Dispersed camping near Faywood, New Mexico offers primitive sites throughout Gila National Forest and surrounding BLM land. The area features juniper and pinyon pine woodlands at lower elevations, transitioning to ponderosa pines above 7,000 feet. Temperatures vary significantly with elevation, with mountainous sites averaging 10-15 degrees cooler than valley locations during summer months.
What to do
Hiking on Continental Divide Trail: Access points near Cattlemen Trail - Dispersed Camping provide entry to this famous long-distance trail. "Great place I came upon while on I-10. Thirty minutes for the interstate. The hiking was good. The place was a little busy, but not bad," notes Doug H.
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings offer prime opportunities for spotting local wildlife. "Met Pat this morning- she has the grazing rights through here," reports a camper at Cattlemen Trail. Free-range cattle are common in many dispersed areas, with one visitor at Gold Gulch Road describing "a place like from some safari movie, beautiful sunset, you can see a herd of cows."
Stargazing: The remote location provides exceptional dark skies. North Star Mesa sites feature "secluded, clear beautiful skies" according to Jorge G., who adds "very clear skies at night" make it ideal for astronomy enthusiasts.
What campers like
Shaded sites: Higher elevation areas provide natural cooling. At Bear Canyon Road Camp, Kenny R. appreciates the "beautiful area and nice to escape a little bit of the heat in the summer compared to silver city or south of there. About 5-10 degrees cooler and lots of shade."
Space between sites: Most dispersed camping areas offer ample room between campsites. At Pine Flats Campground, Bill describes "a beautiful spot. Lots of shade. Dirt road in decent shape... A few level spots with fire rings."
Cellular connectivity: While variable, some sites offer surprising connectivity. At BLM Near City of Rocks, Michael D. reports "I have good cell service, and my home fi hot spot is working great."
What you should know
Varying road conditions: Access roads range from well-maintained to challenging. At North Star Mesa Dispersed Camping, "North Star Road is usually well maintained and most vehicles should make it to at least North Star Mesa," according to Jorge G.
Pack out all trash: Several reviewers mention cleaning up after previous campers. At Celebration Well Dispersed Camping, a visitor cautions: "This is as bare as it gets. No services, no cell signal, no trash disposal, not even a pit toilet. Some sites have rock rings for campfires but that's about it. Please recreate responsibly and leave no trace."
Seasonal considerations: Some forest roads close seasonally or may become impassable. One camper at Gila National Forest Road 861 simply reported "Gate locked" during their visit attempt.
Tips for camping with families
Look for established sites: For easier family camping, choose areas with clear pullouts. "Meadow Creek Rd starts out as a well maintained dirt road with a handful of sites marked by fire rings. There are two main spurs before the road gets too rough for most cars," notes Jorge G. at Meadow Creek Road.
Plan for temperature fluctuations: Bring layers for significant day-to-night temperature swings. At Bear Mountain, one camper selected this area "to spend the night in July because it was cooler (~7500 ft elevation), free, quiet and beautiful."
Consider noise levels: Some sites experience more traffic than others. Gold Gulch Road visitors report it being "quiet" with "plenty of room for everyone and an easy route."
Tips from RVers
Check road width: Several forest roads have tight clearances. At Bear Mountain, anneliese warns of "a narrow, rocky road with some low-hanging trees. Our sprinter made it but it was tight."
Select appropriate sites for rig size: Not all dispersed sites accommodate larger vehicles. "I pulled my 24 foot (tip to tip) travel trailer up the mountain. Curvy, narrow roads… just be careful and go slow," advises Kenny R. about Bear Canyon Road Camp.
Look for level spots: Many sites have limited level parking. "A number of flat cleared areas not far off of hwy90," notes Rick J. about camping at Gila National Forest Road 861 in his "30ft class A with toad."
