Northern New Mexico's Canjilon area sits at approximately 7,500 feet elevation, offering moderate summer temperatures averaging 75-80°F during peak camping season. Several RV campgrounds near Canjilon, New Mexico remain open seasonally, with most facilities closing between mid-October and early May due to winter conditions. The area receives limited cell service, with connectivity strongest near larger towns like Taos and Chama.
What to do
Fishing access: Chama River RV Park & Cooper's El Vado Ranch provides direct river access for anglers. "The Chama river is beautiful with fishing on the property or a short walk to quality waters," notes one visitor who considers the area "always a family favorite."
Explore historic railways: Rio Chama RV Park sits within walking distance of Chama's historic train station. "The Cumbres & Toltec steam train goes by the campground twice a day at the trestle," shares a camper who found the experience "definitely worth staying."
Visit Taos attractions: Taos Valley RV Park & Campground provides convenient access to cultural sites. "This location is so prime for visiting all the sights in Taos, and there are many. Old Town Taos is 3 miles away," reports one reviewer who found restaurants "really close enough to walk to."
What campers like
Natural surroundings: Sky Mountain Resort RV Park offers peaceful riverside settings. "The river flows next to the grounds and the trees provide lovely shade," notes a reviewer who found the campground "beautiful and peaceful."
Clean facilities: LUXX - Taos RV Park maintains high cleanliness standards. "Modern and very clean bathrooms and showers! Dog friendly, with a small dog park to boot," writes one camper who appreciated the "friendly and attentive" manager on site.
Spacious sites: Monte Bello RV Park provides room to spread out. "Their sites are very wide and spacious, the views are outstanding," according to a reviewer who rated the site layout 5/5 and noted the "grounds are gated with a passcode which offers nice assurance."
What you should know
Winter closures: Most Canjilon area RV parks operate seasonally. "We stayed early January so place was less than half full," notes one Taos Valley visitor, while Rio Chama RV Park operates from "May 1 to mid Oct" and Sky Mountain's season runs "May 15 to October 15."
Road conditions: Some access roads require careful navigation. "The lot is a bit messy but all worked great for our stay," notes a Cottonwood RV Park visitor about the approach conditions.
Cell service variability: Questa Lodge & RV Resort and surrounding campgrounds offer inconsistent connectivity. "The wifi was better than average the entire time, it was a little spotty at times but we were consistently able to stream and upload large videos without fail," reports a Monte Bello camper who stayed near the office.
Temperature fluctuations: Evening temperatures drop significantly even in summer. "The weather is perfect in the summer!" exclaims a Rio Chama visitor, though nights can cool considerably due to the elevation.
Tips for camping with families
Wildlife viewing: Rio Chama RV Park offers opportunities to see local fauna. "Chipmunks & Birds... River access from 7 am-dusk," notes a visitor who appreciated the natural setting despite being "a little close to the road."
Pet-friendly options: Most RV parks welcome dogs with designated areas. "There is a nicely fenced doggy area," reports a White Rock Visitor Center RV Park guest who appreciated this amenity at the $20 per night facility.
Water activities: Questa Lodge provides water features beyond just hookups. "Lovely duck and geese ponds and river walk, also dog park. Grounds are well-kept and healthy & green (lots of trees, shrubs, beautiful walk by river)," shares a visitor who found the environment "very quiet and affordable."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: White Rock Visitor Center RV Park offers limited connections. "There is 50 and 30amp only connections. No water or sewer. There is a dump station and RV fresh water fill station," explains a visitor who found it "a nice quiet RV stop."
Leveling requirements: Many sites require equipment for proper setup. "Sites are all sloping downhill toward the Fire Station, you will very likely need to use blocks if you don't have a mechanical leveling system," warns a White Rock visitor who noted "the slope is greater toward the Fire Station."
Reservation systems: Campgrounds have varying booking processes. "When we got here, there was a QR code on the electrical box that took me to an online reservation site... they changed it about 6 months ago and it was no longer first come first served," explains a recent White Rock visitor who initially found outdated information.
Spacing considerations: RV sites vary in size and proximity. "The spaces are wide and angled enough to allow for great views! There are no trees, so you will be using your AC and awning when it's hot out," notes a Monte Bello visitor who appreciated the thoughtful site arrangement.
