Best Equestrian Camping near La Joya, NM

Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel offers specialized facilities for traveling equestrians and their horses near La Joya, New Mexico. The property features dedicated horse stalls with exercise areas, allowing riders to safely house their animals during overnight stays. Stables are maintained in clean condition with adequate space for horses to move comfortably. Horse trailer parking is available with convenient pull-through access for larger rigs. The campground accommodates both RVs and tent campers with full hookup sites that include water, electric, and sewer connections. Highway noise from the nearby interstate is noticeable but generally not disruptive to horses accustomed to traveling. Sites are accessible and the park is clean with mature trees providing shade throughout the property.

Trail riding opportunities exist within reasonable driving distance from Kiva, with several equestrian-friendly public lands in the region. Water Canyon Campground, located approximately 30 miles southwest, offers primitive camping with horse access and connects to forest service roads suitable for riding. The Manzano Mountains area provides additional options for day rides on established trails with occasional equestrian traffic. Trail riders often encounter free-roaming cattle in outlying areas, which typically pose no problems for experienced horses. The campground is positioned for convenient access to Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, though not all refuge trails permit horses. Horse owners should carry their own water supplies as drinking sources are limited at primitive sites. The relatively mild climate allows for extended camping seasons, with most horse-friendly areas remaining accessible from April through November.

Best Equestrian Sites Near La Joya, New Mexico (4)

    1. Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel

    4 Reviews
    La Joya, NM
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 861-0693

    "Kiva RV Park is just a 5 minute drive from the NWR, so we stayed there on a Friday night, so we could get up bright and early for our hiking the next day."

    2. Water Canyon Campground

    13 Reviews
    Magdalena, TX
    28 miles
    Website

    "You don't often find free developed camping at the end of a paved road in New Mexico, but Water Canyon is one of those exceptions. "

    "Every year, we drive from Texas to Apache National Forest. Cibola is halfway. Every year, we make sure to stay the night at Water Canyon. First: the views. Secondly, the amenities."

    3. Red Canyon Campground

    8 Reviews
    Mountainair, NM
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 847-2990

    "Nice kid-friendly trails adjacent to the campground. We had a nice shady site, some others seemed more exposed."

    "However, though there are bathrooms at the location, they are really smelly and flies surround them."

    4. Manzano Mountains Camp

    2 Reviews
    Mountainair, NM
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 346-3900

    "Took awhile to get here, well off the beaten path. Ponderosa Pines, oak and juniper scrub. Ample supply of downed trees to use as firewood. Gets muddy if it rains."

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near La Joya, NM

27 Reviews of 4 La Joya Campgrounds


  • Patrick B.
    Oct. 16, 2022

    Water Canyon Campground

    Can't beat the price (for now)

    You don't often find free developed camping at the end of a paved road in New Mexico, but Water Canyon is one of those exceptions.  It seems to be one of those spots that people don't take the time to get off the highway to explore -- on a weekday in July there was only one other campsite occupied.

    There are about a dozen campsites, vault toilets, trash cans, a group campsite at the bottom of the hill and easy access to some great hiking trails, all about ten minutes outside of Socorro and an hour from Albuquerque.

    While the campground is free for now, I did see some notices posted about the Forest Service taking public comment on levying a $10 per night fee per site.

  • J
    Aug. 19, 2020

    Water Canyon Campground

    A solid stop

    Every year, we drive from Texas to Apache National Forest. Cibola is halfway. Every year, we make sure to stay the night at Water Canyon. First: the views. Secondly, the amenities. A level spot, with a fire ring, table and maintained vault toilets for $0. The most spacious spots are the first two, after that a six man tent is the largest tent you’ll fit on a level spot. We have never really explored further than our camp site, as our children are small and out number us. But for 12-36 hours, it is a beautiful stay that includes campfires, lizards and the occasional equestrian that lets our kids treat their horses. Treasured memories, unplugged and free.

  • Reuben
    Nov. 3, 2020

    Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel

    Humble but still pretty nice

    We live in Albuquerque, but wanted to spend a day hiking the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. Kiva RV Park is just a 5 minute drive from the NWR, so we stayed there on a Friday night, so we could get up bright and early for our hiking the next day.

