Top Horse Camping near Capulin, NM

Do you love the outdoors and horses? If you're looking for a rustic but comfortable experience, horse camping in Capulin is the way to go. Whether you own a horse or are joining a tour group, equestrian camping is an adventurous and unique way to experience the city. Find New Mexico equestrian campgrounds with ease on The Dyrt.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Capulin, NM (2)


Recent Equestrian Reviews In Capulin

8 Reviews of 2 Capulin Campgrounds


  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Soda Pocket Campground — Sugarite Canyon State Park
    May. 17, 2024

    Soda Pocket Campground — Sugarite Canyon State Park

    Very easy to get to off of I-25

    Traveling from Denver to Southern New Mexico, this is a nice stopping point. Very easy to get to off I-25.

    Pit toilets are very clean. Unfortunately the camper next to me had his generator running the whole time until 10 pm. Even when they left their camper for the day. Very annoying. Other than that it was a quiet campground. The campground is less than half full (Tuesday night). 

    Note: The park office closed at 4. The sites are reservation only and there is no cell service. The sign at the gate states that you need to drive down the road to get cell service and make a reservation. Also the gate closes at dusk, so make sure you get there before then on your first night. After that you can get the combination to get in after dusk. 

    The campground staff were very friendly and helpful.

  • Mary C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Soda Pocket Campground — Sugarite Canyon State Park
    Aug. 15, 2023

    Soda Pocket Campground — Sugarite Canyon State Park

    Sugarite Canyon Soda Pocket

    Nice state park tucked into a valley. We were in the last part of Soda Pocket loop. Great views of area but it does catch the wind! Vault toilets were super clean and not smelly. Very dark at night so great for star viewing.

  • M
    Camper-submitted photo from Soda Pocket Campground — Sugarite Canyon State Park
    Jul. 7, 2023

    Soda Pocket Campground — Sugarite Canyon State Park

    Perfect for a Weekend

    This State Park is beautiful, with hiking/fishing/historic walks galore. We arrived late on Friday, June 23 after a 10 hour drive from Arkansas. We were in Site #23 in the Soda Pocket Campground.  Every site had a covered picnic table and was relatively level.

    Sites 20-23 have spectacular views of the canyon, but you trade that for some serious wind and neighbors as there is no natural shade.  Sites 1, 3, 14 and 16 have shade and a little more distance.  Bathrooms were in great shape, and there is a free shower near the park entrance which had good water pressure and was very clean.

    The visitor center is small but with a lot of good exhibits, and adjacent to the hiking trails of the abandoned coal camp and mine.  The coal camp trails have lots of informative stands explaining what everything was, how the people lived, etc.  The two lakes (Lake Alice is more like a pond) have nice walking paths. There is another lake just across the Colorado border and you can drive to the parking area just a mile or so away.

    There are numerous nature hikes, and I did the short (.5) miles Vista Grande Nature Trail which has a beautiful bench for a sunrise view.  Uphill some but not too strenuous and with lots of information.

    A really beautiful hike is the Little Horse Mesa Trail which takes you to the top of the mesa you can see to the north of Soda Pocket Campground.  It meanders a bit but at some point the trail builder said "I've given you all the switchbacks I can, you'll just have to go straight up" and the last 50 yards are pretty much straight uphill.  When you get to the top though it's like another world.  It's a pasture like setting with trees, and beautiful views from a trail that follows the cliffs. You'll have to make your own way over to the Lake Maloya overlook but it's well worth it.  Highly recommend this.

    The camp hosts and visitor center people were great, and the ranger came by one night and showed a group of kids a mountain lion pelt and a bear pelt. There was a report of bears on the road up to Soda Pocket Campground but we did not see any.  The road was a typical dirt road, and not in bad shape at all.

    I'm not a fisherman, but could easily spend two full days here hiking alone, much less fishing or kayaking Lake Maloya.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Soda Pocket Campground — Sugarite Canyon State Park
    Jun. 1, 2023

    Soda Pocket Campground — Sugarite Canyon State Park

    Soda Pocket Campgound Review

    Made advanced reservation for site 17 in Soda Pocket Campground. Driving up the unpaved road to this campground was no problem. Site 17 was in a corner by itself, distant from other sites. It's a pull-thru site. Level enough for our campervan. Nice patch of nature behind the site. Site has a shelter over the picnic table. Site also has a bear box & fire ring. Trash & recycling receptacles at campground. Two vault toilets; very clean with toilet paper. No potable water. Restroom/shower house across from state park visitor center is very good. Fantastic camp hosts at Soda Pocket. Park law enforcement ticketed a rowdy group of campers. Nice hiking trails in state park. Fishing opportunities in park.

  • J
    Camper-submitted photo from Soda Pocket Campground — Sugarite Canyon State Park
    May. 28, 2022

    Soda Pocket Campground — Sugarite Canyon State Park

    Soda Pocket - worth the drive up the mountain!

    We stayed at Soda Pocket in mid-May 2022.  Actually we had reserved site 06 in the Lake Alice campground, because it was full hookups, but upon arriving at Lake Alice we confirmed what another reviewer had said - it's a tightly packed campground, very close to a busy road and not close to the lake itself.  On top of that, there was a boil water notice for the water hookups, and to top it off, the utility hookups for Site 06 are on the *Wrong* (i.e. the passenger) side of the rig, given the orientation of the driveway for backing in.  Put all that together and we decided to forego our reserved site and see if we could do better up at Soda Pocket on top of the mountain.  The campground host at Lake Alice warned us that the road up to Soda Pocket was treacherous and without guardrails, but we disregarded this warning and took our chances...

