Mike M.
Traveler
TravelerOjo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa
Awesome campground at one of the nicest hot springs you’ll ever visit. Great farm to table restaurant and wine bar. New Mexico at its best.
Tent Camping near El Rito, NM
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Tent campers exploring the Carson National Forest near El Rito, New Mexico have access to several primitive camping areas with varying levels of development. Carson National Forest Road 578 offers dispersed tent camping with drive-in and walk-in access, while Taos Junction Campground provides established tent sites with basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. The Cuchilla Campground in Arroyo Seco offers seasonal tent camping from May to September with toilets and picnic tables.
Most tent camping areas in this region require self-sufficiency as amenities are minimal. Dispersed sites typically lack drinking water, toilets, and trash service, requiring campers to pack in all supplies and pack out waste. Many established campgrounds provide fire rings and picnic tables, but potable water is scarce. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for accessing remote tent sites, particularly those near Cabresto Lake where unpaved switchbacks can be challenging. According to one visitor, "A vehicle with off-road capabilities is recommended if you want to reach this campground. While not impossible with a regular sedan, it does take navigating up some unpaved switchbacks."
Areas farther from main roads offer deeper seclusion and less noise pollution for tent campers. The dispersed camping near Taos provides excellent views of the gorge with relatively flat tent sites. Many campsites are situated alongside creeks or streams, providing both natural scenery and ambient sound that enhances the camping experience. Tree cover varies significantly between locations, with some sites offering shade while others are more exposed. One camper noted that "The trees give some privacy in between the campsites and road. I wasn't too bothered by the road noise and it was quiet after dark." Elevation changes affect temperatures significantly, with higher sites experiencing much cooler overnight temperatures even during summer months.
Best Tent Campgrounds near El Rito (44)
1. Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 - Dispersed Camping
"There are a bunch of different roads you can turn off to camp on if you’re driving from Taos to Durango."
"I tent-camped off of Carson NF Forest Service Road 578 in mid April 2022. FS 578 is south of Tres Piedras about 5 miles on the west side of Hwy 285."
2. Canjilon Creek Campground
"This park is very primitive. It has no running water, toilets, or amenities. What it has a lot of, is charm. Hardly met anyone while there. It has three lakes filled with trout."
3. Star Dance
4. Dispersed Camping Near Taos
"This is primitive, so bring all your amenities."
"Make sure you go all the way to the coordinates as there are a ton of great spots off to the left of the road, plenty of room to spread out and some solidly flat spots."
5. Arroyo Seco Dispersed NF Camping
"Right off the road, literally. it hidden behind some trees so the barrier between the site and road makes for a little privacy. Great spot for a day or two right next to a creek so you fall asleep to"
"First coms first served with mostly tenting spaces."
6. American Springs
"Just sad to see bullet casings litter ground and these trees that survived the most intense fire in new mexico are being shot up and destroyed. Shame on anyone doing this"
"Any SUV could handle it but being in an extended length van limits where I can go. Very peaceful with a nice view down the canyon. Elk grazing below were the cherry on top."
7. Cuchilla Campground
"Sites are right on a creek & have picnic tables."
"Picnic tables were marked up, but the sound of the River was so worth all of it."
8. La Junta - Wild Rivers Rec Area
"Each campsite had a concrete pad and awning."
"The sites are fairly primitive but the location is one of the greatest around. It’s a decent drive up here from Taos but you won’t be disappointed once you get here."
9. Big Tesuque Campground
"Nice babbling brook alongside campsites, fun for kids to play in (COLD, but shallow), and makes for great white noise.
- Convenient to Santa Fe (20-25 min from downtown)
- drive up the mountain 4"
"If you're tent camping, Big Tesuque is AMAZING!! It's small, but absolutely beautiful. Each site has a picknick table and a tent pad. There are basic toilets. No showers, no sinks."
10. Cebolla Mesa
"There was not a lot spots here, but these spots are tucked right beside a big gorge with a trail down to the river. The trail leads down to the Rio Grande and is challenging. Peaceful and good views."
"Beware drive in can be muddy if raining 4wd recommended and AWD is fine too. Front or Rwd is doable but at your own risk. Bathroom Firepit Table There are only 4 available spots."
Drive Time
- 58 min from Santa Fe, NM
- 1 hr 47 min from Albuquerque, NM
- 2 hrs 41 min from Farmington, NM
- 3 hrs 34 min from Pueblo, CO
Recent Tent Camping Photos near El Rito, NM
31 Photos of 44 El Rito Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near El Rito, NM
853 Reviews of 44 El Rito Campgrounds
- JJohn L.
GuideQuesta Lodge & RV Resort
Good spot for campingn
Limited review due to rains. Nice area for quiet camping or for access to wilderness areas, hiking. Taos and Red River are 1/2 hour away for touristy stuff. During heavy rains river did not leave its banks. Sites are tight, best ones are by the river. Nice walking path by river but noticed many dog walkers not picking up after their dogs. Clean bathroom and laundry facilities. Some septic drains too high to drain properly, should be fixed. Had to move in order to dump tanks.
