Karen N.
Guide
GuideSanta Barbara Campground
Beautiful weekend
Stay at Santa Barbara Campground in Northern New Mexico. Was a beautiful spot. Road to Campground was well taken care of Beautiful trails throughout area
Equestrian Camping near Eagle Nest, NM
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McCrystal Campground is popular with horse campers and hunters, with sites featuring built-in horse corrals for equestrian use. Located in a remote area off Highway 64, the campground requires about an hour's drive on a gravel road from Cimarron. The sites offer good separation between campers and level spots suitable for both tents and RVs with horse trailers. While the campground doesn't provide running water, it maintains clean pit toilets throughout the grounds. The remote location and horse-specific amenities attract riders looking for trail access in a quiet setting. Early morning wildlife viewing includes elk herds in nearby valleys.
Riders accessing the Carson National Forest trails from the Valle Vidal unit find extensive riding opportunities on well-maintained paths. The Cimarron Campground, also equestrian-friendly, connects to hiking and riding trails that lead to scenic meadows and fishing ponds. Bears frequent the area, so proper food storage is essential when camping with horses. The washboard roads leading to horse campgrounds can be challenging for vehicles towing horse trailers, particularly after rain. Visitors should bring all necessary supplies as the nearest stores are over an hour away. Most campsites in the region operate seasonally from May through October, with some facilities closing earlier due to elk calving season and wildlife management priorities.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Eagle Nest (11)
1. Cimarron Campground
"Beautiful location in a place I wasn’t expecting it to be sooo green! Very relaxing and remote as there is zero service. It was perfect & exactly what we were looking for."
"There is a walking trail at the back of the campground to get to Surree Ponds."
from $22 - $40 / night
Check Availability2. Mallette Creek North
"Serene surroundings and even and beautiful place to camp during a thunderstorm!"
3. Rio Costilla Park
"This is the first campground I’ve found in New Mexico where I felt like I was camping in Colorado, it was so green and beautiful!"
"The park is HUGE and just so beautiful. 10,000 acres of aspens and ponderosa pines only one hour away from the town of Taos."
from $30 / night
Check Availability4. Mccrystal Campground
"A remote location and popular with horse campers and hunters. The campground has sites with horse corrals installed. The campground was quiet and mostly clean."
5. Big Arsenic Springs Campground
"The location is isolated and you need to bring plenty of water. The advantage is being able to walk into the Gorge, which if you fly fish, is an amazing thing."
6. Agua Piedra Campground
"There is a trail head with 2 trails, one atv accessible and one hiking/horse that goes up to Indian Lake. Beautiful views and about 1200' elevation change."
"Tent camped at this location in the middle of September (a week before closing). Very beautiful place to watch the leaves change, trailheads close by and picnic tables at each site."
from $30 - $175 / night
Check Availability7. Santa Barbara Campground
"Stay at Santa Barbara Campground in Northern New Mexico. Was a beautiful spot. Road to Campground was well taken care of Beautiful trails throughout area"
"The trails are absolutely wonderful and well worth taking a few hours to walk part of them. Hard core hikers will use the campground as a starting point for a lengthy hikes."
from $30 - $80 / night
Check Availability8. Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 - Dispersed Camping
"Many open areas to camp right off the highway. The views of the mountains across the valley are best after the fork in the road. Please pick up extra trash if you use"
"I didn’t see anyone else camping or driving by. The forest is a nice mix of sage, juniper, and pine trees. I saw two elk across a swath of sage."
9. Purgatoire Campground
"The area surrounding Purgatory is GORGEOUS. It’s straight out of a movie or picture book."
"No access to electric or water. Road to camp is rough. Beautiful scenery. Short drive to Chucara and Stonewall."
from $25 / night
Check Availability10. Borrego Mesa Campground
"About a 15min drive from the highway. Only 5 or 6 sites. Close to the Rio Mario Trail trailhead. Campsite is at elevation over 8,000ft so it can get chilly at night. Worked great for tent camping."
"Campground is a little off the beaten path, about 30m from the High Drive highway. Dirt roads were nothing to worry about, should be fine for any SUV or sedan."
Drive Time
- 1 hr 56 min from Santa Fe, NM
- 2 hrs 37 min from Pueblo, CO
- 2 hrs 46 min from Albuquerque, NM
- 3 hrs 16 min from Colorado Springs, CO
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Eagle Nest, NM
64 Reviews of 11 Eagle Nest Campgrounds
- Christa A.
TravelerRio Costilla Park
So spacious!
This is the first campground I’ve found in New Mexico where I felt like I was camping in Colorado, it was so green and beautiful! The camp sites were nicely spaced, so we felt like we were primitive camping, but it was nice to have a picnic table, especially because we have a small child. Family friendly. We wish we would have brought our 4x4 vehicle because we had initially planned to camp at little blue lake, but my Subaru Impreza was not powerful enough/didn’t have high enough clearance to make it up the road that lead to the lake! We are definitely planning on camping back to check out the lakes. The only negative thing was that we found some trash at our site from the previous campers. Also, some cows woke us up early in the morning, which was cool, but also scared the shit out of us!
