Searching for the best camping near Carson National Forest, NM? Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Carson National Forest, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Carson National Forest and user-submitted reviews.
"Plenty of shade and lots of off road trails for driving/running/biking. No water. clean bathrooms (with toilet paper!!) only 30 mins or so from Taos."
"Pulled in around 4pm on a Saturday and only 1 other camper was here. A few vehicles were parked at the bathroom/trailhead, super friendly."
$25 / night
"Hamlet went to visit his fun cousins for the weekend -- Diego, Thelma, Louise, Frida, Ralphie, Sunnie, and others– all vintage campers available for rent at this amazingly cool space just outside of Taos"
"$10 tent camping in desert behind groovy glamper park. Fantastic people. In walking distance to Taos brewery Oasis. On the road to the gorge. Cool summer nights"
"Much more vegetation than you would expect from a campground close to town. The staff are friendly. The facilities were clean. The park is older but in an charming New Mexico way."
"If your wanting to get out and play in the snow or explore more in depth the beautiful culture of New Mexico, Taos has a little for everyone"
"There are a bunch of different roads you can turn off to camp on if you’re driving from Taos to Durango."
"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"
"This was a great site with fantastic access down to the trails along the Rio Grande. You can also walk pretty quickly down to the confluence, which offers some nice views of both gorges."
"You can walk down and swim in the river but you will need a swim once you get back up again!"
"Don’t drive to the John dun bridge from Taos use the longer route instead. The switch back road is blocked off now."
"Made a quick walk down to the springs in the evening and watched the stars come out. Awesome!!"
$30 - $50 / night
"Laundry, restrooms and convenience store are still closed due to Covid - much of New Mexico is still this way."
"This campground will be rated as a Basecamp — grounds that offer a comfortable home base that you’re happy to return to after a day of exploring the surrounding area."
"Amazing views and lots of hiking nearby."
"It is a steep trail, but the trail is very well maintained and has lots of places to stop to rest. The spring is like an Oasis and it dumps into the Rio Grande River."
"Right off the road, literally. it hidden behind some trees so the barrier between the site and road makes for a little privacy. Great spot for a day or two right next to a creek so you fall asleep to"
"Great hikes nearby & close to Arroyo Seco for a good market too."
"There are at least four established campground in the del Norte Wild Rivers Recreation area with La Junta being a walk-in and the others camping areas having the capability of parking really close to covered"
"You will need to make sure you aren't on someone's property or nearby any roads. There are plenty of turn offs.
This isn't a "get away" more like a stopover spot."
GuideNot a terrible campground but, I would not make the drive to stay here again. In my mind there are two sites worth the drive and they are (drumroll please) 13 and 15. If you are a very social person, this is your place. If you don’t want to watch your neighbors every move, skip this one.
LegendNothing wrong with this campground, per se...
The sites are large, and shadier than we'd have thought (we brought a patio umbrella all the way from Chicago and discovered our site was under a large pinion pine, go figure).
The pit toilets and the plumbed facilities are clean and maintained.
Open fires are not allowed.
But, we rarely saw anyone. One couple walking their dog and the camp host who we didn't meet until we were leaving. We joked that all the RV's were "Breaking Bad" meth labs, this being New Mexico. The sense of desolation is enhanced by the wind, the cawing of birds and occasional howls of coyotes or wolves (?). It was downright spooky.
Heron lake is currently at 25% capacity. Which means the boat ramp and marina are perhaps a mile from the current shoreline, dried up and one of the saddest sights you'll see.
However, it was a good base of operations for our trips to Chama to spend the day on the scenic railroad, as well as day trip into Taos.
ScoutIt’s $15 camping. Trash has to be brought miles down the road.
GuideLong and slightly rough dirt road entry. If it rains or storms you'll have a tough time getting out with a camper if you don't have a 4x4. Amazing views and the campground is right on the edge of the gorge. There are trails down to the Rio Grande. The Red River and Rio Grande meet up here. It is a tough switch back trail all.the way down but not to long so you should be fine. Take your time if you need. It is rough terrain. Pack it in pack it out. They do offer 1 toilet.
ScoutCampground is clean, quiet and right off the road
TravelerIts a bit of a drive from Taos on US 64 as the roads are twisty and you can't go fast. Much easier drive from Eagle's Nest. Multiple sites, we picked one on the left side of the road and aways a bit. Had a fire ring and no restrictions but we didn't have a fire as we didn't want to gather fire wood. Spot was level enough for us to make it work. Temps got down into the mid-40s -- even in July. You could kinda hear other campers in other sites but it wasn't invasive or anything. Area was very green and clean. Would camp here again.
GuideI've camped at this site several times now, and I don't know what it is but I sleep so soundly here. The road is in rough shape. Two pit toilets, not always well-maintained so check for toilet paper before you commit. The Sargeant is gorgeous. Good fishing opportunities, and I pretty much always see elk and/or mule deer.
There are pens for horses, and in the camping area I have 2-3 bars of service (Verizon). Much of the wildlife area does not have cell reception.
GuideThis spot was really beautiful. Went on a weekend, and there were plenty of other people around but there was enough space where it didn't feel too crowded. We drove in, but it's very popular with people traveling by river. Some larger sites fit campers/RVs.
ScoutThis camp spot is a great find! We wanted to stay close to Chama but not be crowded in an RV park and this is just the ticket. There are some deep potholes but our RV had no problem. There are two pit toilets. There are a few tall trees but not much shade. There's a bunch of level parking and setup was a breeze. Lots of space to park our rig! There is nice hiking and gorgeous views. It was absolutely silent all night long. There were a few people coming and going during the day, but it's really not crowded for as close to town as it is. We had the local Game and Fish constabulary come and make sure that we had the correct habitat stamp on our hunting licenses so that we had a right to be here. We were very glad that we found this place and it was a wonderful place to stay. Stayed two nights.
Camping near Carson National Forest, New Mexico, offers a mix of stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a family-friendly getaway, this area has something for everyone.
Camping near Carson National Forest, New Mexico, is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors. With a variety of campgrounds and activities, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Carson National Forest offers a wide range of camping options, with 181 campgrounds and RV parks near Carson National Forest and 33 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Carson National Forest is Cebolla Mesa Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 12 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 33 free dispersed camping spots near Carson National Forest.
Keep Exploring
