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Due to rehabilitation of camping sites, backcountry camping is closed.
Lower Karr Canyon Campground has undeveloped campsites scattered above and below the Karr Canyon Picnic Area. Forest Road 63 is gravel and can be rough. Fire rings are available. Tent camping is allowed here and there are a number of lovely spots for you to choose from, all of which are accessible by walking in to the site from the parking area.
James Canyon Campground offer 5 sites along US82 just west of Mayhill, NM. The lower elevation of 6,800' means this small site is usable longer than most Sacramento Mountain area campgrounds when the snows begin. Picnic tables, grills, and one group ramada among scattered pine trees. 16' RV limit. James Canyon Campground - General Area
The Skyline Campground is located just south of the famous Monjeau Lookout tower along Forest Road 117 at a little over 9,000' elevation. Access to it is via a well kept but steep gravel road but with inclement weather, this road can become rough and difficult to use. There are 17 sites here for tents only. Breathtaking mountain views abound and access to the White Mountain Wilderness can be found at the site via the Crest (T25) Trailhead. No trash service at this site. Please pack out what you pack in.
Monjeau Lookout is a famous landmark on the Smokey Bear Ranger District built originally in 1936 and then reconstructed in 1940 as part of a Civilian Conservation Corps project. This site is a wonderful and adventurous place to visit. Roads leading up to the site are dirt and can be steep in places. Visit during the summer months as the road leading to it closes during the winter with the advent of snow. Monjeau Lookout is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).Click Here for a recent article from the "Lookout Network" detailing the entire history of this place.
The Upper Bonito Dispersed Recreation Area is located at the end of Forest Road 107 in Bonito Canyon. It is a popular dispersed camping site with access to the adjacent White Mountain Wilderness Area and its trails.
Located on the outskirts of Ruidoso, Cedar Creek provides a wonderful space for groups visiting for the day or staying overnight. With a picnic shelter and three group campsites, the recreation area is ideal for an outing in Lincoln National Forest. A popular pastime is is hiking and mountain biking along the scenic multi-use trails adjacent to the Sam Tobias Memorial Group Campground. There are opporunities to see a number of different wildlife, including Mule deer and Elk in the area.
Ranger
Has one handicap accessible & next to bathroom). There is a group site that has three picnic tables under a shelter and two grills. 2 RV sites have covered picnic tables and grills and water and electric hookups. Five tent sites. One of the tent locations is at the handicap accessible site. CLEAN restrooms with flush toilets and drinking water are available. Pets are allowed in the campground(on leash), but are not allowed on the trails. Petroglyph trails are rocky, but not difficult (keep your eyes peeled, there are petroglyphs everywhere). Hosts were very nice. Campground has well-functioning electronic/pay check-in. Great BLM campground. Other places in area include Malpais lava flows. Sierra Blanca hovers to the east. Sunset was early in Nov. so if hiking trails in late afternoon take a flashlight. Nearby Carrizozo reportedly has a photo gallery or three that we were told were well worth checking out but we did not get chance to do so.
Ranger
Stayed in #43. Most sites are uneven and short. BLM recommends nothing more than 23' long. Water available at host site near gate before driving about 4 or 5 mi to campsites. Road IS narrow and winding and steep in place but pave and ONE way (don't turn wrong direction). Toilets were clean and mens toilets all had soft-close lids. I am told womens do not. Campground was clean, great 4 mile loop hike, and other much more strenuous/technical options for mountain climbers. Mountain crags remind me of a mix of Tetons, Patagonia and Sawtooth in Idaho. Great views to Sacramento Mountains to the east (Ruidoso/Cloudcroft area--Sierra Blanca covered in snow early Nov.). White Sands nearby along with White Sands Missile Range Museum). Met some BLM peeps who were very nice, helpful and provided great information re: geology of the area and other points of interest. We brought our own 5 gal of water and were fine for 3 nights.
Ranger
Local to everything in Alamogordo. Propane available, laundry, cabins, hot as hell showers, water pressure is really high at around 155 psi. So definitely bring a regulator. Two KOA cats that are friendly so FYI
GuideGreat sites with close and clean toilets. We found a few level spots that would work for rooftop tents, but most spots seemed a little rocky and uneven for tents. There is a lovely 4 mile hike that loops up in the mountains by the sites.
TravelerEveryone was super nice! Place was well kept and clean. Note: there is lots of railroad train coming by throughout the evening WiFi could be better. White Sands National Park is very close.
Traveler
Not bad at all. Not far off the main road. Paved road to it. Gravelled grounds. Pretty level. Quiet. This isn't a huge campground but we had no trouble finding a spot.
