Top Free Dispersed Camping near Arroyo Seco, NM

Recent Dispersed Reviews In Arroyo Seco

41 Reviews of 28 Arroyo Seco Campgrounds

• 

  Julie K.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 27, 2024

  Forest Road 558

  Good enough for an overnight

  We parked a little further off 285 than most people so the road noise was minimal. A car drove past us on the dirt road in the morning which was surprising but nothing more. There was a rotting animal smell once in a while but we didn’t smell once inside. No toilet. Someone left a small fire ring. The road was rutted, don’t go if it’s wet. Fine for overnight lodging but I wouldn’t hang out there.

• 

  Melissa J.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 18, 2024

  Arroyo Seco Dispersed NF Camping

  Absolutely Gorgeous

  There are so many campsites to choose from, all along the Hondo Rio. It's peaceful and quiet. We brought our four dogs and 13 year old. There's so much to do to keep them busy. The dogs love the river and to run through it. No one really bothers anyone. There are toilets at some of the sites. Very clean. We had storms while camping. At least six rock/mud slides on the road. I don't know who, but someone managed to clean it all up in record time. We've had a great time, even with the rain and hail. We will definitely come back.

• K

  Kayla D.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 8, 2024

  Forest Road 558

  Dispersed Sites FSR558

  A good amount of dispersed sites off of FSR558. I just pulled off to one of the closer sites but looked like tons of other sites were further in on the road. Really quiet even with the highway close by. Great stars at night, decently clean (the sites that I saw). You could probably make it in a 2WD vehicle for the first few sites but it gets a bit more rugged as you continue in.

• 

  Timothy N.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 29, 2024

  Dispersed Camping Near Hopewell Lake

  Plentiful dispersed options

  We spent a few nights in the dispersed area near Hopewell .  We rolled in at 5 and had plenty of sites to choose from.  We chose one of the lower areas, with one large open space surrounded by smaller sites.  There were many more up the road, and there was constant traffic headed uphill until about 9PM.   Once the traffic stopped it was very quiet, only the cattle calling through the trees.  It rained for several hours and our spot stayed solid.  Some offshoot roads were rutted out. The main road had minimal rocks and holes, didn't get very muddy.  TMobile\Google mobile service worked well enough.  Verizon did not work.

• 

  Erika L.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 14, 2024

  Mallette Creek North

  Peaceful

  Even with a couple and a new born up the hill I never heard them from our campervan! Serene surroundings and even and beautiful place to camp during a thunderstorm!

• M

  Mark P.

  Traveler

  

  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,

• 

  Chris E.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 29, 2024

  Dispersed Camping Near Hopewell Lake

  Lots of sites in high elevation and shaded area.

  This dispersed area is close to Hopewell Lake and Campground where there is fishing and vaulted toilets. The Continental Divide Trail goes right through this location.

• 

  Jacob T.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 29, 2024

  Sanchez Stabilization Reservoir

  A nice place!

  The scenery was beautiful, but very windy at times. Also the person that stayed before me left a lot of trash in the fire pit, so we cleaned that up before the campfire. It’s also loud with the 18 wheelers driving down the main road. If you’re camping in a van or camper shell, it’s probably not a big deal. If you roof top tent camp or regular tent camping, it gets loud.

• 

  Walter T.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 7, 2024

  fs road 438

  Pot creek

  Great site with shade and sun, water from creek, could possibly hold 3 med. Sized rv's. About 10 miles south of taos nm. And about 1 mile off pavement

• 

  Wild Berries B.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 5, 2024

  Tres Piedras Camp

  On the way out from Mesa Verde NP

  We found this place randomly. Seen all the road exits of the Carson National Forest on our way to Taos we said “let’s give it a try!” And we found apparently a fairly popular place. It may be due to available internet connection (which we greatly enjoyed it after weeks!) or just a lower altitude spot that may help with physical activity and weather temps. At any rate, easy and short access to the camp sites via gravel sandy road, some with fire rings and camp tables, leveled grounds for trailers and lots of pine trees for privacy. There are signs for trailheads and pretty rock formations that will need to be explored next time. We stayed a night and enjoyed it to the fullest. Highly recommended, especially as nights get nice and chill (vs. hot day temps) for good sleep.

• 

  Erik B.

  Guide

  

  May. 24, 2024

  Road 710 Dispersed

  Off road Fire service road

  Tons of Boondocking spots.

  Not ideal for long wheel base as it’s an out and back without turn around spots.

  Best pull outs are to the left as the road forks after the cattle guard.

• 

  DL M.

  Legend

  

  May. 23, 2024

  Sanchez Stabilization Reservoir

  Lakeside dispersed camping

  Clean washrooms. Cement picnic tables. About 4 nice camping sites around the lake. Quiet windy. The van is rocking around. Hold onto your car doors when you open them. Two bar LTE mobile service.

• 

  Brittani M.

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 20, 2024

  Arroyo Seco Dispersed NF Camping

  Peaceful, clean sites

  As a dead end (there is the Taos ski resort up further, the best spots are before the ski resort) there wasn’t much traffic. One of the cleanest campsites off a road I’ve been to! Plenty of brush if you want to start a fire. There is no Verizon service.

• M

  Mogo G.

