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Best Dispersed Camping near Cloudcroft, NM

80 Reviews

Dispersed camping opportunities abound in the Lincoln National Forest surrounding Cloudcroft, New Mexico. Forest Road 568 offers numerous free primitive sites with established fire rings and access to hiking trails. Bluff Springs Dispersed Camping provides creek-side camping in a forested valley approximately 10 miles south of Cloudcroft off Sunspot Highway. Bailey Canyon and Forest Service Road 64 feature additional dispersed sites at elevations exceeding 9,400 feet, where campers report excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, including elk.

No amenities exist at these dispersed sites. Visitors must pack in all water and pack out all trash. Cell service varies significantly by location; Forest Road 568 maintains good AT&T and Verizon coverage, while Bluff Springs has no Verizon service. According to recent campers, Forest Road 568 sites can be accessed by most vehicles as "road conditions aren't all that bad," though some secondary roads require high-clearance 4WD vehicles. Several campers noted that Bluff Springs becomes "pretty packed in the summer months," making advance arrival advisable.

Weather conditions require preparation. The high elevation causes significant temperature drops at night, even in summer. One visitor in September reported temperatures "got cold at night" despite camping during warmer months. Winter camping is possible but challenging, with snow common from November through March. Campfires are generally permitted in established fire rings, and campers report "plenty of wood to make a fire." During periods of high fire danger, restrictions may be implemented. The Lincoln National Forest follows standard dispersed camping regulations: camp at least 150 feet from water sources, stay no longer than 14 days, and leave no trace of your visit.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Cloudcroft, New Mexico (23)

    1. Forest Road 568 - Dispersed Camping

    17 Reviews
    Cloudcroft, NM
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (575) 682-2551

    "You can get as far away from main roads as you need. There are infinite spots on this road. It’s quite long and the road conditions aren’t all that bad, so anyone can access it."

    "There was lots of really nice people staying at the sites at the entrance, but if you go further you can find some privacy. Less than a 5 minute drive from Cloudcroft."

    2. Bluff Springs Dispersed Camping

    17 Reviews
    Sunspot, NM
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 682-7570

    "This is a quiet area tucked away in Lincoln National Forest. It's not too far from Cloudcroft, NM so it's easy to resupply on water, snack, etc."

    "Dispersed camping along the bluff spring stream. A ton of campsites, and easy access to bluff spring and a trail complex. High clearance vehicle recommended, pretty packed in the summer months."

    3. Forest Rd 568 Dispersed

    8 Reviews
    Cloudcroft, NM
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (575) 682-2551

    "You can get as far away from main roads as you need. There are infinite spots on this road. It’s quite long and the road conditions aren’t all that bad, so anyone can access it."

    "This was a beautiful location, near the town of Cloudcroft. We enjoyed the cooler weather up in the mountains. It was peaceful and quite. There were not very many spaces available."

    4. Dog Canyon

    17 Reviews
    Sunspot, NM
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 525-4300

    "Main dirt road is fine, even for larger rigs. Side road that runs north/south may give you issues.

    Plenty of obvious campsites, many of which are level."

    "The turn off from the paved road is difficult to spot and the unpaved road is rough. High ground clearance recommended."

    5. Bailey Canyon

    1 Review
    Cloudcroft, NM
    2 miles

    "Very much so dispersed camping with no amenities. The road up was a little muddy but over all smoother and easy. We picked a spot at the highest point along Bailey Canyon Rd."

    6. Alamo Peak Rd

    1 Review
    Sunspot, NM
    7 miles
    Website

    "We have a 30 foot motor home and were so glad to find a dispersed spot in the mountains we could fit!

    Rim Trails and Alamo Peak Trails in walking distance."

    7. Lincoln National Park Forest Road 634 Dispersed

    1 Review
    Lincoln National Forest, NM
    6 miles

    "Follow sunspot highway to mile marker numbe 5, the forest road is right there. Once you enter take a left down the slope."

    8. Lincoln NF - Forest Service Road 64 - Dispersed Camping

    2 Reviews
    Sunspot, NM
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (575) 434-7200

    "We tent camped in mid September 2022 in the Lincoln National Forest south of Cloudcroft, NM off Forest Service Road 64. Over 9,400’ and it got cold at night. Saw one elk and heard more bugling."

    "Beautiful area off Davis drive, so many areas to camp. Some are restricted to motor vehicles but just keep driving down the gravel road and you will find something."

    9. Forest Road 634 - Dispersed Site

    1 Review
    Lincoln National Forest, NM
    6 miles
    Website

    10. Dry Canyon Near Hang Glider Launch

    1 Review
    Alamogordo, NM
    9 miles

    "However, the trail up to the camping spots is steep, washed out, and tight. Can be navigated with a stock 4x4 pick up. Also, there is a gun range at the bottom, so you'll hear gun shots til sundown."

