Primitive camping near Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico offers both desert and mountain experiences with elevations ranging from 4,000 feet at desert sites to over 9,400 feet in the Lincoln National Forest. Temperature extremes vary dramatically by season and elevation, with summer desert temperatures exceeding 100°F while mountain sites can drop below freezing at night even in September. Most dispersed sites require visitors to bring their own water supply and pack out waste.
What to do
Hiking in Cloudcroft: Forest Road 568 Dispersed Camping provides access to numerous trails with various difficulty levels. "The road through the forrest was enough to take your breath away... We parked on the side of a hill with the tall trees up the sunset and wind. Never felt so in tune with nature," reports one camper at Forest Rd 568 Dispersed.
Wildlife viewing: Higher elevation sites offer opportunities to spot elk and other wildlife. Lincoln National Forest sites particularly stand out for animal sightings. At Lincoln NF - Forest Service Road 64 - Dispersed Camping, a camper reported, "We tent camped in mid September 2022 in the Lincoln National Forest south of Cloudcroft, NM over 9,400' and it got cold at night. Saw one elk and heard more bugling."
OHV recreation: Several sites accommodate off-highway vehicles with designated trails. Red Sands Off-Highway Vehicle Area is specifically designed for this purpose. A visitor noted, "We usually take a camper out there. It's great for off road vehicles and it's pretty open. No shade and can get pretty miserable if it's windy."
What campers like
Mountain views: The dramatic Sacramento Mountains provide scenic backdrops at many camping areas. At Dog Canyon, campers appreciate the panoramic vistas. One visitor shared, "Easy to access, plenty of spots along the main road and other spurs going off from it. Drove the whole way until it dead ends into State Park land (fenced) then turned around and went down a spur on the left to a great spot."
Proximity to Cloudcroft: Many forest camping areas are just minutes from this small mountain town with supplies. "About 5 min drive to main road and 8 minutes to cloudcroft. There was no trash, and also no amenities," noted a camper at Forest Road 568 Dispersed Camping.
Solitude options: While some areas get crowded, many dispersed sites offer genuine privacy. "Stayed for 3 days and only saw a few cars pass by that whole time. Felt very private and had plenty of space. Lots of beautiful birds and some bats flying around at dusk!" reported a visitor at Dog Canyon.
What you should know
Road conditions: Access roads vary significantly in quality and often deteriorate further from main highways. At Bluff Springs Dispersed Camping, visitors should note potential challenges: "Upper Peñasco Road is narrow in parts" and "There were many people camping and it was difficult to find a spot along the road with dispersed camping sites."
Temperature considerations: Higher elevations offer cooler temperatures but can get unexpectedly cold. A Forest Road 568 camper mentioned, "Visited in last day in November, so it was a bit cold at night. Since it was so late in the year I ran across 0 other people, and at night it was absolutely silent."
Security awareness: Some remote areas have reported security concerns. One Dog Canyon camper warned, "At 1am as I was sleeping in my car, a UTV pulled up behind my vehicle and started flashing their lights. I quickly drove but they followed me down the dirt road."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Some sites offer creek access for children to play. At Bluff Springs, a visitor noted, "There is a small waterfall that we could see and hear from our campsite and a creek for for kiddos to play in. Its a free range area so cows are all over the place which was fun to see."
Noise considerations: Certain sites experience noise from nearby ranges or highways. At Dry Canyon Near Hang Glider Launch, a camper warned, "There is a gun range at the bottom, so you'll hear gun shots til sundown. Also, a little highway noise is present in the distance."
Plan for dust and wind: Desert sites especially can become uncomfortable in windy conditions. As one Red Sands Off-Highway Vehicle Area visitor stated, "No shade and can get pretty miserable if it's windy."
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Most forest roads have tight turns and limited pull-through sites. A visitor to Alamo Peak Rd shared, "We have a 30 foot motor home and were so glad to find a dispersed spot in the mountains we could fit!"
Turn-around challenges: Some forest roads dead-end with no space for larger vehicles to turn. "We went to the end of the road to find out that there was no way to turn our 29 ft trailer. We had to go in reverse about 1/4 mile to find a place to turn around," cautioned a visitor at Forest Rd 568.
Site selection strategy: Arrive with enough daylight to properly assess sites. One Bluff Springs visitor advised, "There's a gravel parking lot with bathrooms but no campground. We tent camped Sat, Aug. 1, 2020, arriving about 2pm. There were many people camping and it was difficult to find a spot along the road with dispersed camping sites."