- RRoy R.Guide
Free Dispersed Camping
Free Dispersed Camping
This easy to miss spot is a free camping area near the ranger station. The road to get to the sites is probably only a couple hundred meters from the ranger station so slow down if you are going West on 64 and turn around if you reach the station going East on 64.
The actual camping spots are towards the very end of the road where they form a sort of triangle. There are three picnic tables with what look like fire rings. But there is a lot of open space around those three tables if they happen to be taken by any chance. I did notice that most boondockers would just park their vehicles on the side of the road along the way. So basically the entire area seems to be available for boondocking. There are no trash cans, water, more vault toilets. It's packed everything out. There are a couple of vault toilets at the ranger station and you can actually walk from the campsite area because there are trails that lead to the ranger station.
Very pretty area. Very quiet. Few vehicles on the nearby road.
Ben F.TravelerBig Arsenic Springs Campground
Amazing views, no water
All the campgrounds in the wild rivers area are very well maintained, the sites have sturdy pavilions, picnic tables and grills. Sites are nicely spaced and some have amazing canyon views. Vault-style toilets that are kept clean and stocked. Bring your own water, their "well is broken" as of Oct. 2026, so if you run out you're looking at a 20 mile drive round trip to buy a couple gallons at the local grocery store.
- NNathaniel S.Traveler
Ghost Ranch
Beautiful area; challenging camping
The campground is situated in a beautiful setting and area right at Ghost Ranch. Campground has sites that are gravel and not very level, as others have noted, making it a bit of a challenge (site 16 in particular). Also note that some electric hookups are 20A only, not 30A. Full hookups at front of campground; tent only at rear. Showers were great and heated; laundry and bathrooms clean. Host and staff friendly. Lots of great hiking trails within walking distance of the campground. 2 small museums worth visiting. We paid $50 for electric hookup. Meal plan is now $50.
Jeff V.GuideBlack Canyon Campground
Good but not as good as free camping just a few miles further
Hyde Memorial State Park, like many NM state parks, is more campground than park. There are additional campsites, some with 3 walled shelters at the park, so you're not limited to this particular campground, whose only real advantage is an illegal trailhead to the city reservoir, left by firefighters a couple of decades ago (look for a trail near the top off the campground loop hike).
It's illegal to go to the reservoir, but enough folks do it to keep the use trail well trodden. It's doubtful you'd be cited, but possible.
Personally I'm allergic to paying for camping if I can and still sore about paying $70 a night in Big Sur a decade ago when everything but a private campground was fully booked. So here's my cheap advice:
Drive another 6 miles to Big Tesuque, a free Forest Service campground with picnic tables, vault toilets, fire rings and a stream for water and enjoy the freedom from fees. If Big Tesuque is packed, drive up to the Ski Basin at the top and camp there, it never fills up for some reason, and also has picnic tables, vault toilets and fire rings.
There's also a dirt USFS road off the north side of Artist Road just above Hyde Park and a trailhead at the eastern edge of the stat epark that leads to the stream: this means shelpping your stuff a couple of miles though, downhill on the way in.
Point is, you can pay for camping here, but you need not if your prefer holding onto your cash, by driving just a few miles further.
- Jeff V.Guide
Jemez Falls Campground
It's okay, but...
Look, this is a perfectly fine trailhead campground. There's nothing wrong with it.
That said, it's a quarter miles walk to the falls, and 3 miles to the warm springs, which are barely tepid. Both trails can and are frequently visited by day hikers, some using the same parking lot shared by the campground. It's not tranquil if the weather is good, as both the warm springs and falls are popular.
The real kicker though is the whole area has much better dispersed camping in all directions. If you have to stay on paved roads, go to this campground: any RV can do it. If your vehicle can handle even gravel Forest Service roads drive elsewhere and save $20 a night: it'll buy a tank of gas if you're camping even for a 3 day weekend, and gas being expensive, eliminating additional fees makes sense for many of us.
I'd head up 376, out of Jemez Springs, where one could spend the savings from camping for free on a genuine hot spring, several available in the small town. Or get a meal and a few drinks at the local bar.
Paying for camping when you don't have to has never made any sense to me, but I'm not rich. Plus the dispersed camping gives you privacy you won't get in an official campground where everyone is packed together like so many sardines in a can.
Bill R.
RangerLittle Arsenic Springs Campground
Remote, wild, beautiful and small.
We stayed here for two nights in early May, 2026. Camped back from the rim ,wanting shelter from the wind/rain/snow rather than the view. Really enjoyed the area, walked some of the rim trail, stopped by the visitor center(limited hours) and hiked to the river at the bottom of the gorge. The hike was spectacular and the weather was as wild as the gorge. Rain, wind and snow battered us as we climbed back out.
No water(they're working on restoring it) and a long way from anything like gas, supplies, etc.
Would definitely like to return in the future.
- MMark M.