    Man are we glad that we did that!  The view from Site 23 was incredible of the canyon below.  And we arrived just as a thunderstorm was passing to our east, and witnessed an incredible double rainbow over the canyon.  The pics don't even do it justice.  There's great hiking and viewpoints from Soda Pocket, and the so-called "treacherous" road up to the campground is gravelly and a bit steep in a few places, but very passable (there was a Class A rig up there, and a number of 30+ ft 5th Wheelers as well).  The sites were well spaced, and Site 23 was fairly level and wide, easy to back in.  It looked like Site 18 is a nearby pull-through site that still offered nice views even though it's situated more in the middle of the campground circle.  

    Overall this state park was extremely cool, kind of off the beaten path, and well worth the visit!  Check out Soda Pocket, it's worth the drive up the mountain!

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Clayton RV Park
    Feb. 11, 2022

    Clayton RV Park

    Great stop off highway

    Stopped overnight. Campground close to Highway near schools. Bathhouse had hot showers. Also had Wi-Fi. $31 for 30 amp hookup. Site was level did not unhook.

  • Angie S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Soda Pocket Campground — Sugarite Canyon State Park
    Aug. 1, 2021

    Soda Pocket Campground — Sugarite Canyon State Park

    Great Campground

    We very much enjoyed our time here. It was beautiful. A dry campground with no hookups and no water (water is available at the lower Lake Alice campground and showers st the park entrance). Vault toilets were clean, sites nicely spread out with covered picnic tables, fire circles and bear boxes to store your food and supplies. Highly recommend!

  • e
    Camper-submitted photo from Soda Pocket Campground — Sugarite Canyon State Park
    Jul. 23, 2021

    Soda Pocket Campground — Sugarite Canyon State Park

    Amazing Campground

    Amazing site with all of the amenities. Nice, clean bathrooms and SHOWERS! Gazebo over the picnic table to help you out if you visit during monsoon season like us. Best sites 22-25 with beautiful views overlooking the canyon. Potable water across from lake Alice Campground. Firewood for $5 from campsite leaders. Rangers and campsite leaders are so nice and even gave us dishwashing soap when we forgot ours! No problem with bugs or animals and site was PERFECT!



Guide to Capulin

Camping near Capulin, New Mexico, offers a mix of stunning views, unique wildlife, and a variety of campgrounds to suit different needs. Whether you're looking for a quick overnight stop or a longer stay, there are plenty of options to explore.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Nature Walks: Enjoy the beautiful trails in the area. Campers have noted that the hiking trails around Soda Pocket Campground are great for exploring. One reviewer mentioned, "There are numerous nature hikes, and I did the short Vista Grande Nature Trail which has a beautiful bench for a sunrise view."
  • Fishing: Many campgrounds, like Lake Alice Campground — Sugarite Canyon State Park, offer fishing opportunities. A visitor shared, "The lake is pretty with what seems to be good fishing judging by how many locals were there casting lines in the water."
  • Wildlife Watching: The area is known for its diverse wildlife. Campers at Lake 13-Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge have enjoyed spotting various waterfowl, with one camper stating, "Nothing fancy but great views of the lake and always some amazing waterfowl."

What campers like:

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the breathtaking views. One visitor at Raton Pass Camp & Cafe said, "The views are the best part about this campground!"
  • Clean Facilities: Many campgrounds, such as Lake Alice Campground, are praised for their cleanliness. A reviewer mentioned, "Showers were very nice for a campground. They were actual showers, not just concrete or dirty tile."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers appreciate the welcoming atmosphere. At Capulin RV Park, one guest noted, "The couple running the park are very nice. Bathrooms are clean."

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Lake 13-Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge, have minimal facilities. A camper pointed out, "No shade, no potable water, no electric, no sewer. True boondocking site."
  • Reservation Requirements: Many sites are reservation-only, especially at Soda Pocket Campground. One visitor advised, "The sites are reservation only and there is no cell service."
  • Proximity to Highways: Some campgrounds are near busy roads, which can lead to noise. A reviewer at Raton Pass Camp & Cafe mentioned, "Although we had a view of the mountains, we also had a view of Highway 25 (and could hear highway noise)."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Campgrounds with Activities: Look for campgrounds that offer family-friendly activities. Lake Alice Campground has hiking trails and fishing opportunities, making it a great spot for families.
  • Pack for Comfort: Since some campgrounds lack amenities, be prepared. A camper at Capulin RV Park noted, "The water is off for the winter season but they do have water to fill your tanks if you wish."
  • Plan for Quiet Time: Choose quieter times to visit popular spots. One family at Raton KOA mentioned, "The campground was clean, older but well maintained. It is very much residential though."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Some campgrounds have tight spaces. A reviewer at Summerlan RV Park said, "The pull-through sites are very very close together but it was organized and orderly."
  • Be Ready for Limited Services: Campers at Soda Pocket Campground noted, "There is no cell service. The sign at the gate states that you need to drive down the road to get cell service."
  • Utilize Dump Stations: Make sure to use dump stations when available. A visitor at Raton Pass Camp & Cafe appreciated the clean facilities, stating, "The bath/shower house was very clean and there was laundry available for a very reasonable price."

Camping near Capulin, New Mexico, offers a unique experience with plenty of opportunities for adventure and relaxation. Whether you're in an RV or tent, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions