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 Glorieta, NM
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The RV Park at HIPICO Santa Fe features onsite horse corrals convenient for travelers with equine companions. Located within a larger equestrian complex, this drive-in facility accommodates both tent and RV camping with full hookups including water, electric (30/50 amp), and sewer connections. The campground provides standard amenities such as potable drinking water, showers, toilets, and trash service. Alcohol is permitted in the camping area while fires are prohibited. Reservations are recommended, especially during equestrian events at the main HIPICO facility. The spacious layout offers ample room for horse trailers and camping vehicles with big-rig friendly access. The park serves as a practical horse hotel situated approximately 20 minutes from downtown Santa Fe with access to public lands for riding.
Located southeast of Glorieta, Jacks Creek Horse Camp in the Pecos Wilderness caters specifically to equestrians exploring the mountain trails. Multiple units of corrals provide secure containment for horses with adequate parking and turnaround space designed for large trailers. The campground serves effectively as a base camp for wilderness trail exploration with direct access to Round Mountain and Cave Creek Trail. The trails through the aspens offer superb mountain views according to experienced riders who frequent the area. Drinking water is available, though hookups are not provided at this primitive camping area. Toilet facilities are maintained at the camp, though travelers should note that fires are not permitted in this horse-focused wilderness campground. Vault toilets remain well-maintained during the camping season, which runs from approximately late April through mid-November.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Glorieta (13)
1. Iron Gate Campground
"During rainy seasons, ruts form with deep mud on some spots driving up."
"It's a nice little place tucked away in the woods. The road to get there is a bit rough, hence the title. By no means, Not a road for a large trailer or 5th wheel. Wild life everywhere.."
2. Las Vegas/New Mexico KOA Journey
"Cute cats and dogs all around. Pretty views and conveniently located within driving distance of a lot of attractions. Def recommend checking out the local hot springs."
"It is off the highway but nice and secluded. Pretty location and outside of Las Vegas, NM. It isn’t a five star because the sites are pretty close together"
from $45 - $75 / night
Check Availability3. Villanueva State Park Campground
"A little off the beaten path but was worth it. Each campsite had a picnic area some even had shelters over them! The lower campground was right next to the river (very high when we were there)."
"The drive to this park takes us back in time through the tiny town of Villanueva. Once through the gates I was amazed at the fast flowing Pecos River right next to the tree shaded sites. A gem."
from $15 - $30 / night
Check Availability4. Jacks Creek Horse Camp
"The sites on the outside of the loops are decently wooded, smaller and not well suited to RVs. The sites on the inside of the loops have longer, RV sized pull in and little trees."
"Great overnight spot to use as a "home base" with lots of trail access. Multiple units of corrals and plenty of parking and turnaround space for large trailers."
5. Jacks Creek Group Area
"Beautiful drive out, creeks on both sides. Nestled deep in the Pecos Wilderness. Camping overlooks the mountains. Beatty’s trail head is nearby. Made a fire and had electric to charge my phone"
from $100 / night
Check Availability6. Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site
"We even spotted wild horses nearby as we arrived. Weekend shooting practice is audible in the distance, but well away from camping areas, and we never felt unsafe."
"This campground offered amazing views of the Sandia mountains and the surrounding area."
7. RV Park at HIPICO Santa Fe
"This is a very spacious private campground southwest of Santa Fe with access to public land. Located 20 minutes from downtown Santa Fe. There are probably 50 sites with restrooms and showers."
from $55 / night
Check Availability8. 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."
9. Turquoise Trail Campground
"CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Turquoise Trail Campground, Cedar Crest, NM Turquoise Trail Campground is a small privately owned campground located five miles north of I-40 off Route 14 (exit 175) just outside"
"Hardware store and a couple restaurants close by. New owners, same campground. Would definitely stay here again."
10. RavenHouse RV Spot and Horse Hotel
"It was easy to get around to the sites we had planned on visiting. The hosts were super nice and accomodating when we had a wifi issues, they got us up and running again quickly."
from $42 - $75 / night
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Drive Time
- 24 min from Santa Fe, NM
- 1 hr from Albuquerque, NM
- 3 hrs 16 min from Farmington, NM
- 3 hrs 31 min from Pueblo, CO
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Glorieta, NM
8 Photos of 13 Glorieta Campgrounds
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Glorieta, NM
175 Reviews of 13 Glorieta Campgrounds
Warren K.GuideLas Vegas/New Mexico KOA Journey
Campground close to a cool little town
We stopped here for an overnighter and it was not the most aesthetic choice, but the town of Las Vegas is quite charming. The town has a great plaza and historic hotel where we had a pretty good meal. The sunsets and landscape in this part of New Mexico really take your breath away.
- D
Dorrs T.
ScoutIron Gate Campground
Not as great as I thought it would be.
