Best Tent Camping near Chama, NM
Carson National Forest surrounding Chama, New Mexico offers several primitive tent camping options within its expansive wilderness. Upper and Lower Lagunitas Campgrounds in Tierra Amarilla provide walk-in tent sites with basic amenities during their June to October operating season. Los Pinos Campground, also in Tierra Amarilla, features tent-only sites situated along a river with vault toilets and fire rings. Elk Creek Trail in nearby Colorado offers spacious creekside tent camping with vault toilets and established fire rings. Cruces Basin Campground near Tres Piedras provides additional backcountry tent camping opportunities within the national forest system.
Most tent campsites in the Chama region feature dirt or forest duff surfaces with minimal grading. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended for accessing many of the primitive tent camping areas, particularly after rain when roads can become rutted or washed out. Vault toilets are available at established campgrounds like Upper Lagunitas and Los Pinos, but most dispersed sites lack facilities. Campers should bring all necessary water or plan to filter from natural sources. Fire restrictions vary seasonally, with complete bans common during dry summer months. Cell service is typically unavailable once leaving main highways, requiring advance planning for tent campers.
In early fall, tent campsites throughout Carson National Forest offer exceptional stargazing opportunities and fewer crowds. One visitor to Upper Lagunitas noted the campground is "very quiet, remote with space between sites. Best for tents." Campers at Canjilon Creek Campground reported the area has "three lakes filled with trout" and "beautiful vistas" at 9,000 feet elevation, though four-wheel drive is necessary to access the primitive tent sites. Wildlife viewing is abundant throughout the region, with one camper at Lower Lagunitas reporting sightings of "big Rams as well as an abundance of wildlife and plentiful bird watching." Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for fishing, hiking, and wildlife observation.