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Cloudcroft, NM

46 Photos of 23 Cloudcroft Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Cloudcroft, NM

80 Reviews of 23 Cloudcroft Campgrounds

  • Jacob W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2022

    Lincoln NF - Forest Service Road 64 - Dispersed Camping

    Awesome dispersed camping

    We tent camped in mid September 2022 in the Lincoln National Forest south of Cloudcroft, NM off Forest Service Road 64. Over 9,400’ and it got cold at night. Saw one elk and heard more bugling. Plenty of wood to make a fire. Nice forest. We stayed at a spot on a meadow about 4-5 dispersed sites south of Sunspot Highway. Good times.

  • D
    Sep. 16, 2020

    Bluff Springs Dispersed Camping

    Awesome Dispersed Camping Spot

    This is a quiet area tucked away in Lincoln National Forest. It's not too far from Cloudcroft, NM so it's easy to resupply on water, snack, etc. You can camp right next to a creek and the valley makes for some great views. This area is basically everything you can ask for when dispersed camping. It's quiet and other than the occasional hiker, nobody else is around. There's plenty of hiking and just good times to be had. A quintessential camping experience.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 21, 2020

    Forest Road 568 - Dispersed Camping

    Generators and Chainsaws

    This is right off of highway 244. From CloudCroft take highway 82 east to highway 244 about half mile past designated campgrounds is a dirt road to the left. There is a large grass/dirt area right off the road on the left and a couple of spots further down. To the right there are a couple of more"secluded" spots though the generator noise and the chainsaws are still loud. One generator ran all night long. The chainsaw eventually stopped after the guy had maybe enough for a log cabin. 

    You can continue up the road which is a nice hike and there are a few more pull out site along the road. The road Ys and to the left are more sites that are private but the road is a bit rough. This place is FREE which we usually look for but this is probably one of the loudest we've been to. Both roads at the Y offer a nice hike with minimal traffic, there was only a single vehicle we came upon. Very nice.

    Good cell reception AT&T and Verizon. No water, garbage or bathrooms. PACK IN AND OUT! Multiple rock fire rings in random places as this is a dispersed camping area and watch out for the multitude of animal limbs and carcasses laying around from hunters.

  • Mitchell M.
    Dec. 11, 2021

    Forest Road 568 - Dispersed Camping

    Great Stay

    Needed a last resort spot to sleep and decided on finding a spot here. Visited in last day in November, so it was a bit cold at night. Since it was so late in the year I ran across 0 other people, and at night it was absolutely silent. You can get as far away from main roads as you need. There are infinite spots on this road. It’s quite long and the road conditions aren’t all that bad, so anyone can access it. You can tell where other people have been due to campfires. But if you visit anytime in the year I’m sure you’re able to find a spot, as they can extend up to 200ft back into the woods and have lots of area. About 5 min drive to main road and 8 minutes to cloudcroft. There was no trash, and also no amenities. I highly recommend this spot if you need somewhere free to stay extended or even one night if you’re visiting Lincoln. Coordinates are accurate

  • Mitchell M.
    Dec. 11, 2021

    Forest Rd 568 Dispersed

    Excellent Stay

    Needed a last resort spot to sleep and decided on finding a spot here. Visited in last day in November, so it was a bit cold at night. Since it was so late in the year I ran across 0 other people, and at night it was absolutely silent. You can get as far away from main roads as you need. There are infinite spots on this road. It’s quite long and the road conditions aren’t all that bad, so anyone can access it. You can tell where other people have been due to campfires. But if you visit anytime in the year I’m sure you’re able to find a spot, as they can extend up to 200ft back into the woods and have lots of area. About 5 min drive to main road and 8 minutes to cloudcroft. There was no trash, and also no amenities. I highly recommend this spot if you need somewhere free to stay extended or even one night if you’re visiting Lincoln. Coordinates are accurate

  • Abraham The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 1, 2021

    Bluff Springs Dispersed Camping

    Lots of options

    Dispersed camping along the bluff spring stream. A ton of campsites, and easy access to bluff spring and a trail complex. High clearance vehicle recommended, pretty packed in the summer months.

