Best Dispersed Camping near Arroyo Hondo, NM

Dispersed camping zones surround Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico, primarily within Carson National Forest and Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Free, primitive sites are located along Forest Roads 5, 578, and several other service roads, with notable concentrations near Taos, Tres Piedras, and along the Rio Grande gorge. BLM land throughout the monument permits dispersed camping in designated areas, while forest service roads provide numerous pull-offs for tent and limited RV camping. These public lands typically allow free camping with proper distancing from roads, trails, and water sources.

Many forest service roads require high-clearance vehicles, with some routes becoming difficult or impassable during wet conditions. Most areas enforce a 14-day camping limit and follow seasonal fire restrictions that vary based on drought conditions. Several reviews note the importance of being prepared for primitive conditions: "No amenities except some great river side places," describes one camper at Arroyo Seco. Sites lack drinking water, trash facilities, and restrooms, though some areas near the Rio Grande del Norte Monument provide vault toilets at designated picnic spots. Cell service ranges from sporadic to nonexistent in many canyon and forest areas.

The landscape offers dramatic elevation changes from high desert to alpine forest, with the Rio Grande gorge providing spectacular views. Camping along forest roads near Tres Piedras provides pine forest seclusion, while sites near the Rio Grande offer riverside camping with fishing access. Wildlife sightings are common, including elk and coyotes. Weather conditions can change rapidly, with significant temperature drops at night even in summer. A visitor to Forest Road 5 noted, "The melting snow has the ponds and river overflowing, so many of the sites are flooded and inaccessible at the moment." Another camper highlighted the solitude: "If you seek solitude, this is the place!"

Best Dispersed Sites Near Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico (31)

    1. Arroyo Seco Dispersed NF Camping

    8 Reviews
    Valdez, NM
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 758-6200

    "No amenities except some great river side places. Dispersed camping along the road (though it’s not a busy one, especially not at night so not noisy) right on the river."

    "I car-camped here just before Labor Day weekend and while it wasn’t the most private camping area, I was able to snag a spot along the river and had a nice time."

    2. Dispersed Camping Near Taos

    4 Reviews
    Arroyo Hondo, NM
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 758-8851

    "Dirt road but we did it with no problem with our 24ft trailer."

    "A good dispersed campground with a few spots. Don’t drive to the John dun bridge from Taos use the longer route instead. The switch back road is blocked off now."

    3. Rio Grande del Norte National Monument

    3 Reviews
    San Cristobal, NM
    8 miles
    Website

    "Rio Grande del Norte National Monument is BLM land so it is all dispersed camping. You will need to make sure you aren't on someone's property or nearby any roads. There are plenty of turn offs. "

    "This is the most remote BLM site I’ve ever been too. Right at the edge of the Gorge, it is primitive—only saw one bathroom about 2 miles back."

    4. Rio Grande Bridge Overlook

    1 Review
    Arroyo Hondo, NM
    2 miles

    "A little more secluded than the spots next door and a little farther away from the edge of the cliff but still beautiful."

    5. Rio Grande Rivercamp by John Dunn Bridge

    1 Review
    Arroyo Hondo, NM
    3 miles

    "No camping spots next to the river. Had Verizon access."

    6. Cebolla Mesa

    1 Review
    San Cristobal, NM
    8 miles

    "Beware drive in can be muddy if raining 4wd recommended and AWD is fine too. Front or Rwd is doable but at your own risk. Bathroom Firepit Table There are only 4 available spots."

    7. Carson national forest

    1 Review
    San Cristobal, NM
    8 miles

    "We drove around Forest Trail 9 (FT9) until we found a great spot on the edge overlooking the Rio."

    8. Forest Road 5 - Dispersed campsite

    9 Reviews
    Angel Fire, NM
    20 miles
    Website

    "There are several sites along FR-5, though some might require high clearance or 4wd. "

    "No facilities. Crick 3x bigger now. Early May. So beautiful."

