Best Dispersed Camping near Hanover, NM
Several free dispersed camping areas surround Hanover, New Mexico within the Gila National Forest, with popular spots including Bear Mountain, Meadow Creek Road, and the Cattlemen Trail areas. Most sites feature basic fire rings but no amenities – no water, toilets, or trash service. Bear Canyon Road and Meadow Creek Road offer higher elevation camping with ponderosa pine shade, while lower desert sites are available near the Continental Divide Trail.
Road conditions vary significantly across locations. Meadow Creek requires high clearance and 4x4 vehicles, with one camper noting it's "a bumpy road for all 3+ miles into the mountainside." Bear Canyon Road features "curvy, narrow roads" but remains accessible to smaller trailers when driven carefully. Most sites along Cattlemen Trail near Silver City are easily reached on well-maintained dirt roads. Cell service is spotty but surprisingly available at certain locations – Cattlemen Trail offers good coverage, while forest sites provide limited connectivity.
