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Top Equestrian Camping near Carlsbad Caverns, NM

55 Reviews

Are you an equestrian lover who prefers a more rustic experience when you visit Carlsbad Caverns? Equestrian camping is an adventurous and unique way to experience the city. Search nearby equestrian campsites or find top-rated spots from other campers.

Best Equestrian Camping Sites Near Carlsbad Caverns, NM (4)

  1. Camper-submitted photo from Carlsbad KOA

    1.

    Carlsbad KOA

    38 Reviews
    54 Photos
    116 Saves
    Carlsbad, New Mexico

    From the KOA website: Kick back with family and friends at this beautiful desert oasis built in 2000. This award-winning KOA is big rig friendly: All sites are huge 30/50-amp pull thrus with free Wi-Fi and free cable TV. The staff will spoil you as you enjoy the 2,000-square-foot community room, meals delivered to your site, a beautiful commercial laundry, outstanding restrooms, a fenced dog park and a heated pool. From this KOA in the heart of SE New Mexico, visit Carlsbad Caverns, Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park, Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area, Roswell's International UFO Museum and White Sands National Monument. Check out the Robert H. Goddard rocket collection at the Roswell Museum and Art Center and the "Billy the Kid" history at the campground. A horse hotel also is available. See how this KOA is going green with the help of a wind turbine. Pool: March 15 - October 15. Max pull thru: 75 feet. Your hosts: Scott, Susan and Brian Bacher.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access
  2. Camper-submitted photo from Dog Canyon Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

    2.

    Dog Canyon Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

    13 Reviews
    52 Photos
    14 Saves
    Dell City, Texas

    Overview

    Dog Canyon is a 70-mile drive from the nearest town of Carlsbad, New Mexico and is 110 miles from the Pine Spring Visitor Center & Campground (a 2 hour drive time). Before booking a reservation: It is your responsibility to review all (Site Details, Allowable Equipment, Allowable Vehicle/Driveway and Need to Know) for the individual campsite. Failing to do so may result in being prohibited from occupying the site upon your arrival. Refunds are not provided by the park. Dog Canyon Campground lies in the secluded, forested canyon on the north side of Guadalupe Mountains National Park at an elevation of 6,300 feet. It is located at the end of NM Hwy. 137 (Queen Highway). This quiet location is great for relaxing, wildlife watching and hiking.____ The campground is open year-round and is busiest, March-May and September-November.

    Recreation

    Trails from Dog Canyon offer good access, with relatively easy grades, to the high country of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.__ The hike to Lost Peak is 6.4 miles round-trip, is considered strenuos and has 1500___ elevation gain.__ The hike to Marcus Overlook is 4.5 miles round-trip, is considered moderate with an 800' elevation gain.__ The Indian Meadow Nature Trail near the campground is 0.6 miles and winds around a grassy area surrounded by a mix of broadleaved evergreens, deciduous trees, and pines.

    Facilities

    The campground features 13 sites total with 9 tent, 4 RV sites and 1 group site available by reservation.____ Campsite occupancy is limited to 6 persons or 2 tents, per site. The group site allows 10 -20 persons.__ No open fires (this includes portable propane fire rings and charcoal) are permitted anywhere in the park. Only cooking stoves or lanterns using containerized fuel are permitted. Tent sites are hike-in only (61___ ___ 178___ from parking) and cannot accommodate RV parking. Each site offers a tent pad and picnic table.____ RV sites are gravel with picnic tables.____ No shower facilities, hookups or dump stations.__ Dog Canyon is remote. Fuel your vehicle and purchase supplies before heading to the park.____

    Natural Features

    The Dog Canyon Campground is in an area with wooded drainages, meadows, and grassy hillsides and sparsely vegetated outcrops. Large alligator junipers, oaks, maples, madrones, pi__on and ponderosa pine are in and near the campground. Shrubs include ceanothus, sumacs, mahonia, and mountain mahogany. Desert-adapted plants include a variety of prickly pear cactus, agave, and chollas. Western scrub jays, acorn woodpeckers, and a variety of hummingbirds frequent the area. Mule deer are commonly seen. Algerita ridge casts morning shade, and cool mountain air settles in the canyon bottom nightly. Daytime highs are similar to the Pine Springs area, but nighttime lows can be much cooler. Views of the night sky are pristine. During the Permian Period, shallow marine water that was behind the Capitan Reef, created a series of layers of limestone and sandstone. Faulting and subsequent erosion created the canyon. Nearby topographic features include Lost Peak, Blue Ridge, West Dog Canyon, and the Brokeoff and Cutoff Mountains.

