E
Ellen C.
Scout
ScoutJemez Falls Campground
Awesome place to camp
This is one of the places to camp in New Mexico
Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Abiquiu Lake
Riana - Abiquiu Lake campground permits pets on leashes throughout all camping loops. Tent sites, RV spots with water and electric hookups, and group areas welcome dogs of all sizes. The Pedernal Loop has pet-friendly sites with water and electric connections spaced generously apart, while the Chama and Puerco Loops accommodate smaller rigs and tent campers with pets. Camp hosts regularly patrol to enforce pet rules, including proper waste disposal and leash requirements. Guests should note that no alcohol is allowed in this Army Corps of Engineers campground, and rangers enforce quiet hours from 10 pm to 6 am for all campers including those with pets. Pet owners should place waste in trash cans located at each campsite. Sites feature covered picnic tables, fire rings, and enough space for dogs to relax with their owners.
The hiking trail system around Abiquiu Lake provides excellent exercise opportunities for dogs. The 4-mile Abiquiu Lake Vista Trail consists of stacked loops where leashed dogs can join their owners while enjoying scenic reservoir views. Ghost Ranch, located minutes away, also allows pets in their campground and on select trails. Campers should be prepared for weather variables; summer temperatures can reach uncomfortable levels for pets, while spring brings strong winds across the exposed terrain. Oak Point Campground and Whirlpool Dispersed Camping Area offer more rustic, free alternatives for camping with dogs near Abiquiu Lake, though they lack amenities like showers or hookups. Rio Chama Campground provides another pet-friendly option with picnic tables, vault toilets and trash service. The lake level fluctuates seasonally, sometimes requiring a 20-minute hike to reach water where dogs can swim.
Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Abiquiu Lake (113)
1. Riana - Abiquiu Lake
20 ReviewsCañones, NM1 mileWebsite+1 (505) 685-4371$10 - $80 / night
"Awesome view of Abiquiu Lake with amazing sunsets nightly. Hot showers, clean pit toilets, BBQs, tent pads, picnic tables & friendly camp hosts. Senior Passes work here for half price discount."
"General: 54-site campground in four loops; the Pedernal Loop has water and electric hookups, the Chama and Puerco Loops do not and there is a walk-in tent site loop."
2. Ghost Ranch
6 ReviewsCañones, NM5 milesWebsite"Recommend arriving not too late to see if you can get a good spot, we didn’t have shade so had to go find a nice shady bench away from our site for eating lunch / relaxing after our hike."
"All in all we got three meals for our family of 4 and a nights stay while we hiked around trails on the property for less than $100 all in, and the food (upscale summer camp type) was very good."
3. Rio Chama Campground
14 ReviewsGallina, NM16 milesWebsite+1 (575) 638-5526"Rio Chama RV park in Chama, New Mexico, is at the intersection of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the upper Rio Chama. A nice place to stay May 1 thru mid October."
"We were able to find a very private spot with easy access to the river!(went on a random Saturday) We will be visiting again. Great for our dog too."
4. Whirlpool Dispersed Camping Area
8 ReviewsYoungsville, NM10 milesWebsite"Seems a given, since it’s close to the river! I found a site right next to the Rio and even though it was muddy, I still appreciated being able to get in to cool down a bit."
"In my van and with Grandkids & dog in a tent. We had a rock campfire ring and I bring my folding table & chairs. The kids love to hang hammocks in the cedar trees."
5. Echo Amphitheater Campground — Carson National Forest
7 ReviewsCanjilon, NM10 miles$10 - $50 / night
"Small campground next to U.S. Highway 84. There are 9 campsites with 3 small pull-throughs. I have seen large RVs in the day use area, not sure if this is tolerated. No services. "
"Hour outside of santa fe."
6. Oak Point Campground
6 ReviewsYoungsville, NM14 miles+1 (575) 758-8851"there’s a fire ban, so it makes it hard to stay warm at night, but the stars are amazing. it’s quiet. it’s lovely. there’s canyon walls for miles. it’s really amazing. some of these pics are from the nearby"
"I've stayed here twice now since being in New Mexico. This site is right on the water, overlooks the canyon, and is close to a hike to the right side of the canyon through a dried up riverbed."
7. Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa
15 ReviewsOjo Caliente, NM22 milesWebsite+1 (505) 583-2233$40 - $60 / night
"If you have a pet and want to overnight versus stay at the Casitas, it’s just a short walk to the spa and hot springs (20% discount)."
"The camping area is more of a campground than an RV park, in a positive way. Many of the sites are shaded with mature trees."
8. El Rito Campground Group Shelter — Carson National Forest
4 ReviewsEl Rito, NM15 miles+1 (575) 581-4554$225 / night
"We had no clue that this gem was close to us we went for a quick weekend camp we were right next to the creek with amazing views of the mountains."
"Seems to be a common problem, which is too bad because it is a pretty place and convenient to the large rock climbing area nearby."
9. Rio Puerco Campground
6 ReviewsGallina, NM19 milesWebsite+1 (575) 638-5526"New Mexico is just beautiful and this park really brings that to life. Its a great place for fishing, camping, hiking and breath taking river veiws. Love every picture I took here."
"It's actually only 10 miles off the main road, & 6 miles after the pavement ends, but Google took us down the wrong path."
10. Coyote Canyon Camping Area
3 ReviewsYoungsville, NM16 milesWebsite+1 (505) 438-7840"Great experience, not too far, about 7 miles off the beaten path."
"You can’t drive your car right up to each site, but you can park fairly close."
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Abiquiu Lake
97 Photos of 113 Abiquiu Lake Campgrounds
Michael N.
Whirlpool Dispersed Camping Area
Megan V.
Oak Point Campground
Naythin H.
El Rito Campground Group Shelter — Carson National Forest
Michael N.
Rio Chama Campground
shannon C.
Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa
Mike M.
Cottonwood RV Park
Charlie O.
Forest Road 558
Keelia
San Antonio Campground
Ken M.
Clear Creek Campground (Nm) — Santa Fe National Forest
Jeanie P.
Pajarito Springs (Dispersed)
gail A.
Ponderosa Group Campground — Bandelier National Monument
Maeci W.
Road 378, Fenton Lake - Dispersed
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Abiquiu Lake
742 Reviews of 113 Abiquiu Lake Campgrounds
marycatmathis ..
RangerOak Point Campground
Lovely, Beachy, Scenic
These coordinates are a rough estimate, but this entire forrest road is filled with amazing campsites you can simply pull off and camp in. currently there’s a fire ban, so it makes it hard to stay warm at night, but the stars are amazing. it’s quiet. it’s lovely. there’s canyon walls for miles. it’s really amazing. some of these pics are from the nearby canyon that’s a bit of a walk up the road, but most are from our campground. loved our first experience camping in New Mexico!
- Beth B.
GuideRio Chama Campground
Great place to watch the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Train
Rio Chama RV park in Chama, New Mexico, is at the intersection of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the upper Rio Chama. A nice place to stay May 1 thru mid October. The train passing by twice a day is an exciting event and it's a short walk to the train yard.
Pull through sites have great shade and full hookups with 30 or 50 amp electrical service. Spacious tent sites with full service restrooms nearby. Pet friendly with dog park and free wifi. A great place for fishing, train watching and relaxing.
- CCharlie O.Guide
Riana - Abiquiu Lake
Excellent Army Core of Engineers Campground
Really enjoyed camping here. Great sites for our 17' camp trailer. Awesome view of Abiquiu Lake with amazing sunsets nightly. Hot showers, clean pit toilets, BBQs, tent pads, picnic tables & friendly camp hosts. Senior Passes work here for half price discount. Quiet time from 10pm-6am is enforced & enjoyed. Occasional loud boats & partying on the lake below on weekend nights so be aware. Wind gusts are common so tie down the tumbleweeds or they'll escape!
- NNattalie G.
TravelerEdward Sargeant Wildlife Management Area
Edward Sargeant Wildlife Area
The spot is really close (2 miles) to the town of Chama, New Mexico (elevation about 8,000ft in Southern Rockies) and has one outdoor toilet, open areas for RVs or tents no electrical hook ups or water. Pets allowed. Wonderful views of the mountains and a good road and trail for hiking and biking and horseback riding. There are creeks, small ponds, maybe a lake deeper in, fir, aspen, and pine trees. You can roam off the road/trail anywhere. iIf you get a combination to the lock on the gate you can drive your vehicle down I rode that goes deep into the wilderness area for fishing and hunting. It is run by the New Mexico wild wildlife services. At sunrise or sunset you are very likely to see elk maybe even a whole herd and other wildlife. You cannot camp there in the winter but it’s great for cross country skiing. There’s also a laundromat just down the road, probably a mile from the camping area. I live in the region and often go there throughout the year to take my dog on walks or cross country ski.
- MMelody M.Guide
Taos Monte Bello RV Park
Wonderful views, spacious sites!
We really like this RV Park! The spaces are wide and angled enough to allow for great views! There are no trees, so you will be using your AC and awning when it’s hot out. Sites were quite level and hookups are easy access. There are both full hookup sites and water and electric only sites; there is an RV dump. Laundry, restrooms and convenience store are still closed due to Covid - much of New Mexico is still this way. It is right off Highway 64 which has a minimal amount of road noise, but provides easy access.There’s a Pet Resort across the road where you hear dogs barking in the distance in the mornings. They do need to start working on weed control before the weeds get out of hand. Each of those negatives are so minimal, I still rate this as a five! Wide spaces and good views are always strong points in my reviews!
Lee D.
LegendRiana - Abiquiu Lake
Clean well-laid out CoE campground
General: 54-site campground in four loops; the Pedernal Loop has water and electric hookups, the Chama and Puerco Loops do not and there is a walk-in tent site loop. There is also overflow camping.
Site Quality: Sites appeared to be mostly level (at least in the Pedernal loop); most were paved but a few were gravel. Most were back in, but some were pull-through. There are two ADA-accessible sites in the Pedernal Loop. Many have reservoir views. Site 14 has a generous-sized paved driveway. Completing the site is a lantern hook, BBQ, and covered picnic table. Too bad it was so darn windy that we could not enjoy these amenities. There was also a garbage can at the end of each site but no recycling that I saw. If you do not need hookups, sites 34 and 39 (in the Puerco loop) provide excellent water views.
Bath/Shower House: Basic with two shower stalls, two toilets, and one sink. Very clean. There are also very clean vault toilets located throughout the campground. Did not use the shower so cannot comment on how well it works.
Activities: The Abiquiu Lake Vista Trail is a 4-mile hike and bike stacked-looped trail (so you can add or duplicate interconnected loops). Boating access is one mile away. Fishing is also popular. There is also a volleyball net and a very nice modern playground. We were there at the end of April, so it was very quiet (which is the way we like it). Shout out to great camp hosts – we were greeted upon arrival and they made sure we didn’t have any questions or concerns. For $16, this is affordable but with the senior pass, $8 is a bonafide bargain!
Jane G.ScoutLUXX Lodge - Glamping & Taos RV Park
Great Stay!
Smaller camp ground, with modern and very clean bathrooms and showers! Dog friendly, with a small dog park to boot. Easy in and out, hooks ups and wifi. Manager on site and very attentive. We stayed April 1 for one night, was quiet, friendly and comfortable. Will stay again!
- TTodd C.Guide
Taos Valley RV Park & Campground
Right outside town
Not a bad setting. Surrounded by mountains, yet you are really in the city of Taos. Prices are fair, pull through with Electric and Water $43.00. The landscape is really cool, fits the New Mexico motif. A little noisy in the morning with the barking dogs in the surrounding neighborhood. We felt safe with no problems.
Guide to Abiquiu Lake
Abiquiu Lake sits at an elevation of 6,300 feet in northern New Mexico's high desert terrain, surrounded by colorful sandstone formations and pinyon-juniper woodlands. The reservoir fluctuates significantly with seasonal changes, causing shorelines to shift throughout the year. Seasonal temperature swings can be extreme, with summer days reaching over 90°F and winter nights dropping well below freezing.
