Looking for the best Glorieta tent camping? You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. You're sure to find the perfect tent campsite for your New Mexico camping adventure.
Big Tesuque is a walk in campground not conducive to trailer or RV campoing. There are 10 units, Picnic tables and grills, and Vaulted toilets in the parking lot. There is no potable water and no Campground Host. The entire area is very scenic, and NM 475 is also designated as the Santa Fe Scenic Byway. Because of the large stands of aspen, the area is very busy, especially in the fall aspen viewing season. There are additional recreation opportunities along NM 475, both above and below Big Tesuque Campground, including hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, and in the winter. both nordic and alpine skiing. Tesuque is pronounced "Tess-U-key"
The Aspen Basin Campground is located adjacent to the very large parking area at Santa Fe Ski Basin. There are 10 units, Picnic tables, and fire rings. There is a vaulted toilet at the far west end of the parking lot. This campground is less developed than most, and primarily serves those who use it for an overnight stay before embarking on a backpack into the Pecos. There is ample space for trailer/RV camping, but no dump station is available. There is no potable water and no Campground Host. The entire area is very scenic, and NM 475 is also designated as the Santa Fe Scenic Byway. Because of the scenic quality and the easy access from Santa Fe, the area is very busy, especially in the summer and in the fall aspen viewing season.
22 miles north of Pecos on NM 63. Uses: Camping, picnicking, and trailhead access. Facilities: Tent camping only, Vaulted toilet, Trash bins, Tables and grills, 3 three-sided shelters, 19 parking spaces, Drinking Water. Fishing in Cave Creek. Special Instructions: NO HORSE TRAILERS ALLOWED.
Cowles Campground sits at the base of the Winsor Canyon where it meets the Pecos Canyon and is in walking distance of Cowles Ponds, Winsor Creek, Pecos River, and Winsor Ridge Trailhead. Uses: tent camping, picnicking, fishing, & hiking. Facilities: 1 vault toilet, 9 camping units with tables, fire rings, & grills, 2 covered three-sided shelters with fire places, and trash bins. No potable water, untility hook-ups, dumpstations or showers. Special Instructions: Users are encouraged to recycle and pack out trash. Please visit the Leave No Trace website for more information about frontcountry and backcountry outdoor ethics at www.lnt.org.
Winsor Ridge Trailhead is access point for Winsor Ridge Trail #271 and trail to Panchuela Campground and Trailhead. Located 20 miles north of Pecos on NM 63. Uses: Hiking, Backpacking, Horseback Riding. Facilities: vaulted toilet, trash bins, trailhead kiosk, parking for passenger vehiles & trailers. Special Considerations: Users are encouraged to recycle and pack out trash. Please visit the Leave No Trace website for more information about frontcountry and backcountry outdoor ethics www.lnt.org.
Located at the top of Glorieta Baldy with great vistas. Uses: picknicking, hiking. Facilities: tables. NO WATER. Special Instructions: Forest Road 375 rough, low clearance vehicles and trailers not recommended. Users are encouraged to recycle and pack out trash. Please visit the Leave No Trace website for information about frontcountry and backcountry outdoor ethics at www.lnt.org.
Primitive dispersed camping, 16 miles north of Pecos on NM 63, then 1 mile on FR 646. Uses: Camping. Facilities: Pit toilet, tables, and few fire pits. No water is available. Special Instructions: Users are encouraged to recycle and pack out trash. There are no fees.
Guide
We stopped for a night on the way through and it was so nice that we stayed an extra one just to relax and enjoy it. I highly recommend this little stop. The manager and staff were so nice!
Scout
Easy access pull thru sites each with a picnic table and fire pit. Table is in a covered shelter. Bathrooms were stinky and basic. The guy at the reception was very friendly. The RV park was quiet and the grounds were nice. $35 per night for 30A electric & water 42' pull thru site
Scout
Scenic area n close to Sante’ fe. It hasn’t been maintained in some ways. The showers were scaly w minerals. My shower wouldn’t heat up so went to the next one. My husbands shower faucet fell off. He went to the next one n it didn’t heat up. There were random electric cords n hoses laying around. The picnic tables in our area were rotten n falling apart. No problem w elec & sewer hook up. I called after hours number to get help w bathroom code. No one answered or called back. The place needs some TLC.
Traveler
Given the area described has piles of trash and little else to recommend it, it seems a shame to be close to gorgeous wilderness and stare at rubbish.
