Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Angel Fire, NM

Our first time in New Mexico and obviously Angel Fire! Stayed here with friends that have been coming since it opened! Highly recommend!!

We visited here for a week in October and loved this area. The topography is unmatched! The RV sites were so beautiful and ample. We enjoyed the dog park with our furry buds and enjoyed the hikes around AF. So much to do in this area. Some of it was shut down during the pandemic, but this place is top notch!!

The National Forest Service campground is located on highway 64 between Angel Fire and Taos New Mexico. The site is just a few feet off the highway next to a small creek. They have about a dozen small campsites along the creek with privacy between the sites. The sites are very basic and come equipped with fire pits and picnic tables. The location had availability during the summer peak season. The site is self serve pay and does not have a camp host. The location may be a good option for those looking to visit Taos which is about 30 minutes away. I gave this a low rating due to the condition of the sites which needed basic maintenance and cleanup. The site was also far to close to the highway to enjoy a good camping experience. I think this is the type of place you use as a last resort while in transit to Taos or Eagles nest.

The coordinates listed on "the dyrt" (36.38705487228697,-105.27684030781722) is actually a different campground, the Angel Fire Resort (the actual Ski and MTB resort) Campground, which is a "dry" campground with port-a-potties that is located on the corner of Vail Avenue and Squaw Valley Lane). This is a very different place and experience from the Angel Fire RV Resort.

If you go to Angel Fire RV Resort website, it lists the coordinates as 36.4237, -105.30983 and is located on US Hwy 64, just west of Mountain View Blvd.

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!

This is a private ranch on many acres. You cannot see any other campers from your site. No electricity but water is available near the owners home. This is boondocking in a very safe environment! You do not have to worry about anything. If you want to go in to Angel Fire and explore you will find plenty to do in this area or you can just stay on the ranch and hike, bike, ride ATV’s or just sit and watch the prairie dogs, horses, deer or whatever else decides to come by. The sites have fire pits, benches and even hammocks. I believe there is only 5 sites on this huge piece of property. The hosts made us feel comfortable and they came by every evening to gather trash.

Perfectly located on a picturesque a beautiful lake with the Sangre de Cristo mountains as a backdrop. The drive into the park isn’t that impressive, but it just makes me more appreciative of the beauty of this place, which is set behind several RV/trailer parks. The campground is small with ample space between sites. Each site has a gravel pad, covered picnic table set on a concrete pad and with a view of the serene and pristine lake. There’s a pier and boat ramp, a day use area and an office/store. The campground gate closes at night, with an on site ranger. 

Awesome wildlife in the area. The deer would come by every evening and the prairie dogs were constantly entertaining. There’s a hiking trail worth checking out too.

This was the perfect place to spend the Fourth of July holiday. The parade in Eagle Nest was perfect small town America! Must see in the area is the Vietnam Veteran’s Museum, the Cumbres & Toltec railroad and nearby Chama and Angel Fire.

Cimarron Canton State Park is a wonderful place to stay, right on the Cimarron River. Bring your fishing gear and license for some relaxing fishing. Some of the sites are immediately adjacent to the river. My favorite campground is Tolby, the Westernmost. It has a Ranger/Information Station in the east end of the campground. It has flush toilets and sinks, but no shower. This is my favorite, because I love to hike and backpack. Just south across Highway 64 from the campground entrance is the Tolby Trailhead. The Tolby Trail takes you all the way back to Tolby Meadow on an excellent trail. A good spot for overnight tent camping. Tolby campground is also just minutes from Eagle Nest, NM and within easy range of Angel Fire, Red River, and a little less than an hour from Taos.

There are two other campgrounds for RVs, Maverick and Ponderosa, as well as one more for tent camping. Maverick sits right next to a pair of gravel pit lakes for added Fishing opportunities. Ponderosa is across the street from that, but is more like a parking lot with painted camping slots around its perimeter.

In the town of Cimarron I recommend dining at the Historic St. James hotel (very haunted) or lunch at the Creemee. Stop in at the headquarters of Philmont Scout Ranch for the National Scounting Museum and a Tour of the Villa Philimonte (Waite Phillips’ mansion). Also recommended is the Tooth of Time Traders at Philmont. It’s a camping/hiking store that is like an REI.

