Best Tent Camping near Cliff, NM
Tent camping opportunities near Cliff, New Mexico span from established campgrounds to more primitive sites within the surrounding Gila National Forest. Lake Roberts offers tent-friendly campsites where visitors can enjoy fishing and paddling access to the lake, while Black Canyon Campground provides a more secluded tent camping experience with access to Gila trout streams. Lower Scorpion Campground, situated near the Gila Cliff Dwellings, provides basic tent sites with some walk-in options.
Road conditions to tent sites vary significantly across the region, with several campgrounds requiring high-clearance vehicles for safe access. Rocky Canyon Campground, located on Forest Road 150, features sites along a mountain stream but requires careful navigation on rough forest service roads. Vault toilets are available at most established campgrounds including Lower Scorpion and Black Canyon, though few sites offer potable water. Most tent areas include fire rings and picnic tables, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply during drought conditions. One visitor noted that Lower Scorpion has "designated spots around installed fire pits with grills" but lacks water and electricity hookups.
The tent camping experience in this region offers unique access to wilderness areas and archaeological sites. Willow Creek Campground provides tent campers with mountain views and access to the continental divide trail, though the access road is described as "very sketchy" with single lanes on cliff edges. The Gila Lower Box Canyon area offers more adventurous tent campers a true wilderness experience along the river corridor, where primitive sites can be found near cliff edges. According to one camper, this area is "one of New Mexico's truest oases" offering unique opportunities to observe wildlife including coatimundis and diverse bird species. Tent campers should be prepared for variable weather conditions, including potential afternoon storms even during summer months.