Jeff K.GuideBorrego Mesa Campground
Great campsite!!
Good road all the way in. About a 15min drive from the highway. Only 5 or 6 sites. Close to the Rio Mario Trail trailhead. Campsite is at elevation over 8,000ft so it can get chilly at night. Worked great for tent camping. Sites have a small horse pen but you would need to make a gate on them. Not good for big LQ horse trailers.
Ken M.TravelerMccrystal Campground
Remote camping with plenty of wildlife to see
A remote location and popular with horse campers and hunters. The campground has sites with horse corrals installed. The campground was quiet and mostly clean. There are pit toilets on site and well maintained. Level spots with good separation. Nice hiking accross some flat lands and a smal creek runs near by. Early one morning we saw a herd of elk down in a valley near a turn out off the road. Bears frequent the area trying to raid the garbage bins during the night. Makes tent camping a bit unnerving. If you want to explore the area, this is good place to camp. It takes an hour to get to the campsite on a graveled road off the highway out of Cimerron. 25mph was best speed to go to handle the washboard road to the campsite.
Steve & Ashley G.
LegendAgua Piedra Campground
Great Northern New Mexico Camp
We stayed at this site on the way back to Texas from our Colorado trip this summer. This is a great National Forest Campground south of Taos in the Carson Forest. The campground is just off the highway and situated in a beautiful mountain pine forest and next to a great trout stream. You have great shade during the hotter summer months. It’s far enough away from the highway that you don’t hear the traffic. It has a huge meadow and group camp site which look fantastic. The individual sites have some privacy between the sites and come equipped with fire pits and picnic tables. We made a reservation but the camp had a number of open sites in the peak summer season. The highlight here is the proximity of great hiking to nearby lakes and fishing in the trout stream. They had great facilities including clean pit toilets and some historic log cabins. They have a camp host and the sites accommodate tents and smaller vans and campers. I would give this another visit on our next trip to NM.
Tammy V.TravelerAgua Piedra Campground
Excellent campground!
There is a trail head with 2 trails, one atv accessible and one hiking/horse that goes up to Indian Lake. Beautiful views and about 1200' elevation change.
Potable water available at camp host's location. It has sulfer but the smell cleared after half a day sitting in the sun. We brought our own to drink though.
Some campsites were more separated and others were close together if you were with a group. River runs along the camp for fishing, and they were catching fish.
James F.GuideSanta Barbara Campground
Beautiful Hiking
This is a great campground if you like to take some hikes through some beautiful national forest with a picturesque river. The Santa Barbara Campground is relatively small and most of the sites can't accommodate large rv's. A small travel trailer or tent works well in most sites. None of the sites have hook ups so you will be boon docking. There are vault toilets and water available. Sign on the water spigot said not to connect a hose though so filling your rv or trailer is not what they were intended for. I guess it was good that I filled before I left home. There are lots of trees for shade and beauty. The trails are absolutely wonderful and well worth taking a few hours to walk part of them. Hard core hikers will use the campground as a starting point for a lengthy hikes. There were a few cows that got into the camping area. There can also be horses on the trails so be vigilant.The temperatures were quite moderate as the campsite is at 8900 feet. You can hear the Santa Barbara River as it is very close.
Lila L.GuideRio Costilla Park
Unbelievable beauty
The park is HUGE and just so beautiful. 10,000 acres of aspens and ponderosa pines only one hour away from the town of Taos. All sites offer a fire pits and some come with nice picnic tables under roofs by the clear river. Only $25 a day you can get to enjoy the nature. We didn’t take our TRD pro Taco coz we thought our All wheel super handling SUV would be good enough but definitely there are some off-roading you can enjoy. Be sure to bring your truck or Jeep to enjoy more. No cell phone reception. There are no water available and porta potties were not ready yet. The lake was closed but we still had so much fun hiking and exploring the acres of wonderland. Will definitely go back there!
Robin T.GuideSanta Barbara Campground
Great location but small noisy campground
This campground has a PERFECT location, right on the border of the Pecos wilderness with fabulous hiking. There is also fantastic fishing there, which many guests took advantage of all weekend. However, this campground only has 15 single sites, but most were occupied by double the amount allowable.. There were huge parties at many of the campsites all weekend, with cards zooming around all day. IT was NOISY and CROWDED.
If the camp host (who didn't seem to care) controlled this, we would have given this campground 5 stars.
The hiking was AMAZING. Views AMAZING....
