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Established Camping

Monjeau Campground

4 Reviews

Monjeau Campground, near Alto, New Mexico, is a stunning spot that offers a unique camping experience at a high elevation. With breathtaking views and a peaceful atmosphere, it’s perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

This campground features picnic tables and pit toilets, making it a comfortable place to set up camp. Visitors rave about the starry nights, with one camper noting, “I have never seen so many stars.” The area is also home to wildlife, including wild horses and deer, adding to the charm of your stay.

Getting to Monjeau can be an adventure in itself, with a winding road that most vehicles can navigate without issues. Just be prepared for some wind and chilly nights, as the elevation can bring cooler temperatures. As one reviewer mentioned, “Make sure you have a sturdy setup” for your tent.

For those who enjoy hiking, there’s a small hike up to a lookout tower that offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. The contrast between the recovering forest and the remnants of past wildfires creates a beautiful backdrop for your outdoor adventures. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Monjeau Campground is a fantastic choice for a memorable camping experience.

Description

US Forest Service

Lincoln National Forest

Monjeau Lookout is a famous landmark on the Smokey Bear Ranger District built originally in 1936 and then reconstructed in 1940 as part of a Civilian Conservation Corps project. This site is a wonderful and adventurous place to visit. Roads leading up to the site are dirt and can be steep in places. Visit during the summer months as the road leading to it closes during the winter with the advent of snow. Monjeau Lookout is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).Click Here for a recent article from the "Lookout Network" detailing the entire history of this place.

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Location

Monjeau Campground is located in New Mexico

Coordinates

33.430786 N
105.73161 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

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

Site Types

Tent Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

Phone Service
Toilets
Alcohol

Contact

General Info

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Drive Time

2 hrs 35 min from Las Cruces
2 hrs 42 min from El Paso
3 hrs 1 min from Albuquerque
3 hrs 24 min from Santa Fe

Noah K.

Traveler

Reviewed Nov. 17, 2022

Beautiful.

Beautiful area under the lookout. Pretty quiet but limited areas you can go, at least for at RTT. Can be windy and cold at night. Road up there was somewhat rough but I think any car can make it without issues.

Month of VisitNovember

Elissa E.

Traveler

Reviewed Apr. 24, 2022

Monjeau Campgroud great view

This was an amazing spot to camp. We have a Tacoma with a rooftop tent and the road leading to the campsite wasn’t an issue at all. In fact, most vehicles are more than likely to make it if they aren’t too long or pulling a trailer. We didn’t go all the way to the peak because it was windy but the site we stopped at had picnic tables, a bathroom with pit toilets, and the ground was level. Our view was beautiful! There were also some horses roaming around. Oh and it’s free! Can’t beat it.

Month of VisitApril

(4) View All

Hasan A.

Traveler

Reviewed Apr. 10, 2021

Stunning

I have never seen so many stars. It is a beautiful scene, there are a lot of trees burned down but we saw wild horses, deer, and massive dropping either of Elk or Bear.

Highly recommend. If you prefer a campground with clean bathrooms, there is the Skyline campground at a lower altitude.

Chad D.

Scout

Reviewed Jun. 11, 2018

Amazing view that will leave you breathless... because it is at 9,500 feet!

The drive up is full of narrow switchbacks that you just hope and pray nobody else happens to be coming around at the same time as you are. There are some quite steep grades as well. Whoever set the speed limit at 30 miles per hour must have been a daredevil before they found employment as a civil engineer. However the road is decent enough that most any vehicle can navigate it. I had zero issues in my truck with a camper in the bed. A class B could get in there as well, but there's no room for anything bigger and good luck getting level. There is absolutely no room for trailers at all. There are only about 5 walk in tent sites that I saw with fire rings. The only amenity is a vault toilet. Be aware that you are on a mountain peak so it gets pretty windy. Your $40 Wally World tent will probably beat you to death in the night. Make sure you have a sturdy setup. If you can deal with all that though, the view is unsurpassed. Its just a small hike up to the tower where you can see in every direction forever it seems. The forest in the area is just starting to recover from wildfires a couple of years ago, but the contrast between the burnt old and the growing new is beautiful.

Note: a previous review stated the tower was closed, but it was back open by my visit in Sept 2017.

Month of VisitSeptember