    Nearby Attractions

    Carlsbad Caverns National Park: In addition to a variety of cave tours, the national park also offers hiking trails and a scenic drive. Rattlesnake Springs and Slaughter Canyon, part of Carlsbad Caverns are nearer attractions for day use activities. Birding is excellent at Rattlesnake Springs. Lincoln National Forest: The Guadalupe District of the Lincoln National Forest is located just over the state line, north of the national park. Road access is through New Mexico, north of White___s City, via Dark Canyon Road to NM SR 137 through Queen (also the way to the national park___s Dog Canyon). The forest provides for various camping, hiking, caving, hunting, and picnicking opportunities. Sitting Bull Falls is a nice waterfall and picnic area in the Lincoln National Forest. Five Point Vista is a glorious ridge road ride of the area, closer to Dog Canyon. Fort Davis National Historic Site and State Park: Fort Davis is one of the best surviving examples of an Indian Wars' frontier military post in the Southwest. From 1854 to 1891, Fort Davis was strategically located to protect emigrants, mail coaches, and freight wagons on the Trans-Pecos portion of the San Antonio-El Paso Road and on the Chihuahua Trail. This is located about 2.5 hours south of the park. A state park is located nearby with camping and a scenic drive. Also located in Fort Davis is McDonald Observatory with several programs available. White Sands National Park: Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. White Sands National Park preserves a major portion of this unique dunefield, along with the plants and animals that live here. Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site: Hueco Tanks State Park is located on the east side of El Paso, about an hour and a half from the Guadalupes. At Hueco Tanks, you can hike, rock climb, bird watch, study nature and history, picnic and stargaze. Visitors can take guided and self-guided tours to view rock imagery.

    contact_info

    This location has limited staffing. Please call (915) 828-3251 for general information.

    Charges & Cancellations

    Individual Site: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you modify your reservation or change your stay dates. Cancelling your reservation prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time two nights before your stay will incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.__Camping reservations cancelled the day before and day of arrival incur a $10 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. If you need to cancel or modify your reservation, you must do so through Recreation.gov. Group Site: Customers who cancel a group overnight reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee & forfeit the first night's use fee.

    • Pets
    • RVs
    • Tents
    • Group
    • Equestrian
    • Standard (Tent/RV)

    $60 / night

  3. Camper-submitted photo from Pine Top Wilderness Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

    3.

    Pine Top Wilderness Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

    3 Reviews
    14 Photos
    16 Saves
    Salt Flat, Texas

    The extra distance to the Tejas Wilderness Campground is worth the time for those who wish to stay in a more densely forested surrounding. The tall trees provide deep shade in the morning and late afternoon and protection from high winds aloft. Centrally located, the Tejas campground is 5.5 miles from Pine Springs trailhead or 6.2 miles from Dog Canyon.

    • RVs
    • Tents
    • Equestrian
    • Cabins
    • Tent Cabin
    • Glamping
  4. Camper-submitted photo from Frijole Horse Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

    4.

    Frijole Horse Campground — Guadalupe Mountains National Park

    1 Review
    2 Saves
    Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas

    Camping is authorized for overnight horse users only at the Frijole House Campground. The visitor horse corrals and campsites must be reserved up to 60 days in advance of the visit. This camping area is immediately adjacent Highway 62/180 on the Frijole Ranch access road. The Frijole Horse Corrals have a capacity of 10 animals.

    • Reservable
    • Tents
    • Equestrian
    • Trash
    • Drinking Water
    • Toilets

    $15 / night


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55 Reviews of 4 Carlsbad Caverns Campgrounds