    The folks running the place were very friendly. Led us to our spot and made sure everything was okay for us. It's a fairly humble place...gravel roads and parking spots. No concrete to be seen. Each slot has a fairly wide planted area, but this is not patches of green lawn. They have mature native trees and shrubs that are well maintained. Plenty of big cottonwood trees provided shade. The place is clearly run on a low budget, but is well maintained and there is pride in the work here. When we visited, it appeared to be nearly full, and it felt like perhaps 50/50 mix between long-term residents and overnight(or nearly overnight) visitors. There is a large corral area for horses. We walked over to it but there were no horses there. There's a little dog park, a bathhouse and laundry. We didn't use any of those amenities, so I can't comment. I believe the laundry is listed as free.(This is not the case with the wifi, which was complex and had a fee.) I just used my hotspot from my Verizon service and because we had 4 bars, that worked just fine for streaming some Netflix that night.

    We really like the place. Lots of neighbors, but everyone was very friendly, and no late partying. A few kids. But really, it was all very pastoral and nice. We'd stay here again. 

    Not all was perfect. Aside from the less-than-friendly wifi: 1) The sewer hookup is just an open pipe. No threads. A little stinky when you take the cover off.  2) It is almost literally right next to the interstate. There's no denying those traffic noise is real. We slept with no issues, but if traffic noise doesn't act like white noise for you...you might want to look somewhere else. We're lucky; but I know this is a deal-breaker for some.

    They do offer a Good Sam discount of 10%, so with tax, we paid $34. Well worth it. Very nice stay.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 4, 2023

    Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel

    Horse Motel

    Park is very nice. Spots are accessible and park is clean. Stables for horses with exercise area. A little bit noisy from interstate but not to bad.

  • Gavin J.
    Jun. 2, 2021

    Red Canyon Campground

    Relaxing weekend getaway

    Came recommended by a friend. Beautiful secluded spot in the Manzanos. Nice kid-friendly trails adjacent to the campground. We had a nice shady site, some others seemed more exposed.

  • S
    Sep. 8, 2019

    Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel

    Nice for overnight

    Nice place for an overnight stay. Owner is nice, laundry, showers & restrooms. Close to highway, which you hear, but nice stop for just an overnight. Takes Good Sam & Passport.

  • Melinda J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 4, 2025

    Water Canyon Campground

    Water canyon

    There are campsites available but not for big rigs. We have a 40 foot toy hauler and the dirt roads and narrowness would not allow for us. If you have something maybe 18’ or less and 4wd you could probably make it fine. We stayed right at the entrance near the picnic area. Spoke with fire inspector from the forest service and he said it was fine. The location was decent. Pretty quiet except for early morning vehicles driving up the road to the observatory and lab? We didn’t make the drive up as we have a dually and the road is pretty narrow.

  • Atheena T.
    Apr. 12, 2025

    Red Canyon Campground

    Red Canyon

    This is an amazing campsite. There are nice fire pits and picnic spots. However, though there are bathrooms at the location, they are really smelly and flies surround them.

  • J
    Apr. 19, 2021

    Red Canyon Campground

    Nice location

    This is not the state park campground. This is the NFS campground in beautiful setting. No reservation required. Right next to trailheads. Great Mountain biking on forest roads that link canyons. Toilets but no water so come prepared.


Guide to La Joya

New Mexico offers a unique experience for horse camping enthusiasts, with several campgrounds providing excellent amenities and access to beautiful trails.

Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like stables and corrals

  • At Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel, you'll find stables and an exercise area for horses, making it a convenient stop for equestrians.
  • New Canyon Campground features bear boxes and picnic tables, ensuring a comfortable stay for both you and your horse.
  • Red Canyon Campground offers a scenic environment with direct access to trails, perfect for riding and exploring.

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

  • The well-reviewed Manzano Mountains Camp is big rig friendly and provides ample space for horse trailers, making it easy to set up camp.
  • Water Canyon Campground is known for its free camping and proximity to hiking trails, ideal for those looking to ride and explore the surrounding area.
  • Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel is pet-friendly and allows for a relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy time with your horse.

Equestrian campgrounds include scenic trails and natural beauty

  • Red Canyon Campground is surrounded by lush greenery and offers direct access to trails, making it a great spot for horseback riding.
  • The picturesque setting of New Canyon Campground provides a peaceful retreat with plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities.
  • Water Canyon Campground features beautiful canyon views and easy access to hiking trails, perfect for a day of adventure with your horse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near La Joya, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near La Joya, NM is Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel with a 3.8-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near La Joya, NM?

TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near La Joya, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.