Ranger
Beautiful location for sunsets. Sites are spread out, private, and a bargain at $10 ($14 for electric/water). Clean bathrooms. One very strenuous hike from the campground. We only went up 1/4 mile. The footing was challenging (along with the elevation gain). Good overnight. Quiet at night.
ScoutIt’s great to hear about the spacious sites and beautiful surroundings that enhance the outdoor experience. Your mention of nearby hiking trails is particularly helpful for those looking to explore. Sprunki
Ranger
This small camp site is next to Smokey Bear Historical Park and museum is in a small town of Capitan, New Mexico.
Guide
We had a great night drove through the entire area and off roads to find a nice quiet area we had our son and two big doggos and had plenty of space for them to roam. Lots of trails nearby and the lake of course!
GuideWe stayed with the doggos and our son on a RTT and had a great time other people are camping and might be too loud for your taste but not too much to ruin it. Views are amazing especially from the hikes
Guide
Campsites are to close, Camp host DO NOT keep the quite hours. Parties destroy the quite. Parties going until 2AM.
Actually not really sure what the camp host does, they started a leaf blower during morning quit hours ( I could stay home for that).
Saddle and Apache are nice with campsites further apart....but stay away from silver.
On a good note, if you are in Cloudcroft go to Mad Jacks BBQ.....the Beef Ribs are AWESOME, it is REAL TEXAS bbq.
TravelerCar camped in a tent site for just a night after visiting WSNP. Non-flush toilets without sinks near tent sites and the full bathhouse is a bit of a walk away. Worth it, though, with spacious shower stalls and well-kept buildings. Sweet views of the valley and mountains and far off the highway.
Scout
Briefly stopped to scouts the sites and area. A few people hiking. Several cars and trucks parked in the area. Day use and picnic areas here. Sure wish to see camping or dispersed in this area. Evening and night skies are beautiful but gate usually closes at sunset. We driven near this area late night and still catch a glimpse of vehicles traveling out of this area.
Guide
This was a beautiful location, near the town of Cloudcroft. We enjoyed the cooler weather up in the mountains. It was peaceful and quite. There were not very many spaces available. We should have have just stayed in the first location we found though. 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.
TravelerStayed here while visiting White Sands National Park for 2 nights. Its a well kept fairly small campground. Everything worked as advertised. Highly recommend this place. Some nice hikes from the park with amazing views.
Scout
There is NO River, small stream in a ditch. LIE# 2. Internet indicates SHOWERS. However if your camper has a shower ACCESS TO SHOWERS. DENIED!!! Also No fires allowed ! Highway noise drowns out any Peaceful sounds. In truth: NO Amenities… play in the ditch or stay in your camper.
Guide
Many great spots available and easily accessible by low clearance vehicles (we have a camper class B van). Very close (less than a mile?) to the state park, and about 30 minutes from white sands NM. Very quiet. Cell signal. Dog friendly.
Guide
We have a 30 foot motor home and were so glad to find a dispersed spot in the mountains we could fit!
Rim Trails and Alamo Peak Trails in walking distance. There were other campers nearby but it was quiet and beautiful.
No cell service except for a few bars down the road toward Alamo Peak.
Elk, hummingbirds, all tucked away in aspen grove. This is a special spot.
GuideA really great place to hang out for a few days and just enjoy life. Beautiful cliffs to the east towering over the sites, and the wide expanse of the valley to the east. Wonderful view of the starry night sky as well. Facilities were acceptable, nothing to complain about. Good cell service for both Verizon and T-mobile. Close for a day trip into the mountains or White Sands. Perfectly open to the sky for great solar.
Traveler
This was a really nice spot we stumbled upon. It's about 13 miles off the 54 on BLM land. The road was smooth (though gravel most of the way). It was also super quiet since it was so far away from the road. The actual camp was in the trees and great views of the surrounding mountains. Each spot has a table, fire pit, and gazebo. There are also a few trailheads at the back of camp. The only downside was that it cost $15.
Guide
This was a decision while we were in Alamogordo trying to find an RV place in Ruidoso. What sold us to be there was the 5 star review. We knew the spaces were tight and it was in a commercial area but we were curious what it was about.
We were very happy with the two nights we spent here. I think the ease of picking a spot that worked for our situation, the clean park and bathrooms and friendly staff and neighbors made it surprisingly one of the best RV experiences we’ve had.
The high was 75 and the low was 45. It rained the first morning for about an hour. The main road is noisy, but we knew what we were getting into so it didn’t bother us.
The best part about this place was how close it was to stores, food, and gas. It’s really opened my eyes to how we can RV parks as a pass through in our journey to take advantage of electric and water and experience the local food and shops.
Ruidoso alone is a quintessential mountain town and it’s a must see visit in Lincoln National Forrest.
