The equestrian camping options near Canjilon, New Mexico provide limited dedicated horse facilities, though several campgrounds in the broader area accommodate riders with horses. Based on available data, none of the campgrounds specifically advertise horse corrals as an amenity, requiring riders to bring portable corrals or high-line systems. Rio Chama Campground and Ghost Ranch allow pets, which typically extends to horses with proper management, though specific equine policies may vary.
Trails accessible from these campgrounds connect to the Carson National Forest system, offering varied terrain for day rides. When planning horse camping trips in this region, riders should contact campgrounds directly to confirm current equine policies and trailer parking availability. The free dispersed camping along Forest Service Road 151 near Rio Chama offers more space and flexibility for horse trailers compared to the established campgrounds, though without dedicated equestrian amenities. Water access points along the Rio Chama provide natural watering opportunities for horses, but riders should bring supplemental water supplies during drier seasons when river levels may be lower.
"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."
"The campground is situated in a beautiful setting and area right at Ghost Ranch."
"The whole ranch has been turned into a top notch facility with campgrounds and motel rooms, horses for rent, classes, and great hiking. The campground is large with several interconnecting loops."
"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."
"My wife and I have stayed at Hopewell Lake twice now. The first time we stayed here, we stumbled upon this little gem of a site while driving from Durango, CO to Taos, NM."
"No luck fishing but several people around us were catching very nice sized trout. Vault toilets were well stocked and clean."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $125 / night
"Many open areas to camp right off the highway. The views of the mountains across the valley are best after the fork in the road. Please pick up extra trash if you use"
"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’ve been coming to Fenton Lake for camping with family since I was little and we’ve always loved it. It’s beautiful and well taken care of."
"We typically come up to Fenton Lake once a year and last year was fantastic however this year the park rangers aren’t that friendly (or that helpful)."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $15 - $90 / night
"The drive in is easy on Route 17 and does not require a vehicle with high ground clearance. They do allow campfires, they have clean bathrooms and a shower house."
"Close to lots of fishing and hiking in the area. Beautiful place to watch the sunset and the stars at night. Nice and quiet at night."
"The location is isolated and you need to bring plenty of water. The advantage is being able to walk into the Gorge, which if you fly fish, is an amazing thing."
"Bring your own water, their "well is broken" as of Oct. 2026, so if you run out you're looking at a 20 mile drive round trip to buy a couple gallons at the local grocery store."
"Red Lake hike was awesome and easy."
from $20 - $65 / night
TravelerAll the campgrounds in the wild rivers area are very well maintained, the sites have sturdy pavilions, picnic tables and grills. Sites are nicely spaced and some have amazing canyon views. Vault-style toilets that are kept clean and stocked. Bring your own water, their "well is broken" as of Oct. 2026, so if you run out you're looking at a 20 mile drive round trip to buy a couple gallons at the local grocery store.
TravelerThe campground is situated in a beautiful setting and area right at Ghost Ranch. Campground has sites that are gravel and not very level, as others have noted, making it a bit of a challenge (site 16 in particular). Also note that some electric hookups are 20A only, not 30A. Full hookups at front of campground; tent only at rear. Showers were great and heated; laundry and bathrooms clean. Host and staff friendly. Lots of great hiking trails within walking distance of the campground. 2 small museums worth visiting. We paid $50 for electric hookup. Meal plan is now $50.
LegendSome good hikes, corral (horseback rides), museum, pack in pack out, & bring your own water (drought conditions; there is water available but don't rely on their water if for no other reason to support their conservation of it--don't recall any water hookups). Friendly staff. Did not avail ourselves of meal plan. Beautiful night skies. Still in mid to upper 90s in September (hot in afternoon). Beware that winds can gust suddenly & hard, including strong dust devils (a devil came through & tore up some tents & sunshades including mangling aluminum frames of some shades).
GuideA very nice area for camping. During the rainy season there might even be some water in the creek. But there is a crowded area when you first turn into the road. There was about 20 RVs there when I drove past. They were shooting guns pretty late into the night. Further up the road the sites thin out. The easy access ones fill up quick. If you have some ground clearance there are a few more options.
LegendLet me start by saying I love that this place was once inhabited by the phenomenal artist Georgia O'Keeffe and there are some cool things to do on the ranch.... But....
This was one of the worst campgrounds I've ever stayed in. The sites are uneven, the campground layout makes no sense, the hook-ups are on the wrong side and some of the sites just piled up on each other.
I booked two nights hoping for a nice experience at the Ranch, but was sorely disappointed. I did enjoy walking the labrynith and seeing the library. I didn't have time for a workshop or guided tour.
The camp host was super nice. There were showers. The laundry left my clothes with a weird chemical smell. Would not recommend camping here, but definitely visit the ranch, especially if you are a Georgia O'Keeffe fan.