What to do
Hiking at Ghost Ranch: Follow multiple trail options ranging from 1-4 miles through terrain made famous in Georgia O'Keeffe paintings. "The campground is large with several interconnecting loops. There aren't many trees, but the sites are not on top of each other so there is a semblance of privacy... There are some great hiking trails heading out of the campground as well as from other parts of the ranch," notes Annie C. at Ghost Ranch.
River access: Launch kayaks or tubes at Oak Point for downstream floats. "Chama canyon is our weekend go-to place. Only 2 hrs from Albuquerque. Many campsites available (some are dispersed) along the river... You can find a sandy beach access to the river from some campsites," explains Lila L. at Rio Chama Campground.
Visit Echo Amphitheater: Take a short walk with stairs to view this natural acoustic wonder. "The echo amphitheater is beautiful. Just a short walk with stairs to the site," shares Debbie W. from nearby Echo Campground.
What campers like
Peaceful river sounds: Many campsites provide calming water noise for sleeping. "This is a nice spot next to the river, there are a couple of hiking trails. I was there during the week and it was pretty quiet," reports Tracy T. about Whirlpool Dispersed Camping Area.
Secluded spots away from crowds: Find more private camping away from developed areas. "We chose a secluded site and the only people we saw were kayakers. There are hiking spots, the echo amphitheater, and a monastery to visit. We even made objects from the clay in the river. Then fired them in the camp fire," describes Carolyn H. about the Rio Chama area.
Well-spaced sites: Many campgrounds offer good distance between neighbors. "The campground is well maintained, sites are well spaced. Electric hookups eliminate need for generators and associated noise. $20/night or $10 with senior parks pass," notes Larry F. at Echo Campground.
What you should know
Limited services: Most dispersed areas lack basic amenities. "I've camped this area several times. In my van and with Grandkids & dog in a tent. We had a rock campfire ring and I bring my folding table & chairs... Bring it in and cart it out," advises Clara B. about Whirlpool.
Seasonal restrictions: Some campgrounds close during winter months. "The campground is open April 15-Oct 15," notes Lila L. about Riana Campground.
Weather preparedness: Strong winds and dramatic temperature changes require planning. "Make sure the dirt road is dry enough in monsoon season so you don't get stuck," warns Clara B. about dispersed camping areas.
Alcohol restrictions: Corps of Engineers sites have strict policies. "There is NO alcohol allowed in the park so don't get caught with any they will pour it out. 2 Older men were having a beer in their site & they made them pour out 2 cases of beer," cautions B M. at Riana Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Proximity to water activities: Sites near water offer entertainment for kids. "We found a site right on the river which was beautiful but a little windy and noisy from the stream. But we didn't mind!" shares Jennifer about Oak Point Campground.
Educational opportunities: Visit nearby learning centers for children. "The ghost ranch is not far & worth checking out it's got a great museum of paleontology, Dinosaurs and Indians. There is an echo theater close by neat little walk to it the sound carry's & echoes," recommends B M.
Rustic camping experience: Prepare kids for minimal facilities at dispersed sites. "No water, no trash, no outhouses... only rock fire-pits, which were clutch. Beware of the dirt! We had a blanket of dirt/dust on our bedding until we sealed the tent shut," warns Hannah L. about Oak Point.
Tips from RVers
Access road conditions: Check road quality before bringing larger vehicles. "After a drive up to Abuquiu Lake NM from Albuquerque we checked out some possible boondocking campsites down river from the lake. We only found a couple of possible sites to get my 34ft 5th wheel into," shares Joseph W. at Riana - Abiquiu Lake.
Utility placement: Be prepared for unconventional hookup locations at some sites. "The spaces only had electric and water. The electric and water outlets where placed in an odd location for the site and a dump station is available for extra $20," notes Joseph W. about Ojo Caliente.
Size limitations: Many areas have limited large rig accessibility. "Small campground next to U.S. Highway 84. There are 9 campsites with 3 small pull-throughs. I have seen large RVs in the day use area, not sure if this is tolerated," explains Carola P. about Echo Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly
campsite near Abiquiu Lake?
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Abiquiu Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Abiquiu Lake is Riana - Abiquiu Lake with a 4.3-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find
dog-friendly camping near
Abiquiu Lake?
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Abiquiu Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 113 dog-friendly camping locations near Abiquiu Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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