Looking for the best campgrounds near Cañones, NM? There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Cañones. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
$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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
$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."
$20 - $50 / night
"There are trail heads that are a short walk from the campground including a 1.5 mile trail to the visitor center
The spots have picnic table and fire rings, there is potable water and vault toilets throughout"
"Shuttle bus takes you to visitor center Where ruins are and access to trails. There is a lovely 2 mile trail from campground that you can also walk to center. Ruins are interesting."
"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."
$20 / night
"This is one of the places to camp in New Mexico"
"**Campground Review: **
Imagine 1.25 Ma ago an eruption blew apart the landscape of Northern New Mexico that would rival the shear volume erupted by the world famous Yellowstone hotspot! "
"New Mexico is just beautiful and this park really brings that to life. Its a great place for fishing, camping, hiking and breath taking river veiws. Love every picture I took here."
"It's actually only 10 miles off the main road, & 6 miles after the pavement ends, but Google took us down the wrong path."
GuideLong, bumpy one-lane dirt road. 2-5mph the whole way. No shoulder. No way to back up or turn around. Lots of ruts and washouts. Only a couple of turn-arounds way up the mountain. Not good for trailers. Best for high clearance or 4x4. Several walk in campsites if you have a small vehicle. If you make it to the top, there’s a handful of nice campsites that you can drive into. We made it, but it was rough! 56 minutes to drive 3.4 miles.
TravelerFound a great spot here, stayed a week and it’s like we had the whole place to ourselves. If you go left from the entrance, be prepared for a rough ride. I would say tent camping only. Go right and there are plenty of spaces to choose from. Los Alamos is only 15 minutes away.
TravelerWe’ve had a great time at the campground. The sunsets are amazing! Full hook ups, clean campground, laundry, dog park, walking trail that goes around campground Sites are a little close but they have a nice concrete patio with table and chairs. Friendly staff! Would definitely come back!
GuideThis area is in the Santa Fe National Forest and is managed by the Cuba, NM ranger district. It is widely disbursed with lots of shaded and sunny areas. It is fully primitive so come prepared. The nearest water would be at the Rio de Las Vacas or San Antonio campgrounds on hwy 126. We have camped here dozens of times and it never disappoints. There are 50 or more established sites with primitive fire rings near the junction of FR 103 and FR 69. A bit of exploration will uncover so many more great sites.
TravelerI found this campground on the Dyrt before visiting Los Alamos, NM. I checked out the website a little bit too, but didn’t see that reservations could be made ahead of time. Everything I read on the Dyrt said it was first come first serve. When we got here, there was a QR code on the electrical box that took me to an online reservation site. I called the parks department and the lady I talked to said they changed it about 6 months ago and it was no longer first come first served. Luckily she was able to tell me which two sites were available for the time I wanted to stay, and I was able to get it reserved online after that. There were several sites that were empty, and stayed that way overnight into the next day, even though they were “unavailable” online. Someone else kept changing their spot to try and have more room, so I’m guessing a lot of people still assume it’s first come. If you don’t want to risk it, make a reservation ahead of time.
The park (parking lot) is very basic with electrical hookups at each site. There is a dump station and a water station to fill tanks as well. The spaces are pretty narrow, so an awning can’t be fully extended. All spaces are pull-through and have plenty of room for long rigs and vehicles. Some spaces are decently level, but others need leveling blocks.
There’s a dog run area with artificial turf and a water pump and bowl. It was clean and well kept.
There is a shuttle area with bathrooms nearby, but the bathrooms were locked and there was no shuttle service when we were here.
Overall, this was a good short-term RV park for our quick visit. It had everything we needed.
TravelerClose to main roads but quiet flat and wide spots. Several fire spots (3-5 didn’t count all). We had neighbors we could see but all are pleasantly spaced. Heading west in 64, turn right at the water tower that is just past Ranger station.
TravelerI loved it because it was next to a little river and the sites are so spaced out!
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.
LegendReally nice area but you can find better spots nearby without all the restrictions and people.
Camping near Cañones, New Mexico, offers a mix of stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures. Whether you're looking to hike, fish, or just relax under the stars, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Cañones, 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, Cañones, NM offers a wide range of camping options, with 149 campgrounds and RV parks near Cañones, NM and 46 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Cañones, NM is Riana - Abiquiu Lake with a 4.3-star rating from 20 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 46 free dispersed camping spots near Cañones, NM.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 parks near Cañones, NM that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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