Based on the reviews I thought this place would be a cool oasis up in the trees. Alas, it's not. There's a loop with 14 total sites. Unfortunately, at least half the sites in the inner ring are unusable because of road runoff making it tough to get to them, and we have a Toyota Tacoma. As a result, they do not get used and are, therefore, overgrown with New Mexico ground cover, which is not comparable to soft grass. That immediately bumps it down to about 10 sites. When we arrived, there was one site available that we could access. It was behind the main trailhead parking area and completely shaded. All in all, not bad, just not our ideal choice since it's right there close to any and all foot traffic. Luckily, as we walked the rest of the loop to see if there was anything else, a couple was just finishing packing up so we were able to snag their spot (#13), which we felt was the best one. Score!
Now, let's talk the road to get there. Absolutely do not try to take a camper of any size to this campground unless it's a legit overland type tear or squaredrop, ideally with an articulating hitch. People are not kidding when they say that's not a good idea. We had our Tacoma in 4L and I'm honestly not sure how some 2WD vehicles make it. There are many spots where the incline is pretty good, a number of deep crevices as a result of water runoff, many sections that are absolutely one lane only, and at least 6 spots where there was a small pond of standing water to drive through. Were any of the ponds show stoppers, no, but the water in one dip came up past the bottom of our doors. All in all, the road is no joke. Yes, I get this is a forest road, but the road snakes through multiple pieces of residential property (albeit they are probably summer homes but we saw people at almost every house when we drove past), and there's a hiking trailhead at the campground, so I expected it to be not THAT bad. In my book, it's not officially 'offroading' but it's worse than other forest service roads we've been on. Oh, and the couple residents we passed driving in their vehicles (you can tell by looking at them they are not campers or hikers) made it abundantly clear they weren't happy with us being on their road. All in all, nice campground with great trailheads but there are too many other beautiful places to hike and camp in NM for us to want to go back.
- Jeff K.Guide
Borrego 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.
- BBrent J.
TravelerTop of New Mexico - Dispersed Site
Quiet BLM Escape
Perched atop a quiet BLM mesa with sweeping views of the Sandia Mountains and Albuquerque, this dispersed site is a great spot. No services—bring everything you need—but the payoff is incredible sunrises and sunsets, wide-open skies, and a real sense of solitude. We even spotted wild horses nearby as we arrived. Weekend shooting practice is audible in the distance, but well away from camping areas, and we never felt unsafe. Roads in were fine for our low-clearance vehicle. Stayed three nights and loved every minute—simple, beautiful, and highly recommended for anyone seeking an uncluttered desert escape. There is a lot of confusion about how to get to the campsites, since the area borders a neighborhood. We found this to work best and does not go through the neighborhood - From 165 turn on Camino del Tecolote, right on Camino de La Rosa Castilla, right on Camino De Las Huertas, and right on Llano Del Norte (this road curves around to the three different spots to enter the BLM land, we went all the way to the end)
Alexander D.ScoutTop of New Mexico - Dispersed Site
Epic, accessbile, and open campsite with good views
This campground offered amazing views of the Sandia mountains and the surrounding area. We found a fire ring and plenty of level areas to set up camp in addition to large bushes to take shelter behind. Also plenty of wild horses roaming around, though we didn't ever see any at near our campsite.
Tina M.ScoutRavenHouse RV Spot and Horse Hotel
Majestic skies + Decent Amenities
We had the perfect 5 night stay. It was easy to get around to the sites we had planned on visiting. The hosts were super nice and accomodating when we had a wifi issues, they got us up and running again quickly. We used the grill area and even hosted friends visiting one night with their horse trailer and 2 horses. We stayed one night in the TeePee which was just magical and cozy, a mini vacay inside of our otherwise rustic van camping trip! The bathroom is located inside an enclosed out building with the shower located in an outdoor but private/roofed adjacent area. All and all, thumbs up for communication, comfort, basic amenities and ambience!
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.
Dave V.LegendTurquoise Trail Campground
Clean and close to the mountains and Albuquerque
CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Turquoise Trail Campground, Cedar Crest, NM
Turquoise Trail Campground is a small privately owned campground located five miles north of I-40 off Route 14 (exit 175) just outside the east side of Albuquerque. Tucked along the base of the Sandia mountains, at 6940’ elevation. http://www.turquoisetrailcampground.com/
There is plenty of visible signage to guide you down Snowline Dr into the campground.
As you approach the office/museum on the right, the RV/Camper loop is visible on the left (which appeared full). Behind the office building are two tent loops (upper and lower). There are two very clean bathroom/showerhouses located between the office and tent loops. A laundry room and dishwashing sink is located at the back of the office building. *This is also the only water access for the tent loops.
RV sites have full hookups. Tent sites have only a leveled, gravel tent pad, picnic table and standing grill. Only stove fires were permitted at our visit due to open fire restrictions.