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!
TravelerOur truck broke down 1 mile from the ranch and we weren’t sure what to do so I hopped on my mountain bike and rode to the welcome center. I met a wonderful lady who offered a gentleman who worked there to help me. He grabbed his truck and towed me and my trailer to the campsite. We ended up staying there for about five or six days while the truck was being fixed in Albuquerque. Couldn’t have broken down in a better place. The scenery is beautiful and the people are nice. It’s true they had meal plans, but we were prepared to camp off grid so we didn’t need anything. Instead, we enjoyed the views and the museum and the, swimming pool and horseback riding. Completely unplanned. It’s probably important to know this is not a remote campsite because there’s lots of amenities and if you’re the kind of person looking for a flat asphalt pad to park is your camper on them, you might wanna move on. We definitely love this place and would recommend it to anyone looking for secret little area to chill out. The vibe was perfect. looking forward to coming back.
GuideIf you're in the area and they have availability, it's hard to beat Ghost Ranch for value. RV spots with hookups are $45 a night!
Most guests stay in housing/lodging, so the ranch has a dining hall that serves three meals a day. $16 per person per meal but $30 for three meals on a "meal plan" whe you book, and kids eat for free! 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.
Georgia O'Keefe lived in the property for a while, so there's a lot of history about her, and there's a small dinosaur and anthropology museum on site.
Chimney Rock hike is not to be missed!
GuideThere 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!
Equestrian camping near Canjilon, New Mexico offers access to the Carson National Forest at elevations ranging from 8,000 to 10,000 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 70-85°F during the day but can drop below 45°F at night. The region's diverse terrain includes meadows, pine forests, and numerous fishing lakes that freeze over during winter months.
Fishing at local lakes: Seven fishing lakes are located within 5 miles of Canjilon. "The trout fishing is fun and always a success at the lake. We've only stayed at the developed camp ground once, and it was nice especially with the toilets," notes a camper from Hopewell Lake Campground.
Riverside activities: Many camping sites provide direct access to waterways. "We were able to find a very private spot with easy access to the river! We will be visiting again. Great for our dog too," shares a camper at Oak Point Campground about their experience along the Rio Chama.
Hiking mountain trails: Explore hiking trails that connect throughout the national forest. "We took several easy but longish hikes and it's just beautiful. Lots of birds, wildflowers and we even saw a beaver on the lake!" reports a visitor to Fenton Lake State Park.
Stargazing opportunities: The remote location provides exceptional night sky views. "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," notes a visitor to Carson NF Forest Service Road 578.
River camping: The sound of flowing water enhances the camping experience. "Very peaceful location listening to the river all night," explains a reviewer about Oak Point Campground.
Privacy and seclusion: Many sites offer separation from other campers. "A cozy private campsite! Chama canyon is our weekend go-to place. Only 2 hrs from Albuquerque. Many campsites available (some are dispersed) along the river," describes a camper at Rio Chama Campground.
Weather conditions: Mountain weather can change quickly. "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," warns a camper from Fenton Lake State Park.
Cell service limitations: Most camping areas have limited or no connectivity. "Cell service drops completely pretty soon after leaving the highway. I sporadically received some messages at my camp site but not reliably," explains a camper at Carson NF Forest Service Road 578.
Road conditions: Access to some sites requires appropriate vehicles. "The dirt road is easy for all cars/trailers," shares a review about Little Arsenic Springs Campground, while others note rougher terrain.
Kid-friendly campground loops: Some campgrounds have areas specifically suited for children. "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," advises a camper at Fenton Lake State Park.
Water activities: Floating opportunities delight children and adults alike. "We had a great time camping by the river over Memorial Day weekend. Definitely have some sort of raft or kayak or SUP to put in the river upstream and float down to the boat ramp or to your campground," suggests a visitor to Oak Point Campground.
Educational activities: The area offers hands-on learning experiences. "We even made objects from the clay in the river. Then fired them in the camp fire," shares a camper from Ghost Ranch.
Limited hookup locations: Only certain campgrounds offer RV amenities. "Pull through sites have great shade and full hookups with 30 or 50 amp electrical service. Spacious tent sites with full service restrooms nearby," notes a visitor to Ponderosa Campground.
Check-in procedures: Some campgrounds have specific registration requirements. "If you aren't familiar with the park and campground, it could be easy to take a wrong turn if you're trying to find your own way. And that would be no fun in an RV," cautions a camper at Fenton Lake State Park.
Space considerations: Not all sites accommodate larger vehicles. "RVs will not make it, so it's nice and quiet. AWD/4WD needed on the rutted rocky road," explains a reviewer about Carson NF Forest Service Road 578.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Canjilon, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Canjilon, NM is Rio Chama Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Canjilon, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Canjilon, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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