This campground has a huge backpacker parking lot and when we arrived on Friday it was overflowing out onto the main road. The reason is that this campground is the entry point to the NORTHERN end of Pecos wilderness with access to amazing backpacking, high mountain peaks, and literally dozens of groups of backpackers daily going up the trail or coming back out from their adventures.
Guide to Eagle Nest
The Carson National Forest region surrounding Eagle Nest sits at elevations between 8,000-10,000 feet, creating distinct seasonal camping conditions with temperatures that can drop significantly at night even during summer months. Equestrian camping sites in this area offer specialized facilities including corrals and trail access to extensive wilderness terrain. Forest service roads leading to many camping areas require vehicles with adequate clearance, particularly after rainfall.
What to do
Trout fishing opportunities: Rio Costilla Park maintains stocked fishing ponds and streams that draw anglers from across the region. "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," notes Michelle B.
Hiking to alpine lakes: The trail networks around Cimarron Campground connect to numerous destinations with varying difficulty levels. "We hiked near Shuree Ponds and camped between Ash Mountain and Little Castillo Peak. The weather was all over the place, but the views were stunning," reports Dusty G., who recommends proper bear precautions while hiking.
Wildlife observation: Early morning and evening hours provide optimal viewing times for elk and deer. "We watched several herds of Elk down in the valley on one of our hikes. We had deer roam through our campsite, they could care less that we were even there," writes Terry R., highlighting the abundance of wildlife viewing opportunities in the quiet mornings.
What campers like
Remote locations with limited connectivity: Mallette Creek North offers dispersed camping without the crowds found at established sites. "This is what we wanted to find with dispersed camping! Beautiful view! A couple of neighbors but never heard them," shares Rosalinda S., noting the peaceful atmosphere despite challenging trailer leveling.
Star visibility: The lack of light pollution creates exceptional night sky viewing conditions. "Overall it is quiet and peaceful with amazing stargazing at night," writes Jen M. about her experience at Cimarron Campground, where the remote location far from towns allows for exceptional astronomical viewing.
Access to flowing water: Many campers appreciate sites positioned near streams. "The sites were absolutely wonderful. When I came there weren't many campers. There are around 36 campsites all included with a grill, tables and showers. You really have your privacy and is so beautiful at night," reports Phillip L., who noted the pleasant sound of nearby flowing water throughout his stay.
What you should know
Road conditions: Many forest service roads become challenging after rainfall. "The road to get here from Amalia becomes very wash boarded. It is a long road to get here and is wash boarded the whole way," warns Jen M. about accessing Cimarron Campground, though she adds "the drive through Rio Costilla Canyon is gorgeous and if you only can go that far it is well worth it."
Weather variability: Even summer months can bring cold nighttime temperatures and afternoon storms. "It rained only in the afternoons but everyday," notes Jade T., who camped at Cimarron Campground in early July and was surprised by the temperature fluctuations.
Limited amenities: Most equestrian camping areas near Eagle Nest have minimal facilities. "Took my boys camping and had a great time. We went June 2 and the water was not on yet. The facilities were very clean and the staff agent was present and available. It's not glamping but is some great camping!" reports Drew about the facilities available early in the season.
Tips for camping with families
Creek exploration: Shallow water access points provide natural play areas. "The kids had a few streams to keep them busy. We were there the week of the 4th of July 2016. The weather was great we had a short shower just about every evening but nothing bad," shares Terry R., describing how natural features keep children engaged.
Child-friendly fishing spots: Agua Piedra Campground offers accessible fishing areas ideal for younger anglers. "There's a nice easy/moderate half mile hike down to the Shuree Ponds which were stocked with trout...The smaller was reserved for kids's fishing," notes Stephen K., explaining the specially designated youth fishing areas.
Pack extra layers: Temperature fluctuations require adaptable clothing options. "It will also be cold at night, so be prepared," advises Ricky B., emphasizing that families should bring warm clothing regardless of season due to the elevation.
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Santa Barbara Campground has varying site quality requiring preparation. "Site quality varies but most look pretty level. Most have some shade. Sites are gravel and well spaced," observes Barbara H., though she notes the lack of electric hookups as the main drawback.
Water access timing: Seasonal water availability affects fill-up opportunities. "Very beautiful location in a place I wasn't expecting it to be sooo green! Very relaxing and remote as there is zero service. Vault toilets are well kept and within good proximity to most sites," reports Jade T., though she mentions water systems may not be operational early in the season.
Site spacing considerations: Despite being established campgrounds, many offer good separation. "Our campsite had a very worn and splintering wooden picnic table that really needed replacing. We brought a table and sat at that with our 2 small children," notes Jen M., suggesting bringing your own furniture for comfort even at improved sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Eagle Nest, NM?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Eagle Nest, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Eagle Nest, NM is Cimarron Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find
equestrian camping near
Eagle Nest, NM?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Eagle Nest, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Eagle Nest, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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