Tent sites are separated by scrub brush, which offered partial privacy between most sites, but you will hear your neighbors. The outer tent sites back up to a residential area, with a fence separating. Bring earplugs for undisturbed sleeping, as road noise from Route 14 can be heard, along with local dogs randomly in the distance.
At $20 a night, the campground is convenient and sufficiently met our needs as we traveled west on a tight itinerary.
Shower tokens are provided with your nightly fee. Each token gives you 7 minutes of shower time.
There is plenty to do nearby, with bike trails and hiking trails…though nothing of particular interest in the campground itself.
The bustling city of Albuquerque is the next exit west, so you are still very close to shopping, eateries, and nightlife.
Guide to Glorieta
Camping near Glorieta, New Mexico offers direct access to the Pecos Wilderness at elevations ranging from 7,000-12,000 feet. The region features primarily pinyon-juniper woodland transitioning to ponderosa pine and aspen at higher elevations. Summer temperatures typically range from 45-85°F with afternoon thunderstorms common in July and August.
What to do
Trail riding excursions: Iron Gate Campground provides direct access to multiple backcountry trails. "The hiking trails are near by taking you up to some great scenic outlooks over the mountain sides," notes Cory M. Some routes connect with the broader Pecos Wilderness network.
River activities: Villanueva State Park Campground offers creek and river recreation opportunities. "We went 2017 summer and it was one of the best campgrounds we have been to. We had lots of fun in the creek and hiking the trails," shares Rosa H. The Pecos River flows through the park with multiple access points.
Night sky viewing: For astronomy enthusiasts, Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site provides exceptional dark sky conditions. "You can clearly see the Milky Way. No light pollution except the beautiful view of the city far away," reports Lauren I. The site sits at higher elevation away from urban light sources.
What campers like
Proximity to wilderness: Iron Gate Campground serves as an effective gateway to backcountry exploration. "We spent one night in Iron Gate before embarking on a three-day backpacking/camping adventure. Campground was well maintained, had plenty of clean restrooms and parking," writes Lisa C.
Wildlife encounters: Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site offers opportunities to observe wild horses. "My first morning I was surrounded by a group of 5 cows grazing. They ended up laying 30 feet from the trailer all morning," Josh F. reports. Multiple reviewers mention wild horse sightings at this location.
Secluded camping areas: Villanueva State Park features private riverside sites. "Very secluded sites along the Pecos River, and a cute store for firewood etc nearby," Wendy K. mentions. The campground layout takes advantage of natural features to create separation between camping areas.
What you should know
Road conditions: Borrego Mesa Campground requires moderate clearance vehicles. "The road up to the campground is in good shape, 4x4 not required. Overall traffic was very low," Timothy N. explains. Several other campgrounds in the region have similar access considerations.
Elevation factors: Most campgrounds in the area sit above 7,000 feet elevation. Temperature fluctuations between day and night can be significant, often dropping 30+ degrees after sunset.
Seasonal operations: Many campgrounds have limited seasons. "There was mobile coverage was spotty, worked better if you went up to the nearby trailhead," notes Timothy N. about Borrego Mesa. Water systems at higher elevations typically operate from late April through mid-November only.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Villanueva State Park Campground offers recreation facilities suitable for children. "Our kids loved the playground and we enjoyed how quiet and beautiful the area is," shares Elena C. The park provides designated swimming areas along the Pecos River during summer months.
Educational opportunities: Campgrounds near historical sites provide learning experiences. "There is a pleasant hike that leads to a sort of fortification that was historically garrisoned by some Texan insurgents at some point during the Mexican American war," Owen M. explains about Villanueva State Park.
Wildlife observation: Multiple campgrounds offer wildlife viewing appropriate for children. "Wild horses roamed around our site after sunset. Pretty epic," notes Mary-Kate L. about Top of New Mexico Dispersed Site. Morning hours typically provide the best wildlife sighting opportunities.
Tips from RVers
RV size limitations: Las Vegas/New Mexico KOA Journey accommodates larger rigs but has specific site constraints. "Site 23 was a pull through and level. Water and electric both worked fine," Jil S. reports. However, many forest service campgrounds have limited access for larger vehicles.
Utility considerations: Facility quality varies significantly between established campgrounds. "The only bad is water pressure; very low. We slowly filled tank and used our pump," James P. notes about Las Vegas KOA. Many equestrian camping areas near Glorieta offer limited or seasonal hookups.
Weather preparation: Elevation changes impact RV systems and comfort. "The days were warm, but the nights were lovely," Missy A. mentions about Las Vegas KOA. Temperature fluctuations require appropriate heating and cooling capabilities, particularly during spring and fall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Glorieta, NM?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Glorieta, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Glorieta, NM is Iron Gate Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 8 reviews.
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equestrian camping near
Glorieta, NM?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Glorieta, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 equestrian camping locations near Glorieta, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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