LegendGhost Ranch
Campground avg but overall lots of things to do
Some good hikes, corral (horseback rides), museum, pack in pack out, & bring your own water (drought conditions; there is water available but don't rely on their water if for no other reason to support their conservation of it--don't recall any water hookups). Friendly staff. Did not avail ourselves of meal plan. Beautiful night skies. Still in mid to upper 90s in September (hot in afternoon). Beware that winds can gust suddenly & hard, including strong dust devils (a devil came through & tore up some tents & sunshades including mangling aluminum frames of some shades).
Guide to El Rito
Dispersed camping options near El Rito, New Mexico provide tent campers with a range of experiences across the Carson National Forest. Located at elevations between 7,000-9,000 feet, temperatures can drop below freezing even in summer months, requiring appropriate gear year-round. The region features juniper and pine forests with intermittent creeks that typically run strongest during spring snowmelt.
What to do
Fishing at Canjilon Lakes: Visit the three trout-filled lakes at Canjilon Creek Campground for some of the best fishing in the area. "We went to this campground in June of 2021. This park is very primitive. It has no running water, toilets, or amenities. What it has a lot of, is charm. Hardly met anyone while there. It has three lakes filled with trout."
Wildlife viewing: Look for elk and other wildlife at dawn and dusk from your campsite. At Forest Service Road 578, campers report frequent sightings. "I saw two elk across a swath of sage. I could see the snow capped peaks of the Sangre de Cristo range on the eastern horizon when I walked farther up the road."
Rafting and kayaking: Plan a river adventure on the Rio Grande near Taos Junction Campground. "I come to Toas once a year. Occasionally we decide to camp. The best part about camping here is you can kayak down the river. We always rent from a local rafting business. The tour guides have never failed to impress."
What campers like
Creek-side sites: Many campers prefer sites along creeks for natural cooling and ambiance at Cuchilla Campground. "This is a wonderful little campground on the way to Taos Ski Valley. Sites are right on a creek & have picnic tables. From what we could tell, there are 2 different locations that we saw on the road, highway 150."
Solitude in remote areas: Forest Service Road 578 offers genuine seclusion for tent campers wanting privacy. "A nice secluded little forest road. RVs will not make it, so it's nice and quiet. Stayed one night and saw no one else. Multiple pulloffs for unmarked campsites."
Natural surroundings: Campers value the undeveloped nature and minimal crowds at primitive sites. "The forest is a nice mix of sage, juniper, and pine trees. It got cold at night, like 27 F. It was a nice waypoint on my trip between Gunnison CO and El Paso TX but it didn't look like many people camped there."
What you should know
Road conditions: Many camping areas require high-clearance vehicles. For Dispersed Camping Near Taos, approach routes matter: "One thing is that you MUST approach from the west, you can't get here coming from the east over John dun bridge. Dirt road but we did it with no problem with our 24ft trailer."
Cell service limitations: Coverage is unreliable throughout the region. "Cell service drops completely pretty soon after leaving the highway. I sporadically received some messages at my camp site but not reliably."
Weather preparedness: Temperature swings are extreme at these elevations. "The spot was clean and easy to get to in the truck out for most standard vehicles. The dogs had a great time but In the fall and winter pack as warm as possible."
Tips for camping with families
Creek play areas: Children enjoy shallow water access at Arroyo Seco Dispersed NF Camping. "There are so many campsites to choose from, all along the Hondo Rio. It's peaceful and quiet. We brought our four dogs and 13 year old. There's so much to do to keep them busy. The dogs love the river and to run through it."
Accessible sites for varied abilities: Some areas offer easier access for families with different mobility needs. "Highly recommend for folks who are less physically abled; I developed a heart condition which limits my abilities most days and the ease of access to these sites and close parking is great."
Camping timing: Weekdays offer better site availability and quieter camping. "Great location for free tent camping. Sites are located starting at the trail head and continuing up Big Tesque Trail. Recommend going during the week as it's very busy on the weekends."
Tips from RVers
Smaller trailers only: Most dispersed tent camping areas near El Rito can accommodate small trailers but have limitations. "Make sure you go all the way to the coordinates as there are a ton of great spots off to the left of the road, plenty of room to spread out and some solidly flat spots. Made a quick walk down to the springs in the evening and watched the stars come out."
Leveling challenges: Bring leveling blocks as many sites have uneven terrain. "Probably about 15 or so dispersed spots along HWY 150, on the river, in the trees, with one really nice beach spot. One out-house bathroom. We pulled our 19' RV with solar right up to the river."
Limited services: Pack all supplies as services are minimal in the area. "Absolutely magical! My tent got rained out but I just haven't had the opportunity to waterproof the tent. When it's not wet season I'm sure this would be just even more magical."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near El Rito, NM?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near El Rito, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near El Rito, NM is Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 - Dispersed Camping with a 4.4-star rating from 5 reviews.
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tent camping near
El Rito, NM?
What is the best site to find tent camping near El Rito, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 44 tent camping locations near El Rito, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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