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Lake Roberts is located in the Wilderness Ranger District along NM 35.__It can be accessed via NM 35 or NM 15. NM 15 is__a narrow paved, winding road that may__not be suitable for trucks with trailers.
This campground features beautiful cliffs along the West Fork of the__Gila River.This campground is a great place to stop__on the way to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (15 miles north). Overnight camping is allowed in the upper portion of Forks; however, the lower portion of the Forks__Recreation Site__along the__West Fork of the Gila River is day use only.
This is a beautiful remote camping area. Trail #94 begins at the rear of the campground.Located in a remote area of forest__approximately 30 miles from the Wilderness Ranger District office. This campground is accessible from FR 150, and driving approximately .5 miles from the road, across the stream. You will enter an area with a newer vault toilet__and a beautiful meadow next to the stream.Please be advised - the district recommends high-clearance 4x4 vehicles on FR 150.
Lower Scorpion Campground is a partially developed campground within walking distance of the West Fork of the Gila River. The campground is located less than one mile from the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument just off NM State Highway 15. Drinking water is available, tables and grills are provided at select sites. Vault toilets are available on site. Camping is free of charge and first-come, first-served.
This is a fairly small campground and is popular with horse riders and hunters.
Small campground located along the north side of New Mexico Highway 152, near mile marker 40, near Middle Percha Creek, on the eastern edge of the small town of Kingston, NM.
Legend
I chose to stay in town this visit but these spots are much nicer and there are trails and things to see very close.
Legend
I think the campground is very nice and convenient to downtown. Full hookups, clean bathrooms and for the summer, nice shade. A lot of local tenants but it was quiet and well cared for with just a few spots coming and foing.
Legend
As the photos show, I'm not sure this is open. Nice long and private spots if it were open.
Legend
This is the most exposed of the campgrounds to the road. Nice and close to get to a picnic table but I'd stay at one of the others before staying here.
Legend
Of the handful of formal places to camp, this is very small but very nice. Trees, a decent hike on a maintained trail. Only a few spots to take but cute if you get one.
Legend
This is a picnic ground and you park on the road and walk up to. It is not maintained and I don't think the pit toilet is open
Legend
I walked through Kingstown and which is a friendly, adorable town. It is just up the road from their provided campground.
The campground is really just a couple of spots with a picnic table and not a destination but worthy of stopping if the mountains are cold.
Ranger
We stopped here for an unplanned overnight. It is ok. Friendly staff. Clean but dated bathrooms. Took 5 minutes to get hot water in the women’s shower and the water stream was very small. No space between rigs. Lots of people driving out late and early. Think some folks must live here and be heading off to work. Big clubhouse area with a library. Also indoor pool. Didn’t use these facilities. There is a laundry but we did not check it out. Reasonable price but we wouldn’t choose to stay here again.
RangerMan, free pulled pork BBQ every Sat. evening garnered this place the 5th star! :)
Stayed 4/23- 4/30. Nice RV park just outside of Silver City with large spaces and junipers between the spaces. We were in #16 which was huge. Full hookups, laundry. Only one bath with a shower. Naturalized pet relief area with some desert vegetation. Dirt road to the place from Kirkland. No playground so saw no kids staying there. Seemed like mature, respectful RVers. Some folks were extended stay, seemed like any long term residents were in a different area; overall nice, neat, quiet, and tidy. John keeps things in good order.
BTW, in Silver City for Tour of the Gila, cool to see the stage races.
Food aside: Heated up some frozen Bertolli pasta dinner and then: nothing on Sat. night because, free BBQ!! Donations appreciated.
Ranger
Our grandsons loved this place. We went without reservations so there was no open place but they allow the overflow to camp in the group sites if they are empty.
You can spend hours exploring all the rocks.
With reservations you can get a spot with power but they are closer together. We were very happy with the great place we had. Would love to go again.
