep that in mind when planning your trip.

This area is also pet-friendly, so feel free to bring your furry companions along for the adventure. Just remember to pack out what you pack in, as some campers have mentioned the importance of keeping this beautiful spot clean. Whether you're passing through or planning a longer stay, Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 offers a serene escape into nature that’s hard to beat.

Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 - Dispersed Camping

Searching for the best camping near Carson National Forest, NM? Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Carson National Forest, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Carson National Forest and user-submitted reviews.

Carson National Forest

The Best Camping Near Carson National Forest, New Mexico

I tent-camped off of Carson NF Forest Service Road 578 in mid April 2022. FS 578 is south of Tres Piedras about 5 miles on the west side of Hwy 285. There are several dirt road turn offs but FS 578 is clearly marked with a brown NFS sign (see photo) and has no gate but there is a cattle guard/grate. Here is a NFS road use map that shows dispersed camping along FS 578 and many other NFS roads: https://www.fs.fed.us/r3/gis/mvum/Carson/CarsonTresPiedrasCanjilonElRito.pdf (see also screenshot). My Tacoma had no problem on the dirt road, which has ruts and might be tough for an RV. There were few clearings suitable for dispersed camping but I found a nice spot with a small fire circle in a small clearing on the south side of the road just past a fork in the road. I carried two black boulders over to serve as a table and chair. I didn’t see anyone else camping or driving by. The forest is a nice mix of sage, juniper, and pine trees. I saw two elk across a swath of sage. I could see the snow capped peaks of the Sangre de Cristo range on the eastern horizon when I walked farther up the road. It got cold at night, like 27 F.  It was a nice waypoint on my trip between Gunnison CO and El Paso TX but it didn’t look like many people camped there. I had intended to drive to Taos the next day on Hwy 64, but didn’t. 

Primitive dispersed camping

Many open areas to camp right off the highway. The views of the mountains across the valley are best after the fork in the road. Please pick up extra trash if you use


Secluded Camp Area

A nice secluded little forest road. RVs will not make it, so it's nice and quiet.

AWD/4WD needed on the rutted rocky road.

Stayed one night and saw no one else.

Multiple pulloffs for unmarked campsites, but the one I picked was right off the road.

Cell service drops completely pretty soon after leaving the highway. I sporadically received some messages at my camp site but not reliably.

Private and beautiful

The location on Dyrt maps is wrong, forest service is NW of 285 &amp; 64. Beautiful dispersed camping spots plentiful. Park ranger Melissa was the top notch. Couldn’t have been more helpful and friendly. Definitely stay there again.

Tres Piedras area

There are a bunch of different roads you can turn off to camp on if you’re driving from Taos to Durango. We mapped Forest Road 578 and it took us to a dirt road with a lot of flat spots you can camp on. We spent the night there and it was very quiet and peaceful. If you keep going to Durango you’ll get to Carson National Forest, which is not too far from the coordinates on The Dyrt. That’s where more people are camping, you can pull off right before the 64H road marker. You’ll keep passing camping spots as you drive to Durango so you can really go almost anywhere! 

Photos of Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 - Dispersed Camping

Real photos from real campers