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Free Camping Collection

Dispersed Camping

Dog Canyon

Dog Canyon, near Alamogordo, New Mexico, is a fantastic spot for those seeking a peaceful escape into nature. This location offers a variety of sites for both tents and RVs, allowing you to set up camp in a serene environment surrounded by stunning mountain views.

Visitors rave about the spaciousness and privacy of the area, with many noting that they hardly saw anyone else during their stay. The quiet atmosphere is perfect for stargazing, and the clear skies provide a breathtaking backdrop for your evening campfire. As one camper put it, “It felt very private and had plenty of space,” making it an ideal retreat for those looking to unwind.

While there are no amenities like drinking water or toilets, the freedom to enjoy campfires and the absence of permits make this a laid-back experience. The access road is manageable for most vehicles, but a higher clearance is recommended for some of the rougher spots. Plus, you’ll find that cell service is decent, so you can stay connected if needed.

If you’re up for some exploration, Dog Canyon is just a short drive from White Sands National Park, where you can enjoy unique landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you’re here for a night or planning a longer stay, this location offers a perfect blend of tranquility and adventure.

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Location

Dog Canyon is located in New Mexico

Detail location of campground

Coordinates

32.74387135 N
105.92879375 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Available
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Good
  • T-Mobile
    Fair

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Dispersed
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Phone Service
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

DISPERSED CAMPING

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

We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Dog Canyon needs a permit.


Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

12 Reviews

Reviewed May. 28, 2024

Great spots, easy access, cell service

Many great spots available and easily accessible by low clearance vehicles (we have a camper class B van). Very close (less than a mile?) to the state park, and about 30 minutes from white sands NM. Very quiet. Cell signal. Dog friendly.

Siten/a
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Julie F., May 28, 2024
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Julie F., May 28, 2024
Reviewed Apr. 19, 2024

Beautiful, spacious, and quiet!

Stayed for 3 days and only saw a few cars pass by that whole time. Felt very private and had plenty of space. Lots of beautiful birds and some bats flying around at dusk! Tmobile service was pretty good, mostly had 5G but did lose 5g service a couple of times. Starting to get hot in April!

Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Crista G., April 19, 2024
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Crista G., April 19, 2024
Reviewed Apr. 2, 2024

Desert Solitude

Easy to access, plenty of spots along the main road and other spurs going off from it. Drove the whole way until it dead ends into State Park land (fenced) then turned around and went down a spur on the left to a great spot. Verizon service, starry skies.

Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Twan M., April 2, 2024
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Twan M., April 2, 2024
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Twan M., April 2, 2024
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Nov. 13, 2023

Beautiful New Mexico Mountain Views

This was my husband and I’s first experience boondocking and we were looking for a location close enough to the White Sands National park that wouldn’t be to far of a drive and this location was perfect. Clean, Quite and Beautiful. We enjoyed seeing all the rock trails that have been created from previous visitors.

SiteDog Canyon Dispersed Campground
Month of VisitNovember
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Courtney M., November 13, 2023
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Courtney M., November 13, 2023
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Courtney M., November 13, 2023
Reviewed Oct. 12, 2023

Nice place to stay

Numerous sites with fire rings and clean. The turn off from the paved road is difficult to spot and the unpaved road is rough. High ground clearance recommended.

Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Joe Z., October 12, 2023
Reviewed Jul. 5, 2023

Best free camping near Alamogordo

About 20 minutes south of Alamogordo. Main dirt road is fine, even for larger rigs. Side road that runs north/south may give you issues.

Plenty of obvious campsites, many of which are level. Mine had a stone border created by previous guests which was pretty cool.

Great views in every direction, but many sites will be exposed to wind. Was pretty gusty when I was there.

Be advised, Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is right next door, but dump station is clearly marked as only for guests. Water and dump station were physically locked at 4pm which is stupid.

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by PJ M., July 5, 2023
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by PJ M., July 5, 2023
Reviewed May. 31, 2023

Perfect for a night or two.

Beautiful, easy to drive through and quiet. Prickly pears and amazing views galore. I stayed in the first “loop” on the map and had a couple neighbors but it was as quiet as can be.

SiteFirst Loop
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Samuel J., May 31, 2023
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Samuel J., May 31, 2023
Reviewed Apr. 6, 2023

Free. Clean. Mostly quiet.

Ok, so it's free on BLM land and there's quite a few places to put your camper. I'm sure you could pitch a tent as well. Most spots are reasonably level and the road in should be fine for most travel trailers, I wouldn't pull in a huge trailer but under 40' should be able to fund something that works.

There's a self appointed camp host most of the year, you'll know him when you meet him. He'll be the one in a thong. Yes. A thong. No, it's not a big deal. Talk to him, and you'll understand why, and you'll be fine with it. He's a great guy, and he made our stay better.

All in all, great little BLM spot. Watch out for all the bushes. They're basically midevil torture devices masquerading as bushes.

Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Brandon S., April 6, 2023
Reviewed Mar. 7, 2023

Beautiful views

Gravel roads stretch out through the area at the base of a mountain range.

Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Lisa W., March 7, 2023
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Lisa W., March 7, 2023
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Lisa W., March 7, 2023
Reviewed Feb. 28, 2023

Perfectly peaceful

Tried two other spots before this and glad they didn’t work out. This one is perfect. Did a workout under the moonlight, parked flat, easy to find a spot, feel very safe, ready to stay for a while!

Month of VisitFebruary
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Ruth R., February 28, 2023
Reviewed Sep. 11, 2022

Great pull in

  • This nice little pull in for a quick stop has great views of the Alamogordo mountains. Pros: views close to town and available Cons; not lots of shade and thorn bushes everywhere.
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Naythin H., September 11, 2022
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Naythin H., September 11, 2022
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Naythin H., September 11, 2022
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Jan. 16, 2022

Beautiful view surrounded by trash

This campsite was trashed. There was broken glass and trash everywhere. There were a lot of gravel spaces to stay at. It was very busy here and did not feel private. There is no bathroom on site. 1-2 bars of cell service. There was a great Mountain View!

Month of VisitJanuary
  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Nikki B., January 16, 2022
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  • Review photo of Dog Canyon by Nikki B., January 16, 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the elevation of Dog Canyon?

    Dog Canyon is located at 4170 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Dog Canyon?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Dog Canyon, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Dog Canyon?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is good, and T-Mobile is fair.