If you’re coming via Raton, the Colfax Tavern between Raton and Cimarron at Cold Beer New Mexico is a great place to stop for food and drinks.

Great spot that is quiet and has great view of lake and Mountains all around. Cool at night and just right during day. All the RV parks around here that have good reviews are way too close together. I am glad I didn’t go by the reviews as the trailers are almost touching. There is no water or electricity on site but water is available in the park. First time dry camping and it was great with no problems. Close to Red River and Angel Fire and Taos.

Amost all the sites have a lake view, with little obstruction from other sites. There is plenty of room between sites, allowing for a level of privacy. There are no trees, but the views make that OK. If you want to fish, go to the marina on 64 ( leave the park and turn Left…on the left side about 1/4 mile down). You'll pay $17 for a day, but you can buy more days. Don't think you can get a way with no license, you can't! Even on weekdays, the officers checked. Still, great fishing and almost a guarantee that you will catch at least one trout.  

As for hiking there are great hikes within 45 minutes, toward Taos and Angel Fire. Stop by the Eagle Nest Visitor center off 64 for a map or two. We hiked the South Boundary Trail, off the El Nogal trailhead just outside of Taos, off 64 W. 

I recommend the Taos Mothership Brewery in El Prado (20 min drive from the trailhead) for a beer and nachos. If you have a dog with you, great patio area. 

We enjoyed the quiet of Eagle Nest Lake and the availability of a nice walking trail and great trout fishing. We will go back!

Highway 64 between Taos and Angel Fire > Turn onto Forest Rd 5 and go to end

Solid road, no issue with 25ft travel trailer.

There's a gravel cul-de-sac with a couple obvious places to camp.  Also a couple two tracks roads continuing into the woods, but those weren't passable due to mud.

There's a few small ponds which appear to be the beginning of the Rio Fernando.  I think there's some restoration work going on if I'm not mistaken.  

I tried parking so that I was looking out at the clearing, but this made levelling my trailer pretty difficult.  Probably would be easier to just keep in on the gravel.

I somehow had 5g reception here on Verizon, and Starlink also worked well.

This park isn't really meant for camping in my opinion although you can. I would find a nearby state park to camp in (Cimarron Canyon) and just visit the lake and town. If you have a camper, this one would be ok. The bathrooms are pretty nice and the scenery is awesome, but it doesn't really feel like camping. Eagles Nest is awesome though, and you are a short drive to Angel Fire, Red River and Taos. The fishing is great on the lake too, specially if you have a boat. If not, you can rent one from the local shop and even take a guide if you want. Trolling for trout is the best way to catch lots of fish in my opinion. You can also snag for Salmon during the spawn. Overall, great place to visit but I would find another camping spot nearby.

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). RV/campsites offer simple flat overnight spaces and picnic benches. On-site showers too.

FREE campground! Large relatively flat grass lot with garbage cans and picnic tables. Pit toilets and recycling at  the entrance. The lake was completely dry but has fishing and trolling motor boats only allowed when there is water. Very quiet place to stay the night. There was only one other camper that showed up when we stayed here. Lots of wildlife and pets allowed on leash.

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.

At $55/night I initially was a little skeptical. What is worth $55/night to pitch a tent. The owners here showed me. They really go above and beyond making each campground unique, hospitable, and artsy. There’s solar powered lights that come in at night that give just the right amount of festive touch without overdoing it or being too bright. There’s solitude yet connectedness. The spit we’re at, #3, is perfect for tents. Huge fire pit, great huge log benches, an awesome campfire cooking set, a charcoal grill as well, portapotty, trash can, water, and even a small welcome packet with cards and dish soap. It’s a lovely and thoughtful place. Just a hint of glamping - the perfect amount in my opinion. We’ll be back for sure. Oh the animals! How could I forget!?!?!? My daughter would come back for the pigs, goats, horses, cats, chipmunks, prairie dogs, and assorted other animals as well.
The owners are over the moon wonderful. Can’t say enough. One of the best camp sites I’ve ever been to.