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."
$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."
"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."
"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."
"It has three lakes filled with trout. Lots of areas to explore. Plenty of wood to forage for. The campground is at around 9,000 foot level. Beautiful vistas. You will have to have four wheel drive."
ScoutPlenty of space for the truck and several tents. Nice fire pit. Overview of the canyon. Trailers probably can’t get here. Four-wheel-drive recommended.
RangerThis is also called buckle road. We only saw a few campers and the road goes 7 miles back. We found a spot at buckle road trail head and they had a vault toilet and fire pit! Elk and deer and nothing but peace. Not a soul around us for miles. Bugs wasn’t bad at all. And the drive up is gorgeous views. Take the short buckle trail to a lake and field! Well worth the hike! Photos in my review! Road isn’t bad and we didn’t need 4WD.
RangerThis is also county road 663. We only saw a few campers and the road goes 7 miles back. We found a spot at buckle road trail head and they had a vault toilet and fire pit! Elk and deer and nothing but peace. Not a soul around us for miles. Bugs wasn’t bad at all. And the drive up is gorgeous views. Take the short buckle trail to a lake and field! Well worth the hike! Photos in my review! Road isn’t bad and we didn’t need 4WD.
ScoutNice spot along the creek, probably 4-5 spots and a bathroom.
TravelerGreat spot and off the road was a road that led to many dispersed camping areas. Beautiful!!
LegendReally nice area but you can find better spots nearby without all the restrictions and people.
TravelerWe stayed here just after Memorial Day weekend in late May, and again in mid-June. Such a great campsite! Although at 8,000 feet of elevation, prepare for cold nights and intermittent rain, hail, and high winds, even during the "summer" season. We experienced day time temps of 70s - 80s and nighttime drops to the low 40s on both trips. There was a burn notice in effect in May, which was lifted for our June trip - probably because the significant afternoon hail storms on the first two days of our trip nicely saturated everything! ;) Day time weather was usually clear until noon, and then intermittent afternoon storms would set in, usually clearing by 6 pm. Basically, typical New Mexican mountain weather!
The sites are very well maintained, and the Camp Host was incredibly friendly and made regular rounds. FYI - there is NO cell signal at any of the tent sites, although we were able to get a signal (Verizon) within 50 feet of the ranger station if you need to check your phone.
A note about the various campsites. There are four main loops past the RV/electric hookup section. Loop 1 (sites 1 - 9), loop 2 (sites 10- 14), loop 3 (sites 16 -18), and loop 4 (sites 19 -30). Each of the four main areas have their pros/cons and would be ideal depending on personal preference.
Loop 1 - this is where we stayed in both May and June. It's the easiest walk to the lake, but also has the oldest vault toilet. This toilet locked itself a couple times after people left, and we had to ask the camp host to open it back up. Ultimately, he taped the lock in the unlocked position which worked fine. Several of the toilets have been upgraded throughout the site, but this one is still on the list.
Loop 2 - there's a playground next to site 14 and this is a GREAT loop for folks with kids. If you're not a kid person, you'd probably prefer a different loop.
Loop 3 - this is a beautiful loop with a brand-new vault toilet. With only sites 16, 17, and 18 sharing this loop, it seemed a little quieter.
Loop 4 - the final loop. Furthest away from the lake, you'll get less traffic from folks going up and down the road to their site.
Honestly, all of the sites are beautiful and your favorite site will depend a lot on personal preference. The river runs along the south side of the campsite road and we saw folks fishing - and catching fish! - at those campsites that backed up to the river.
This is a beautiful campground and we will definitely be back!
LegendNot yet open, gate closed.
LegendI liked this spot don’t get me wrong, it was beautiful and nestled in the mountains so very secluded and quiet BUT the poop that littered this campsite made this site basically uninhabitable. A bummer but when nature calls, literally, you gotta do what you gotta do.
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 159 campgrounds and RV parks near Canjilon, NM and 45 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 45 free dispersed camping spots near Canjilon, NM.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near Canjilon, NM that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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