    9. Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 - Dispersed Camping

    5 Reviews
    Carson National Forest, NM
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 758-8678

    "There are a bunch of different roads you can turn off to camp on if you’re driving from Taos to Durango."

    "I tent-camped off of Carson NF Forest Service Road 578 in mid April 2022. FS 578 is south of Tres Piedras about 5 miles on the west side of Hwy 285."

    10. Rio Fernando de Taos - Forest Rd 5

    3 Reviews
    Angel Fire, NM
    19 miles
    Website

    "Just a handful of sites on this short road--one side of the road is fairly open but has the creek/river flowing nearby; the other side of the road is more in the forest and offers some shade and privacy"

    "Fairly accessible. We brought a pop up. Elk everywhere. We had a nice time"

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Arroyo Hondo, NM

51 Reviews of 31 Arroyo Hondo Campgrounds


  • Hayley K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 14, 2020

    Rio Grande del Norte National Monument

    Quiet beauty

    Rio Grande del Norte National Monument is BLM land so it is all dispersed camping. You will need to make sure you aren't on someone's property or nearby any roads. There are plenty of turn offs. 

    This isn't a "get away" more like a stopover spot. I stopped here on my way back North to Colorado to see the bridge over the Rio Grande and so I wasn't so high up in elevation that I would freeze. 

    But if you can find a quiet place it is a beautiful dispersed spot where there is civilization nearby and toilets at local businesses  and picnic areas that you can use. See map on review. 

    Be careful roaming at night. The drop into the river is quite deep so offroading isn't just ill advised for keeping the flora and fauna safe…but you as well. 

    There are picnic ares around the monument too, just not established camping spots.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2023

    Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 - Dispersed Camping

    Cold and quiet with good views

    There are a bunch of different roads you can turn off to camp on if you’re driving from Taos to Durango. We mapped Forest Road 578 and it took us to a dirt road with a lot of flat spots you can camp on. We spent the night there and it was very quiet and peaceful. If you keep going to Durango you’ll get to Carson National Forest, which is not too far from the coordinates on The Dyrt. That’s where more people are camping, you can pull off right before the 64H road marker. You’ll keep passing camping spots as you drive to Durango so you can really go almost anywhere!

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 30, 2024

    Forest Service 439

    Rough

    I pull a small trailer and the road in was rough. I was concerned about being able to turn around. When I got to the spot where there are six or eight camping spots, finding one suitable for a trailer was difficult, but I did it. This is more suitable to car camping.

    There is an open area that would be good for group camping. There are three or more RVs that appear to be permanent  features. That was strange. Looked like fishing camps. I didn't want to drive the steep road down to this area.

    Personally, I wish I had stopped a the forest service campsites up hill from this location, but if you are in a car and want to tent camp here, I don't see a problem,

  • Jacob  W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 21, 2022

    Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 - Dispersed Camping

    Primitive dispersed camping

    I tent-camped off of Carson NF Forest Service Road 578 in mid April 2022. FS 578 is south of Tres Piedras about 5 miles on the west side of Hwy 285. There are several dirt road turn offs but FS 578 is clearly marked with a brown NFS sign (see photo) and has no gate but there is a cattle guard/grate. Here is a NFS road use map that shows dispersed camping along FS 578 and many other NFS roads: https://www.fs.fed.us/r3/gis/mvum/Carson/CarsonTresPiedrasCanjilonElRito.pdf (see also screenshot). My Tacoma had no problem on the dirt road, which has ruts and might be tough for an RV. There were few clearings suitable for dispersed camping but I found a nice spot with a small fire circle in a small clearing on the south side of the road just past a fork in the road. I carried two black boulders over to serve as a table and chair. I didn’t see anyone else camping or driving by. The forest is a nice mix of sage, juniper, and pine trees. I saw two elk across a swath of sage. I could see the snow capped peaks of the Sangre de Cristo range on the eastern horizon when I walked farther up the road. It got cold at night, like 27 F. It was a nice waypoint on my trip between Gunnison CO and El Paso TX but it didn’t look like many people camped there. I had intended to drive to Taos the next day on Hwy 64, but didn’t.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 4, 2025

    Forest Road 5 - Dispersed campsite

    Beautiful area!

