Join the fun near Canjilon. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Find the best campgrounds near Canjilon, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
$10 - $80 / night
"There are nice trails that you can hike or mountain bike. Some are near cliff edges and not for the beginners. The lake is nice for New Mexico and sees a lot of use."
"Good views of lake & surrounding area from site. Vault toilet & drinking water a short walk away. Juniper provided minimal privacy. Site has lantern poll, fire ring, trash can & table."
"Rio Chama RV park in Chama, New Mexico, is at the intersection of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the upper Rio Chama. A nice place to stay May 1 thru mid October."
"It's an easy dirt road drive down the river and you will pass many dispersed site and a couple of defined camping grounds."
$20 / night
"Small campground next to U.S. Highway 84. There are 9 campsites with 3 small pull-throughs. I have seen large RVs in the day use area, not sure if this is tolerated. No services. "
"Hour outside of santa fe."
"Recommend arriving not too late to see if you can get a good spot, we didn’t have shade so had to go find a nice shady bench away from our site for eating lunch / relaxing after our hike."
"All in all we got three meals for our family of 4 and a nights stay while we hiked around trails on the property for less than $100 all in, and the food (upscale summer camp type) was very good."
"Make sure to print a map before you head in, as you’ll loose all forms of cell reception once you leave the main highway into Canjilon. The campsites have trees between, so a bit of privacy."
"4 small mountain lakes around two campgrounds. Lower campground is within walking distance to 2 lakes
We stayed at campground 3 which was on the top of the campground."
"Very nice little campsites, a couple different lakes in the area. Only one outhouse by one of the lakes, the rest dont have any."
"Seems a given, since it’s close to the river!
I found a site right next to the Rio and even though it was muddy, I still appreciated being able to get in to cool down a bit."
"One down side being close to the river is the bugs, literally thousands of them can make it unpleasant. Outside of that the spot on the river is fantastic for viewing pleasure."
$225 / night
"We had no clue that this gem was close to us we went for a quick weekend camp we were right next to the creek with amazing views of the mountains."
"Seems to be a common problem, which is too bad because it is a pretty place and convenient to the large rock climbing area nearby."
"there’s a fire ban, so it makes it hard to stay warm at night, but the stars are amazing. it’s quiet. it’s lovely. there’s canyon walls for miles. it’s really amazing. some of these pics are from the nearby"
"I've stayed here twice now since being in New Mexico. This site is right on the water, overlooks the canyon, and is close to a hike to the right side of the canyon through a dried up riverbed."
$15 - $35 / night
"If you are coming for the lake you maybe disappointed. With the drought, the lake level is very low and the shore line off in the distance. "
"The lake is dismally low as the boat ramps are totally not usable. I don't know when they were last usable and it looks like it has been a while."
LegendNothing wrong with this campground, per se...
The sites are large, and shadier than we'd have thought (we brought a patio umbrella all the way from Chicago and discovered our site was under a large pinion pine, go figure).
The pit toilets and the plumbed facilities are clean and maintained.
Open fires are not allowed.
But, we rarely saw anyone. One couple walking their dog and the camp host who we didn't meet until we were leaving. We joked that all the RV's were "Breaking Bad" meth labs, this being New Mexico. The sense of desolation is enhanced by the wind, the cawing of birds and occasional howls of coyotes or wolves (?). It was downright spooky.
Heron lake is currently at 25% capacity. Which means the boat ramp and marina are perhaps a mile from the current shoreline, dried up and one of the saddest sights you'll see.
However, it was a good base of operations for our trips to Chama to spend the day on the scenic railroad, as well as day trip into Taos.
TravelerThis is such a mixed review. We stayed here the weekend of July 26. We arrived Friday night and found a beautiful campsite on the right side of the entrance with a beautiful view of the canyon below. Watching the sunset over the ridge is breathtaking. We enjoyed our time until Saturday evening right about 8:30 where we were watching the sunset from the ridge. We heard one gunshot, followed by 6 gunshots and the sound of bullets whizzing past us. We immediately ducked behind the car. We had not heard any gunshots the whole day and did not see any hunting areas nearby. Where the sound of the bullets and gunshots were from it felt like someone was shooting directly at our campsite from beside us or in the canyon. We made it to the car and got out to the Hw 4 to flag someone down given that we had no cell service. A man stopped and told us that unfortunately that’s pretty common in the area and it was probably just some drunk assholes and it was not malicious. We were so shaken we could not stay there that night and packed up as quickly as we could. I enjoyed the beauty of this area but would not stay here again after this experience.
GuideLong and slightly rough dirt road entry. If it rains or storms you'll have a tough time getting out with a camper if you don't have a 4x4. Amazing views and the campground is right on the edge of the gorge. There are trails down to the Rio Grande. The Red River and Rio Grande meet up here. It is a tough switch back trail all.the way down but not to long so you should be fine. Take your time if you need. It is rough terrain. Pack it in pack it out. They do offer 1 toilet.
GuideI've camped at this site several times now, and I don't know what it is but I sleep so soundly here. The road is in rough shape. Two pit toilets, not always well-maintained so check for toilet paper before you commit. The Sargeant is gorgeous. Good fishing opportunities, and I pretty much always see elk and/or mule deer.
There are pens for horses, and in the camping area I have 2-3 bars of service (Verizon). Much of the wildlife area does not have cell reception.
GuideThis spot was really beautiful. Went on a weekend, and there were plenty of other people around but there was enough space where it didn't feel too crowded. We drove in, but it's very popular with people traveling by river. Some larger sites fit campers/RVs.
ScoutThis camp spot is a great find! We wanted to stay close to Chama but not be crowded in an RV park and this is just the ticket. There are some deep potholes but our RV had no problem. There are two pit toilets. There are a few tall trees but not much shade. There's a bunch of level parking and setup was a breeze. Lots of space to park our rig! There is nice hiking and gorgeous views. It was absolutely silent all night long. There were a few people coming and going during the day, but it's really not crowded for as close to town as it is. We had the local Game and Fish constabulary come and make sure that we had the correct habitat stamp on our hunting licenses so that we had a right to be here. We were very glad that we found this place and it was a wonderful place to stay. Stayed two nights.
ScoutAmazing views of Rio Grande and super quiet. Shade cover provided at every spot. Two tent spots and two RV spots at Montosa, and a clean drop toilet. You can walk down and swim in the river but you will need a swim once you get back up again!
GuideOne of the worst roads in I have experienced. Deep potholes are so pervasive that you can’t avoid them. No shade at all and it’s very hard to tell where to set up. I’m just glad I will only be here for one night.
TravelerBeware 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.
Cliffside camping, close to a market about 15 minutes away.
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. Decent gold panning area with swimmable spots.
All around great spot with a beautiful sunset.
Camping near Canjilon, New Mexico, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Canjilon, New Mexico, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. With beautiful landscapes and a variety of activities, it's a great spot to unwind and enjoy nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Canjilon, NM offers a wide range of camping options, with 161 campgrounds and RV parks near Canjilon, NM and 47 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Canjilon, NM is Riana - Abiquiu Lake with a 4.3-star rating from 20 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 47 free dispersed camping spots near Canjilon, NM.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near Canjilon, NM that allow camping, notably Abiquiu Lake and Carson National Forest.
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