Head out just a bit further and turn onto the well maintained dirt Buckman road? There are canyons to explore and access to the Rio grande at the road's end, offering water in an area with next to none otherwise.
If these lowlands are too hot in the summer, drive up Artist Road to Big Tesuque or the ski-way at the end of the road, where shade, cold streams, and elevation keep nights pleasant even in July or August.
You won't be any further from Santa Fe, although it can take awhile to drive from the river or ski-way to town if you park as far away as possible.
All of the above sites have fire rings and vault toilets, and Big Tesuque and the ski-way have some sites with picnic tables as well. Firewood can be scavenged, especially if one gets away from the immediate campsite area.
Scout
My wife and I drove in late 9PM Friday night and host was there to meet us. Our 27ft class C RV made it up the hill, but kinda bumpy steep road. Rode our bikes all over Madrid and spent a lot of time exploring Madrid Cemetary, which is Awesome! The view and spot are breathtaking. We will return again.
Guide
To begin, the lots are far enough away from fellow campers that you're seldom disturbed by noise or movement. During the day, there will be plenty of new faces passing through to get to the Black Canyon Loop, which has its access point at the back of the camping property. There are, I believe, three pit toilets (possibly four, but I only recall seeing 3, one at the entrance, one on the right hand side up the pavement, and one before the trail access point). The trail is phenomenal. The incline is quite steep, but the loop is a reasonable length and I've seen families with young children and elderly folks successfully complete the loop. In the spring and early summer a small (VERY small) stream cuts through the trail from the snowmelt. You're likely to encounter wildlife in the evening if there aren't many campers, as bears are everywhere here. While HIKING at this location in the off season (site is closed for winter, but you can still access the trail) my wife and I encountered large mountain lion tracks. Parking at the lots is limited, with most spaces only fitting one car comfortably, and the space for tents varies but isn't enormous. Overall, a very cozy, shaded, quiet campground right off the main road making driving up or down the mountain for more trails during your stay very feasible. I personally have no cell service here, and use Mint Mobile, as a heads up. There is a functioning payphone near the entrance.
Scout
Great location just outside of Santa Fe, super easy to get to off of I-25. Bathrooms are clean and showers are comfortable. Everything is well maintained and the dog park is a massive plus if you have pups. There’s a little road noise, but not bad, and definitely worth it for ease of use. Would recommend!
Guide
I will start with the only downside of this site: it is very active with hikers, families, dogs, and photographers. You can expect dozens upwards of a hundred faces a day hiking up here which can be extremely annoying and the car traffic can drive you nuts. That said, for the ease of access, for the beautiful trails, and for the clean amenities I think it is worth it. In the winter right before the ski area opens is your best bet for quiet camping. But in the summer, spring, fall, and during ski season you will have a lot of friendly faces. Again, not bad, but I know some folks are very interested in getting "away" from people while camping. To those I recommend this site for hiking and not staying. 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 for someone who wants to be in touch with nature while enduring limiting conditions.
Scout
Stayed here 2 nights and had a great time. This campsite is in a great location to see the falls, and has a good layout. The pit toilets were clean, and well maintained. The camp hosts were very friendly and helpful when we had questions. I’ll definitely be back at some point!
Guide
Campground is nestled in a bug group of dense pines and only a 15-20 minute drive from Los Alamos. Quite a few hiking trails in the areas to explore the high desert mesas and escape the heat of Albuquerque.
Traveler
The place was clean. Our issues were two.
TravelerWe paid $75 for one night and the WiFi was weak and we had no cell service. The place was lovely and the bathrooms were clean and easy to use. It’s located 12 miles out of the city. There is a grocery store near by with a good selection of food and alcohol.
Scout
Road is easily traversed but would be more comfortable in a truck/suv. Some rough rutted areas after rains when I went. There are plenty of spots to pull of to along the side of the road. Designated areas with fire pits are bit difficult/narrow to get to if you are towing anything.
Traveler
Unwisely, we decided to go here in a large RV. DON’T!
Scout
Run down park, not very well maintained at all. The pictures used on their website are very misleading. Their "Recreation Hall" was disgusting. Dirty carpets, paint cans in the sink, just filthy dirty! The bathrooms were very clean at the bath house. The dog park was disgusting with the trash can there overflowing. Very disappointed and will not be staying at this dump again!
RangerStayed in #21. Sites 13 and 30 a!so good but avoid campsites downwind of toilets. No water while we were there. Very nice & helpful host. Several 1st come/1st serve sites but seems to fill up fast. Bathrooms cleanish & well used. Several convenient to back of campground. Trees. Good spot for screen tent.