    We stayed here for 2 days at the beginning of June 2025.  There are several sites along FR-5, though some might require high clearance or 4wd.  When we stayed, the ground was still quite damp - I would have stayed longer, but there were 3 days of rain in the forecast, and I felt there was a significant risk of getting stuck.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 30, 2023

    Forest Road 558

    Okay Dispersed Camp Spot

    Wide open dispersed desert camping. FS-558 runs for several miles south of HWY-285. We stayed closer to the highway which is safer without 4WD. Higher clearance is helpful due to ruts in the road. There's a fair amount of trash, but plenty of spots without. Bummer that locals use public land as their private dumping area. The nights were quiet, other than occasionally coyote calls, which add to the ambiance. We had a few thousand acres all to ourselves for four nights while climbing on nearby El Rito walls.

  • Ron G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 9, 2023

    Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 - Dispersed Camping

    Tres Piedras area

    The location on Dyrt maps is wrong, forest service is NW of 285 & 64. Beautiful dispersed camping spots plentiful. Park ranger Melissa was the top notch. Couldn’t have been more helpful and friendly. Definitely stay there again.

  • jThe Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 1, 2021

    Tres Piedras Dispersed Site

    Great spot for dispersed

    No hookups. Not many people. You can spend 14 days there. Make sure you practice LNT and take some time to enjoy nature.

  • Meghan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 12, 2025

    Rio Fernando de Taos - Forest Rd 5

    Rio Fernando de Taos - Forest Road 5

    Really, really loved this spot--such a beautiful area. Just a handful of sites on this short road--one side of the road is fairly open but has the creek/river flowing nearby; the other side of the road is more in the forest and offers some shade and privacy. The melting snow has the ponds and river overflowing, so many of the sites are flooded and inaccessible at the moment. We had camped towards the end of the road near the turn around spot due to most sites being flooded. The animals are really coming out though--lots of birds and frogs chirping, ducks were swimming in the ponds, and we even had some elk pass through our camp! Cell service is sporadic in this area. Of course, no amenities here so pack out what you bring in.


Guide to Arroyo Hondo

Dispersed camping opportunities near Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico range from 7,000 to 10,000 feet in elevation across the Carson National Forest and Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. The region transitions from sage-juniper woodland to higher elevation pine forests. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing even in late spring, with substantial snowfall affecting campsite accessibility through May.

What to do

Fishing access: At Forest Road 5 - Dispersed campsite, camp near multiple creeks and ponds for fishing. "The sounds of rushing water, the birds and frogs chirping, and the elk walking through--it's really special right now," notes a camper who visited during spring runoff.

Hiking trails: The Cebolla Mesa area offers challenging canyon trails down to the Rio Grande. "Has a hiking trail 1.25 miles down along the canyon to the river, cactus and volcanic rock all the way down. Coming back up is tough, so pack light," explains a Cebolla Mesa visitor.

Hot springs access: Some campsites provide walking access to natural hot springs. "Made a quick walk down to the springs in the evening and watched the stars come out," reports a camper at Dispersed Camping Near Taos, noting the proximity to thermal features.

What campers like

Riverside camping: Many campers appreciate sites along waterways. "There are so many campsites to choose from, all along the Hondo Rio. It's peaceful and quiet," writes a visitor to Arroyo Seco Dispersed NF Camping.

Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse wildlife throughout the seasons. "Lots of wildlife, mostly elk and some deer. Frogs are chirping away," mentioned one camper at Rio Fernando de Taos - Forest Rd 5. Another noted, "We even had some elk pass through our camp!"

