Equestrian Camping near Arrey, NM

Horse campgrounds near Arrey, New Mexico offer limited dedicated equestrian facilities but several options accommodate campers with horses. The surrounding desert terrain sits at elevations between 4,200-5,400 feet, creating moderate temperatures in spring and fall with summer highs regularly exceeding 95°F. Winter overnight temperatures frequently drop below freezing, though daytime conditions remain mild for desert camping.

What to do

Kayaking at Caballo Lake: The reservoir provides calm waters ideal for paddling, especially at sunrise when light reflects off surrounding mountains. Christy L. notes, "Great place to kayak especially when the sun rises you will see it over the mountains. My favorite part about caballo lake is floating down from elephant butte to caballo lake in a giant floaty."

Hiking near dispersed sites: The North Star Mesa Dispersed Camping area offers trails through desert terrain and pine forests. Jorge G. shares, "Nothing in terms of services and amenities, but nice hiking nearby. Very clear skies at night."

Stargazing opportunities: The lack of light pollution makes this region exceptional for astronomy. At Sapillo Campground, Alisa P. mentions, "The night sky is incredible and you can see the Milky Way."

What campers like

Free dispersed camping: The BLM Near City of Rocks provides no-cost camping options with flexibility for horse trailers. Michael D. reports, "This is open BLM land. When you turn off Highway 61, you go through a gate. There are multiple pull-outs along the road. Great views, desert terrain."

Riverside camping options: The Rio Grande access points offer alternatives to lakeside sites. Brittany N. recommends, "You can either stay on the north side of the damn where the lake is or stay on the south side where the Rio grande runs. We decided to stay on the river."

Well-maintained facilities: The established campgrounds maintain clean restrooms and shower facilities. Brett D. notes about Caballo Lake RV Park, "Campground is very nice with great views. Grounds are well kept. Bathhouse is clean."

What you should know

Water supply planning: No water sources exist at dispersed sites, requiring visitors to bring adequate supplies. Jorge G. advises at North Star Mesa, "As always, please follow LNT principles when dispersed camping."

Shower limitations: Some campgrounds have automatic shutoff valves that affect shower convenience. Brett D. warns, "Water in the showers are annoying because it auto cuts off after about 10-15 seconds and you have to keep it going for at least a minute or two to get hot water."

Weather considerations: Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, while winter nights drop below freezing. At Elephant Butte Lake RV Resort, Mike H. notes, "We were here in early June and the day temperatures were in the low 100's with very low humidity."

Tips for camping with families

Spacious camping areas: Look for locations with room for children to play safely. Amber N. mentions about Caballo Lake, "Was a big grass camping area lots of space. Close to the water from camping sites....Grills tables and shade area."

Safety considerations: The Rio Grande current can be challenging for swimming. Brittany N. cautions, "We tried swimming across the Rio Grande. That shot was hard."

Free firewood opportunities: Some campgrounds occasionally have wood available from management activities. At Sapillo Campground, Alisa P. observed, "When we were here there was some guys with DNR and they were cutting back all of the dead trees from a fire. The wood they cut was all around in stacks for campers to use while camping."

Tips from RVers

Site selection strategy: Corner sites offer more space and privacy. Jeffrey T. recommends at Elephant Butte Lake RV Resort, "We travel with 3 dogs, so they moved me from site 23 to site 27. It was a site with plenty of room for our dog fence. It was in a nice corner of the park with immediate road access."

Road conditions: Access roads to dispersed camping require planning. Alisa P. advises about roads to Sapillo Campground, "The road in is graveled but it is nice and no car or suv would have trouble navigating."

Connectivity information: Cell service varies significantly by location. Michael D. notes at BLM land, "I have good cell service, and my home fi hot spot is working great," while Alisa P. cautions, "There is no cell service" at Sapillo Campground.