GuideThis place sufficed due to the need to have somewhere for the night, if we had the chance we’d have gone somewhere else. Massive piles of trash everywhere, sites strewn with people’s leftover garbage from camping there.
Due to its close proximity to the landfill, it was extremely loud during the morning from around 7am onwards.
There was a partial closure banning camping in a section of the landfill, which was incredibly difficult to figure out where we could camp, as the map is not clear at all,
Coyotes at night were really cool.
Overall disappointing but glad we managed somewhere to sleep for the night
GuideExcellent location and views, just need some lo g term resident clean up or eviction at entrance. We stayed for one night. Great set up and next to a brewery/restaurant in wish we would have visited. Clean bathrooms and nice sites.
ScoutWe loved it. Very spacious. Fire pits here and there.
Legend
This is an overall nice CG. Gravel roadways and relatively level pull through sites. Good FHUs. When we arrived, the office was closed. We reserved E010 but were told to pick any open space in the "A" row. There were quite a few long-term residents. The conditions were very dry and dusty. No shade trees, but the pines planted will eventually provide. This was a great CG for our overnight stay. We would stay here again.
Traveler
We loved the location. The hiking trails were awesome. We booked a reservable with hydro for one night and decided to extend our stay with the first come first serve system. The self pay stations are at each of the teo campground loops. The 2nd and 3rd night didn’t have hydro however the size of the site and view more than made up for it.
To use the dump station, you have to go to the Rangers Station and ask them to unlock the gate. The access is a bit tight and we were not able to fill our fresh water tank due to the State Park having to bring their water up by truck. All in all, it was worth it.
GuidePerfect for an overnight stop, quiet, clean, there are several long term residents which is not reflected on the online booking system, most overnighters stay in row A. The playground was nice for our daughter
Guide
Very small, but quiet and secluded primitive campground. Several sites appear to be overgrown or have too much debris to be usable. There are a couple sites that could fit a small trailer. All are suitable for tents or a van. The bathroom is still out of order. Mobile coverage was spotty, worked better if you went up to the nearby trailhead. The road up to the campground is in good shape, 4x4 not required. Overall traffic was very low. There was a little bit of firewood cutting nearby, with a few trucks making multiple trips. A few families were up on Sat for picnics. UTVs were minimal. There are a few dispersed options in the area.
Traveler
Yes, it can get packed but be prepared to go early enough to find a good spot. I prefer camp sites 7 through 10, even the very first site when you first come in since they are right near the river. If you really want to experience the haunt of the campground I prefer the campsites in the back 11 through 16.
I have not experienced the haunts until I camped at spot 15, this past Labor Day weekend on Friday night August 30, 2024. I went to bed and about 12 am I heard a voice say Hello to me. Then the last night my friend and I were by the fire we did not have any more neighbors as they left that Sunday, we had our trash bag hanging from my friends canopy there was no wind and that trash bag was swaying back and forth rapidly. Was definitely an experience.
The hikes are the best especially if you have time to go to the lake which you want to get an early start, just follow the trail in the back past the reservation spot to get to the trail and follow up get to the fork in the trail and hang a left to the lake. I love the camp site always clean restrooms and fun experience for the paranormal.
GuidePlenty of spots and easy to get to. The only catch is you will need to find a spot away from the multiple large piles of trash.
The surrounding area was pretty and sunset was great!
Traveler
I pull a small trailer and the road in was rough. I was concerned about being able to turn around. When I got to the spot where there are six or eight camping spots, finding one suitable for a trailer was difficult, but I did it. This is more suitable to car camping.
There is an open area that would be good for group camping. There are three or more RVs that appear to be permanent features. That was strange. Looked like fishing camps. I didn't want to drive the steep road down to this area.
Personally, I wish I had stopped a the forest service campsites up hill from this location, but if you are in a car and want to tent camp here, I don't see a problem,
Guide
Really like this KOA. At first thought it was out of the way but really like it. Just off I25. Nice Big Rig friendly. Some of the sites I went by thought was not level but then you look closer the pad itself was very level. Nice pool.
Tent camping near Glorieta, New Mexico, offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the stunning landscapes of the Santa Fe National Forest. With various campgrounds to choose from, you can find the perfect spot for your outdoor adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Glorieta, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Glorieta, NM is Big Tesuque Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Glorieta, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 19 tent camping locations near Glorieta, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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