Privacy between sites: Many campers value the spacing between dispersed sites. "Widely spaced sites. Stunning canyon forest with beautiful open areas," notes a Forest Road 5 visitor. Another camper at Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 appreciated that it was "a nice secluded little forest road" where they "stayed one night and saw no one else."

What you should know

Road conditions: Many forest roads require appropriate vehicles. "AWD/4WD needed on the rutted rocky road," warns a visitor to Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578. Another notes, "RVs will not make it, so it's nice and quiet."

Seasonal accessibility: Spring snowmelt impacts camping options. "The melting snow has the ponds and river overflowing, so many of the sites are flooded and inaccessible at the moment," reports a Rio Fernando de Taos visitor in May.

Cell service variability: Connectivity varies widely across the area. "Cell service drops completely pretty soon after leaving the highway. I sporadically received some messages at my camp site but not reliably," notes a Forest Service Road 578 camper. Conversely, at Rio Fernando de Taos, a camper reported, "I somehow had 5g reception here on Verizon."

Tips for camping with families

Choose areas with amenities: Some areas offer minimal facilities. "No amenities here so pack out what you bring in," mentions a Rio Fernando camper. However, at Arroyo Seco, "There are toilets at some of the sites. Very clean," which can make family camping more comfortable.

Consider wildlife encounters: Wildlife viewing opportunities double as educational experiences. "The dogs love the river and to run through it. No one really bothers anyone," writes an Arroyo Seco Dispersed NF Camping visitor who brought "four dogs and 13 year old."

Weather preparedness: Temperature fluctuations can be severe. "Snowstorm two days after I arrived. Tent reduced by half," reports a Forest Road 5 camper who experienced a spring storm. Another noted, "Temps got down into the mid-40s -- even in July."

Tips from RVers

Site selection for leveling: Finding flat areas can be challenging. At Rio Fernando de Taos, one RVer advised: "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."

Road assessment: Scout roads before committing with larger rigs. "Solid road, no issue with 25ft travel trailer," reports a Rio Fernando de Taos visitor, while others note many roads are not suitable for RVs at all.

Seasonal timing: For free camping near Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico, timing affects accessibility. "The road can be a little bumpy, but there was numerous spots along the way... Some spots the entrance is steep, so be wary of small cars if it's muddy," advises a Forest Road 5 visitor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Arroyo Hondo dispersed camping located?

Arroyo Hondo dispersed camping is located in northern New Mexico, near Taos. It's part of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument on BLM land. The area features numerous turnoffs with dispersed camping options. Many campers access the area via Forest Service roads branching off Highway 285, with Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 being a notable access point about 5 miles south of Tres Piedras on the west side of Hwy 285. The area serves as a convenient stopover point for travelers moving between Taos and Durango.

What amenities or facilities are available at Arroyo Hondo dispersed camping?

Arroyo Hondo dispersed camping offers minimal to no amenities as typical with dispersed sites. There are no hookups, potable water, toilets, or trash services as noted at Tres Piedras Camp. Come prepared with everything you need, including sufficient water and waste disposal plans. Some areas like Rio Fernando de Taos - Forest Rd 5 offer natural features such as creeks or rivers nearby, and certain spots provide shade and privacy within forested sections. Cell service is available at some locations, particularly useful for those needing to stay connected while enjoying the wilderness setting.

What are the rules and regulations for dispersed camping at Arroyo Hondo?

Dispersed camping at Arroyo Hondo follows standard BLM regulations. Campers can stay for a maximum of 14 days, as confirmed at Tres Piedras Dispersed Site. Leave No Trace principles are strictly enforced - pack out all trash and minimize your impact. Avoid camping too close to roads, water sources, or on private property. Some access roads like Forest Road 558 run for several miles, with spots closer to the highway being safer for vehicles without 4WD. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as they change seasonally based on conditions.