  • Jacob W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2020

    Bluff Springs Dispersed Camping

    Potentially good

    Bluff Springs is nestled in a pretty forested valley with a creek and falls in Lincoln National Forest about 10 miles south of Cloudcroft off Sunspot highway on Upper Peñasco Road. There’s a gravel parking lot with bathrooms but no campground. We tent camped Sat, Aug. 1, 2020, arriving about 2pm. There were many people camping and it was difficult to find a spot along the road with dispersed camping sites. We had to camp in thicker grass among cow dung because the mowed sites were taken. Still, life outside is better, right? It stormed much of the day and night but Sunday morning dawned clear and we took a short 1-mile hike from the Bluff Springs trailhead to the Willie White trailhead. There are longer hikes too. There were some camping trailers but no big RVs. Upper Peñasco Road is narrow in parts. A decent place.

  • Mark G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 21, 2024

    Dry Canyon Near Hang Glider Launch

    Great camping. Difficult terrain. Gun range at the bottom.

    The camping is great and the views are amazing. However, the trail up to the camping spots is steep, washed out, and tight. Can be navigated with a stock 4x4 pick up. Also, there is a gun range at the bottom, so you'll hear gun shots til sundown. Also, a little highway noise is present in the distance.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 12, 2019

    Bluff Springs Dispersed Camping

    Lovely little spot in the Lincoln NF

    This is a little pull-off area in a very populated National Forest. It can get pretty crowded so hiking in is important. The car-camping and RV camping is right on the road.

Guide to Cloudcroft

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Cloudcroft, New Mexico, where nature lovers can enjoy serene landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities without the constraints of traditional campgrounds.

Wildlife Watching while Free Camping near Cloudcroft

  • At Forest Road 568 - Dispersed Camping, visitors often spot majestic elk and deer while driving in, making it a prime location for wildlife enthusiasts.
  • The area around Bluff Springs Dispersed Camping is known for its rich biodiversity, where campers can enjoy sightings of hummingbirds and other local fauna.
  • Those camping at Dog Canyon can expect a peaceful environment with plenty of opportunities to observe birds and other wildlife in their natural habitat.

Scenic Views for Dispersed Campers

  • The stunning vistas at Lincoln NF - Forest Service Road 64 - Dispersed Camping provide a breathtaking backdrop for any camping experience, especially during sunset.
  • Campers at Bailey Canyon can enjoy panoramic views from elevated spots, perfect for photography and relaxation.
  • The picturesque landscapes surrounding Alamo Peak Rd offer a tranquil setting for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Hiking Trails for Adventurous Campers

  • The area near Dry Canyon Near Hang Glider Launch features steep trails that lead to stunning viewpoints, ideal for those seeking a challenge.
  • Campers at Forest Rd 634 - Dispersed Site have access to numerous hiking paths that wind through the beautiful Lincoln National Forest.
  • The trails around Hornbuckle Hill provide a great opportunity for exploration, with various routes suitable for different skill levels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities and facilities are available at dispersed camping sites near Cloudcroft?

Dispersed camping sites near Cloudcroft typically offer very minimal amenities, following the true dispersed camping experience. At Dry Canyon Near Hang Glider Launch, you'll find amazing views but no facilities, and access requires a 4x4 vehicle due to steep, washed-out trails. Some locations like Bluff Springs Dispersed Camping have a gravel parking lot with basic vault toilets, but no other amenities. Most sites have natural features like creeks for water (which should be filtered) and abundant firewood. You'll need to pack in all supplies and pack out all trash. Cell service varies throughout the area, and nearby Cloudcroft (typically within 10-15 miles of most sites) offers opportunities to resupply with water, food, and other necessities.

Where can I find dispersed camping areas near Cloudcroft, NM?

Lincoln National Forest offers several dispersed camping areas near Cloudcroft. Lincoln NF - Forest Service Road 64 - Dispersed Camping is located south of Cloudcroft at over 9,400 feet elevation with 4-5 dispersed sites in a meadow area. Another option is Bluff Springs Dispersed Camping, located about 10 miles south of Cloudcroft off Sunspot Highway on Upper Peñasco Road, offering camping along a creek in a forested valley. Additional dispersed camping can be found on Forest Roads 568 and 634. Most of these areas are accessible via dirt roads, though high clearance vehicles are recommended for some locations, particularly during wet weather.

Is free camping available in Cloudcroft, NM and what are the options?

Yes, free camping is readily available near Cloudcroft in Lincoln National Forest. Forest Road 568 - Dispersed Camping offers free sites right off Highway 244. From Cloudcroft, take Highway 82 east to Highway 244, and about half a mile past designated campgrounds, you'll find a dirt road with multiple dispersed sites. Forest Road 634 - Dispersed Site is another free option with drive-in access. These areas operate under standard Forest Service dispersed camping rules: stay within 150 feet of roads, practice Leave No Trace, and limit stays to 14 days within a 30-day period. Winter camping is possible but can be very cold, with temperatures dropping significantly at night at these higher elevations.

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