TravelerPros - gorgeous 360 views, quiet spot, clean pit toilets, water available throughout grounds
Cons - zero shade so it is HOT especially if you're tent camping, nothing to "do" at the campground but plenty activities in a reasonable drive
ScoutFirst time ever I’m going to Ruidoso me and my wife didn’t really have a plan one night after sleeping in the Walmart parking lot we were driving down and saw midtown and asked if they do one night rentals at a time teepee site wasn’t fully done, but they allowed us to stay in there for a great price and helped us out when we had no idea what we were doing. I want to thank Midtown campground & RV park for the amazing time we had there
LegendOliver Lee Memorial, NM: We stayed in Loop B, non-electric. I did not evaluate Loop A. Good location for visiting White Sands (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)
Overall Rating: 4.5 Great campground layout. Well designed. Sites are staggered giving view grand view for all sites
Security: Desert vegetation does not offer privacy
Site Spacing: Great .
Toilets and Showers :There is a dispersed camping area nearby, therefore, showers/flush toilet building is shut down at night to avoid their unauthorized usage of facilities during the night. Scattered pit toilets are always available.
Usage during visit: 95% full
Site Privacy: No
Site Spacing: GREAT
Reservations: Yes
Campground Noise: Quiet
Outside Road Noise: This campground is at the end of the access road.
Through Traffic in campground: No
Electric Hookup: Loop A
Sewer Hookup: No
Dump Station: Yes. Open from about dawn to nighttime to avoid unlawful use.
Potable Water Available: Scattered spigots in Loop B.
Bathroom: Pit toilets and one nice shower/flush toilet facility.
Showers: Private stalls.
Pull Throughs: Some
Cell Service (AT&T): Good service from our site.
Setting: Nestled close to the mountain range with nice views of the desert below.
Recent Weather: Sunny. 60s to 30s
Solar: GREAT
Insects:None
Host: Great hosts
Rig Size:Large rigs
Sites: best sunsets sites.:42, 43, 44(however, you can see the sunset from most sites.). Nice view sides: 41, 40, 39, 38, 32, 33, (35, 36, 37, great views just close to the bathroom). Every site here has an extraordinary view. These are just a little bit better, in my opinion.
LegendThree Rivers Petroglyph BLM , NM Campground: Great location between White Sands and Valley of the Fires. It is about 3 miles from the highway off a gravel road that is in good condition. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)
Overall Rating: 3 because most sites are in a large open gravel area . Our site: 4
Price 2024: $ w interagency pass
Security: No
Usage during visit: Full each night mostly with one or two night stays.
Site Privacy: 1 and 2 are set off by themselves a bit. The rest have no privacy.
Site Spacing: fine
Site surface: gravel
Reservations: First come first serve v
Campground Noise: Quiet
Outside Road Noise: No
Through Traffic in campground: Folks come in to hike.
Electric Hookup: Sites 1 & 2
Sewer Hookup: No
Dump Station: No
Potable Water Available: Yes. Filter the water.
Generators: Yes
Bathroom: Very well kept flush toilets.
Showers: No
Pull Throughs: Most are
Cell Service (AT&T): 1 to 2 bars.
Setting: Open desert shrubbery between the splendid looking White Mountains and
Recent Weather: Winy time of year.
Solar: Absolutely.
Insects: None.
Host: On site.
Rig Size: Some sites can fit a large 5th wheel.
Sites: Most of the few sites are spread out in a graveled area. There is not much distinction between sites. Sites 1 and 2 set off from the rest and are the best sites.
Legend
James Canyon, NM: This is right off the highway, so easy access. There are only two sides when you can accommodate an RV.. A couple folks parked in the parking lot overnight. Ad jacent highway noise is very noticeable, however, traffic is pretty light and very late at night time. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)
Overall Rating: For a stop over: 4.
Price 2024: Free
Security: no
Usage during visit: two RV sites filled up. Ted sites for him to. Room in the parking lot. Small Riggs only
Site Privacy: no
Site Spacing: good
Pad surface: RV sites
Reservations: no
Campground Noise: no, no
Outside Road Noise: noticeable
Through Traffic in campground: no, except for stopping to use the bathrooms
Electric Hookup: no
Sewer Hookup: no, no
Dump Station: no
Potable Water Available: No
Generators: allowed
Bathroom: very clean pit toilets
Showers: no
Pull Throughs: both RV sites are back in. A little bit of extra work is required to back the trailer down to go to one of the two site.
Cell Service (AT&T): no
Setting: just off the highway
Recent Weather: cool nights
Solar: some
Insects: none
Host: no
Rig Size: much over 22’ would be difficult
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Holloman Air Force Base, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Holloman Air Force Base, NM is Backcountry Primitive Sites — White Sands National Park with a 4.7-star rating from 23 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Holloman Air Force Base, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Holloman Air Force Base, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
