Northern New Mexico campgrounds near Costilla sit primarily between 7,500-9,500 feet elevation. Mountain weather patterns here create distinct camping seasons, with most facilities operating May through September when road access permits. Several campgrounds require high-clearance vehicles for access, particularly those located near high-elevation lakes or along forest service roads.
What to do
Fishing in stocked lakes: Rio Costilla Park has excellent fishing opportunities throughout the property. "Fishing is great and quality waters. It is fisherman's fly fishing dream. Camping is great too as you can park next to the river. It's pricey at 20.00 a night but worth it," according to Michelle B. at Rio Costilla Park.
Tubing in mountain streams: The gentle flowing waters in some areas provide perfect tubing conditions during summer. "Stayed two nights and loved every minute. Took inner tubes and rode them down the stream!" wrote anthony Z. about his Labor Day experience at Rio Costilla Park.
Wildlife viewing: The high country terrain supports diverse animal populations. The Wild Horse Mountain View campground offers unique wildlife encounters: "We woke up to wild horses close to us. Great spot," reported Tom T. at Wild Horse Mountain View.
Hiking from campsites: Many campgrounds connect directly to trail systems. "We hiked a little bit of the Columbine Twining hiking trail - can't wait to go back to be able to hike more!" shared Stefani R. about Columbine Campground.
What campers like
Riverside camping spots: Many campers seek waterfront sites for the ambiance. "All sites sit have excellent access to the Red River. The vault bathrooms were adequate. Each site I saw had multiple tent options," wrote Patrick M. about Junebug Campground.
Mountain scenery: The surrounding landscapes provide dramatic backdrops. "This is my wild, little piece of Heaven. I love the mountains, I love the lake view, I love the wild horses! My kids get so excited when they see the horses come down to drink water," shared Laura V. about Wild Horse Mountain View.
Covered picnic facilities: Some campgrounds offer enhanced site amenities. "Some of the camping areas have small, perfectly sized covered picnic table areas which are absolutely wonderful. The campsites are nearly all along a babbling brook, stream, or river," reported Joel H. about Rio Costilla Park.
Lake-based activities: Several campgrounds provide access to alpine lakes. "We spent most of our time on the water in kayaks, canoes and floating on inflatable flamingos. There were a lot of people fishing, so we tried to maintain a low noise level," described Lisa C. about Cabresto Lake.
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Many campgrounds require high-clearance vehicles. "Definitely need an all terrain vehicle for the drive up to lake. Rough dirt road. Got a flat tire. Beautiful mountain lake," warned Karen N. about Cabresto Lake Campground.
Site sizes and layouts differ: Campground designs vary widely across the region. "Not a terrible campground but, I would not make the drive to stay here again. In my mind there are two sites worth the drive and they are (drumroll please) 13 and 15," advised John H. about Columbine Campground.
Weather fluctuations: Mountain conditions can change rapidly regardless of season. "The weather changes by the minute it seems, and storms move over the area pretty quickly. If you don't like the weather wait five minutes, it'll change, and I'm not exaggerating," explained Jason L. about dispersed camping in the area.
Costs vary widely: From free dispersed sites to higher-fee developed areas. "The fee to camp has increased to $30 per night, but we decided to give it try. It was probably more about what we didn't experience that we enjoyed the most. There is NO FIREWORKS permitted and NO ATV's permitted," noted Terry about Rio Costilla Park.
Tips for camping with families
Bring proper sleeping gear: Mountain temperatures drop significantly at night. "This campground does get a little chilly in the night, even in summer, so bring a good sleeping bag. It will drizzle regularly and sometimes pours so prepare for that," advised Jennifer G. about Rio Costilla Park.
Prepare for wildlife encounters: Local wildlife may visit campgrounds. "Some cows woke us up early in the morning, which was cool, but also scared the shit out of us!" reported Christa A. about her Rio Costilla Park experience.
Look for river-adjacent sites: Water features keep children entertained. "The camp is close enough for day trips to Red River, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, Taos, and the Enchanted Circle," mentioned Lucy M. about Fawn Lakes Campground.
Verify campsite conditions beforehand: Some campsites have challenging terrain. "We took four teenage girls for a weekend of camping and fishing. We pulled right in and grabbed the last spot in the area; the challenge was finding enough flat land for three tents," reported Lisa C. about Cabresto Lake.
Tips from RVers
Check site leveling before booking: Many mountain campsites have significant slopes. "Some sites are short, very few are level, some have a steep slope. Good shade and sun mix, mature trees, nice creek flows through the campground, it's very pretty and relaxing," noted Robert E. about Columbine Campground.
Consider size limitations: Most forest service campgrounds aren't designed for large RVs. "The loop to the left side near the host is more level and can handle bigger RVs but overall this is not a big rig campground. Some rigs could not get level," added Robert E.
Look for riverside RV spots: Premium sites often back up to water. "We stayed at #8 backed up to the river with a small grassy area right by the water. It was perfect. The scenery is beyond amazing," shared andrew about Red River RV.
Plan for limited services: Many campgrounds have minimal hookups. "No running water at this campground, so bring plenty. They have port-o-potties by every camping site and they keep them clean," mentioned Jennifer G. about dispersed camping options.