  Traveler

  

  Mar. 17, 2024

  Forest Service 439

  Good shit.

  I work seasonal(may-oct) jobs and found out about this site from freecampsites.net, i stayed here with a frequency (abiding to the rules but frequently). There are 4 places to park on the lower section and 3 on the upper section, most spots can fit multiple cars. A little stream is near by-- a little shallow and a little mucky on the bottom, but really refreshing. The stars are incredible, also some beautiful views of the mountains from the lower section. The road in is a bit sketchy at times, but as long as you are mindful of potholes you should be good-- my minivan made it with ease.

  There are some family reunions which took place while i visited and they dont really follow the rules which sucks. One family had their stuff on the land for over a month i noticed, they had fires when not permitted, trash scattered, and they had atvs which would tear up the place a bit... other than that though this place is amazing and close enough to town if youre a seasonal worker and need a good home base. AT&T service was crap, i think one time i got 1 bar of service for a second but i bumped my phone and lost it.

  Last thing i will say is be cognizant of fires and flooding, both can happen here! Happy camping folks :)

• m

  madeleine H.

  Scout

  

  Nov. 11, 2023

  Dispersed Camping Near Taos

  Great spots all with gorge views

  One thing is that you MUST approach from the west, you can’t get here coming from the east over John dun bridge. Dirt road but we did it with no problem with our 24ft trailer. Make sure you go all the way to the coordinates as there are a ton of great spots off to the left of the road, plenty of room to spread out and some solidly flat spots. Made a quick walk down to the springs in the evening and watched the stars come out. Awesome!!

• 

  Jennifer H.

  Guide

  

  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!

• J

  Joseph W.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 4, 2023

  Forest Road 5 - Dispersed campsite

  Good Free Spot!

  Got there late so we just pulled into the first site we saw. Woke up to a little creek behind us. More people were camping on down the road. And had a few people show up in the morning to go on a walk.

• 

  Nessie C.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 17, 2023

  Arroyo Seco Dispersed NF Camping

  Great spot for an night or two

  Right off the road, literally. it hidden behind some trees so the barrier between the site and road makes for a little privacy. Great spot for a day or two right next to a creek so you fall asleep to the sound of it, not wasn’t a gentle creek, but lovely all the same. trees to put up a hammock. Fire pits but they were off limits do to fire season . Would definitely recommend .

• B

  Bruce L.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 13, 2023

  BLM Orilla Verde Recreation Area

  Nice campsite on the Rio Grande river

  We stayed one night in Rio, bravo, Campground. This campground is not dispersed camping, because there is water and electric in some sites. There are a few sites where a 30 foot or larger rig will fit.

• 

  Popeye8843

  Scout

  

  Jul. 5, 2023

  Arroyo Seco Dispersed NF Camping

  Lost on private roads

  Led me to dirt, private road after 3 attempts! I don’t give up easily but 3 xxx you’re out! Bad gps guidance here and also another site as well! Will not continue with app, trial/pro or otherwise!

• 

  PJ M.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 5, 2023

  Rio Fernando de Taos - Forest Rd 5

  Headwaters of Rio Fernando de Taos

  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.

• C

  Charlie O.

  Traveler

  

  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.

• B

  Butch K.

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 14, 2023

  Dispersed Camping Near Taos

  NOT a campground

  As you can see in the pictures, camping is not allowed here. The icon of the tent with a red line going through it indicates that they would prefer if you do not camp in this place. The other signage indicates that this area is for launching your white water rafting craft if you have the necessary equipment and skills. This entry in the database was not vetted very carefully.

• 

  Ron G.

  Scout

  

  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.

• a

  andrew H.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 8, 2023

  Mallette Creek North

  Beautiful, busy

  This is a gorgeous campsite just north of Red River. While the drive up is laborious and on a rickety road, there were a dozen large RV’s waiting at the site which had no trouble getting in.

  The site is stunning—verdant mountains, a babbling brook, unobstructed views of a lush valley. The trees are fantastic, and there are at least two excellent hiking trails.

  Downside: when I camp, I want some degree of privacy and silence. This place feels like a tailgating party. At no point did I not hear a generator. Friendly people, but no different than a state park, save for fees and amenities.

• K

  Kala J.

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 26, 2023

  Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 - Dispersed Camping

  Private and beautiful

  A nice secluded little forest road. RVs will not make it, so it's nice and quiet.

  AWD/4WD needed on the rutted rocky road.

  Stayed one night and saw no one else.

  Multiple pulloffs for unmarked campsites, but the one I picked was right off the road.

  Cell service drops completely pretty soon after leaving the highway. I sporadically received some messages at my camp site but not reliably.

• J

  Jacqueline L.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 15, 2022

  Arroyo Seco Dispersed NF Camping

  Roads, the real name, but great views!

  All camping spots here are right off the roads where you can find one or two spots that are less close. Arroyo Seco is the town close to the camping, but you keep going straight from the coordinates to get to Cuchillo de Medio and Cuchillo. It’s not truly “dispersed” camping because there aren’t many sites and your pretty close to your neighbors. Cuchillo Del Medio does have some fire pits, picnic tables, and a bathroom. You do get to camp right on a clear river that is beautiful!