Forest Road 568 offers primitive camping spots spread throughout Lincoln National Forest at approximately 8,000 feet elevation. The road extends about a mile with multiple dispersed sites on both sides, ending at a gated private property. Lincoln National Forest contains several camping options near Cloudcroft with varying levels of amenities and accessibility. Summer temperatures typically remain 15-20 degrees cooler than surrounding lower-elevation areas.
What to do
Wildlife viewing at night: Drive cautiously after dark when wildlife activity peaks on Forest Road 568. Camper Aly E. reports "We saw more elk than we could count! Just glowing eyes everywhere and all in the road" when arriving late evening at Forest Road 568 Dispersed Camping.
Dog Canyon hiking: Accessible year-round with varying difficulty levels suitable for dogs and most hikers. A visitor to Oliver Lee Memorial State Park Campground noted "Great sites, and the Dog Canyon hike is excellent. Quiet and friendly!"
Sensory trail experience: A specially designed nature trail with sensory elements for visitors of all abilities. A camper at Sleepy Grass Campground mentioned "This campground also has a special trail that was created for blind and deaf children, so it has signs with sensory additions. It was a really sweet spot."
What campers like
Cooler temperatures: The high elevation provides relief from desert heat, even in summer months. A camper at Deerhead Campground shared "Just a few minutes outside of the lovely village of Cloudcroft, this campground offers several sites, all with a bit of variety from the next. This is a great spot to escape the heat of the desert."
Wildlife encounters: Many visitors report seeing wild horses, elk and deer in campgrounds near Cloudcroft. One camper at Sleepy Grass Campground wrote "One of the highlights was that we got to see a wild stallion (according to the very friendly campground host) grazing in the campground while we were there."
Digital detox opportunity: Some sites offer limited connectivity for a true escape. A visitor to Lower Karr Canyon Campground described it as "The campsite itself is rustic, no amenities other than the pit toilet which is just fine...being deep in the canyon means that there's no cell signal unless you hoof it a fair bit up a hill."
What you should know
Seasonal weather considerations: Monsoon storms and winter snow affect accessibility. A visitor to Oliver Lee Memorial State Park advised "Oddly this popped up in my feed as a late 4th of July choice. Good God, no. I like heat and live in New Mexico...But for mid-summer? No, unless you're an infernal demon it's a bit warm those months."
Road conditions vary: Some access roads require careful navigation or appropriate vehicles. A camper at Lower Karr Canyon described the approach as "about 6 miles from the main highway at High Rolls, NM. The last 2 miles or so being rather rough dirt. Most cars should be able to make it if driven with care, though."
First-come basis: Most dog friendly campgrounds near Cloudcroft fill quickly during peak periods. At Deerhead Campground, a visitor noted "First come first serve. We showed up with a little daylight left. Found the perfect campsite that was close to the restrooms. The sites are spaced nicely where we didn't feel crowded even though the campground was probably 90% capacity."
Tips for camping with families
Pack for temperature fluctuations: Mountain evenings get cold even during summer. A camper at Bluff Springs Dispersed Camping recalled "We arrived in Cloudcroft NM around 7pm on Thursday the 6th got some last minute supplies at all sups gas station and headed to the ranger station just down the 130 Cox Canyon Hwy to get a map of the park."
Creek access for kids: Several campgrounds offer small streams for children to play safely. A visitor to Bluff Springs mentioned "There is a small waterfall that we could see and hear from our campsite and a creek for kiddos to play in."
Consider walking distance to facilities: Some sites require carrying gear from parking areas. A camper at Lower Karr Canyon noted "The sites are on the other side of a closed bridge, so you gotta carry your stuff a quarter of a mile or so for the sites furthest away from the parking area."
Tips from RVers
Size restrictions apply: Many mountain campgrounds have limited space for large rigs. A visitor to Forest Road 568 Dispersed reported "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. We should have have just stayed in the first location we found though. We went to the end of the road to find out that there was no way to turn our 29 ft trailer."
Water pressure warning: Bring pressure regulators when using hookups at established campgrounds. A camper at Alamogordo / White Sands KOA noted "water pressure is really high at around 155 psi. So definitely bring a regulator."
Scout pullouts before committing: Limited turnaround space makes advance planning crucial. A Forest Road 568 visitor advised "Road is a little rough but flattens out as you go up the hill. After the fork, sites big enough for a van or larger Class B but that's it...You might get something slightly bigger but not a lot of turnaround space for a bigger rig."