Scout
Road is a little rough but well worth it. No one camped near us. Was able to let the dogs roam without fear. Lots of wood in the area. A small creek along the road. Good hiking area. Will definitely go back.
Scoutgreat rural campground. lake valley ghost town is worth the ride
Scout
Nice level spot, but winds must blow year round in one direction, the trees are actually leaning. Nice check in clerk, but never provided a code to Showers. Locked by the time we tried the doors. Sitting outside at night the winds blew a constant Gasoline Vapor, even filled the RV. Great place for a one night stop, make sure you get the Shower Code!
Guide$14 for an RV site with electric and water. Good TMobile service.
They have reservation as well as first come first serve sites.
Amazing volunteers, so knowledgeable and fun to talk to. You could just walk around the rocks and campground or take one of the trails out into the desert landscape. We had our bikes and were not disappointed!
Would absolutely come back.
GuideI spent two weeks here at three different sites, and while I was ready to get back to civilization (the park is fairly remote), I genuinely had a relaxing time.
The bathrooms/comfort station are clean and fairly new—the only downsides are they’re only open from 7am-5pm to conserve water and it’s a bit of a trek by foot if you’re at one of the far campsites. I also had strong enough reception with T-Mobile to work remotely, and good service through Verizon as well.
Site 25 (Crab): a truly iconic site within a park where nearly every site is a gem. Downside: very little privacy and no shade from the afternoon sun. Upside: Site is level, great sunset views and a quick walk to the pit toilets.
Site 24 (Hercules): Connects to site 25 via a the rock formations, but more private as it’s not directly on the main loop. Again, close to the pit bathroom. There’s a fun and semi private climb up into the rocks to the left of the picnic table that will give you a stellar sunset view. Site is level and protected from the worst of the south/SW winds. I also saw the most wildlife from this site (marmot, roadrunner, jack rabbit, and more). Downside: the site curves rather drastically and is best suited for vans, tent camping, or very small RVs; little shade as the tree that used to offer shade was removed.
Site 30 (Triangulum): hands down, the best site in the park IMO. Lots of shade and privacy as it’s set far back from the main road; it almost feels like you have the park to yourself. Pit toilets are conveniently at the end of the drive. Downside: people climbing through the rocks occasionally end up near your site, but no one ever wandered too far; the windmill does makes some noise but it’s really not too bad; this site has FULL shade, which is ideal unless you run on solar panels. For a few hours a day I had to back my van into the sun, which put it at a fairly severe angle as the drive slopes once you back out of the sweet spot by the picnic table; very little protection from the wind, but there is some.
LegendCity of Rocks, NMSP: NON- ELECTRIC Sites: Sites Nestled into Uniqueness. One of the best campgrounds , in regards to campsite layout, we have stayed in during 4 1/2 years of full timing - (Electric sites are not so. They do have views, but are crowded together.) (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)
Overall Rating: 5 for the non-electric sites. The are nestled into semi private/private locations. I did not see a non-electric site that I would not enjoy. Even the worst of these sites would be among the best at many campgrounds. Sites in the back loop where we stayed were among the best.
Price 2024
: $10 for non-electric sites
Security: I think the gates are locked at night. Not sure.
Usage during visit: Electric sites were full . Primitive sites had some availability.
Site Privacy: Good to great
Site Spacing: Many sites are very well spaced.
Site surface: Gravel
Reservations: Yes
Campground Noise: Quiet
Outside Road Noise: Too isolated for this to be an issue.
Through Traffic in campground: None
Electric Hookup: Availability
Sewer Hookup: No
Dump Station: No
Potable Water Available: Yes
Generators: Allowed
Bathroom: Pit toilets are throughout the campground.
Showers: No
Pull Throughs: Yes, there are some.
Cell Service (AT&T): 0 - 2 bars depending on location
Setting: Primitive sites are set among the rocks. Electric hook up sites are close together, but have a view of the rocks and desert. They are not as nicely laid out.
ScoutThis is an amazing place with beautiful rock formations that you can spend hours exploring. Overall I really enjoyed staying here and seeing the sights. However, I ran into two issues (one major) while camping at site #28:
1. There is a large wasp nest in the base of the tree at this site. Depending on the time of day, there can be a LOT of wasps flying around throughout the entire area of site#28, making the entire site unusable. Notably, this nest is in the only shaded area of the site, so you have no usable shade. Once you bring food outside, even more come out and they get aggressive. I got stung twice while trying to eat outside. I contacted the park about this by e-mailing the park manager (Gabriel Medrano) twice. He never responded to the e-mails. I also called the park office during business hours, but they did not answer. I left a voicemail, but they never called back. Clearly this park's management does not care about its guests. I later talked to one of the rangers. They said they are not allowed to disturb the wasp nest by spraying it or doing anything else due to directives from management. In other words, the park manager would rather preserve a dangerous pest instead of ensuring visitor safety and park usability.
2. There is a windmill near site #28 that makes a very loud and annoying metal grinding noise when it turns slowly. It is shockingly loud and at first I thought that there was some sort of metal fabrication factory or construction site nearby. This happens any time of day or night, depending on the wind, and can be clearly heard from most sites on the west side of the campground. It would be loud enough to wake someone in a tent, but probably not an RV. Again, I e-mailed the park manager (Gabriel Medrano) about this, and didn't even get the courtesy of a reply.
Traveler
Clean, quiet campground not far from Emory pass. Pit toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables. Only a handful of people there on Friday night
RangerI stayed here for CDT Days. Great location walking distance to everything. There’s a grocery store around the corner. Super quiet. Woke up to the birds chirping away. Priced fairly and would stay here again.
TravelerGreat place and close to sights, yet nestled in a lovely spot.
Guide
We came in after dark, but the roads were clear and it was easy to set up. Quiet.
Traveler
2-night minimum, at the end of a maintained gravel road. I have a camper van, no hookups, and paid $48 for two nights. Large rec room with full kitchen, satellite tv, pool table, and pop/candy/ice cream for sale. Laundry and hot showers. Very friendly and a majority of sites are long time full timers. Cash or check only, no credit cards. Good wi-fi. Propane available. About 10 miles to town and 30 miles to City of Rocks state park.
GuideNothing extravagant extra clean. Well taken of. Nicely helpful heated shower rooms. I looked at it Lots of restaurants nearby. There was lots of availability staff very nice
TravelerGreat stay, amazing campsites, clean restrooms, friendly camp hosts. Hiking trails. Great view of the stairs.
GuideThis camp ground is conveniently located to Old Town Silver City.
The staff is friendly, the site was clean and level. The bathrooms and showers were clean as well. They were very fairly priced. I booked for one night but may well stay for two.
They have a nice laundry facility. It was a quiet enjoyable stay! I would come back again.
Guide
A handful of sites located on the other side of Skates Canyon from Sapillo Campground. Close to great hiking around the CDT and fishing in Lake Roberts. Most of the sites sit on the shades of ponderosa and there's plenty of space for group camping.
This is as bare as it gets. No services, no cell signal, no trash disposal, not even a pit toilet. Some sites have rock rings for campfires but that's about it. Please recreate responsibly and leave no trace. Pack out whatever you pack in.
Quiet during the winter, but gets busy during the summer as evidenced by how well worn the dirt paths around the area are.
GuideThe park is far away from everywhere and offers a very quiet and peaceful experience. The rocks are spectacular as is the night sky. The visitor center appears to have limited hours so I had to go online to learn more. There are trails that take you up into the rocks and into the desert.
Tent camping near Arenas Valley, New Mexico, offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the stunning landscapes of the Gila National Forest. With a variety of campgrounds to choose from, you'll find the perfect spot to pitch your tent and unwind.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Arenas Valley, NM is Silver City KOA with a 5-star rating from 8 reviews.
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