Camping areas near Jemez Springs sit at elevations between 6,000 and 9,000 feet, creating distinct temperature patterns throughout the year. Winter temperatures typically drop to 20-30°F at night with summer daytime temperatures reaching 80-90°F. Most dispersed camping sites in Santa Fe National Forest require high-clearance vehicles to access, especially after rain when forest roads develop significant washouts and ruts.
What to do
Hot springs exploration: 3 miles north of Vista Linda Campground, Jemez Hot Springs offers natural soaking opportunities. "Jemez hot springs (a few miles north on HWY 4) and Gilman Tunnels (a few miles south on HWY 4, then north on another road north some) made our Fall visit one to never forget," reports one visitor who stayed in October when temperatures ranged from 60-70°F during the day to 40-50°F at night.
Waterfall hikes: 30-minute drive from Jemez Falls Campground provides access to multiple waterfall trails. "Behind campsite 28 is a short (0.4 mile) trail that leads to Trail 137. When you hit that intersection, go left to visit Jemez Falls (beautiful) or right to climb to McCauley Springs (warm springs)," notes a camper who adds that "each of those spots has other, much more trafficked trails."
Fishing: Multiple access points along the Jemez River and at Fenton Lake. "Fishing is usually good though as it is well stocked. Temperatures at night can get down in the low forties after being in the eighties during the day," shares a camper who recommends reserving months ahead at popular fishing spots.
What campers like
Canyon views: Dispersed sites on Forest Road 4 near Fenton Lake State Park offer scenic overlooks. "When we did we drove to the left, followed the path until we saw an opened gate, and turned up to a site on the right. We wandered down to a cliff, and the most BEAUTIFUL view awaited us," reports a camper who was surprised to find such privacy. "This is just a new mexico thing, I guess. finding best kept secrets everywhere."
Stream access: Multiple campsites feature water proximity for cooling off. "The kids liked it was close to the stream. Bathrooms were clean and the camp host was very nice," mentions a visitor to Vista Linda, while another adds "there's a nice walking path along the stream/creek. Good place to take a walk after munching down on your favorite camp food."
Night skies: Limited light pollution creates excellent stargazing opportunities. A camper at FR376 Dispersed shares that "you can find the prefect camping for you. We saw from damp camping areas to big groups spaces," noting it's "one of the best free camp sites in New Mexico."
What you should know
Road conditions vary seasonally: Forest roads can become impassable after rain or snow. At Dispersed on 4, visitors warn "the road is pretty steep and washed out right now so be careful driving even in an off-roaring vehicle. My care would not have made it with it meager front wheel drive hybrid."
Reservation requirements: Many established campgrounds require advance booking. A camper at Fenton Lake warns, "The ranger will kick you out for not reserving online... part of the new process that they've not informed anyone of. The board says camping is $10/night. Online, only option was $18...$4 extra included for 'admin costs'."
Cell service limitations: Most areas have limited or no connectivity. "AT&T has no service there, but there is a store 1 mile away that will give you the wi-fi password if you buy something," notes a visitor to San Antonio Campground.
Fire restrictions: Seasonal bans often affect camping areas. "A burn notice was in effect in May, which was lifted for our June trip - probably because the significant afternoon hail storms on the first two days of our trip nicely saturated everything!"
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Redondo Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "Loop 2 - there's a playground next to site 14 and this is a GREAT loop for folks with kids. If you're not a kid person, you'd probably prefer a different loop," advises a camper at Fenton Lake, highlighting the importance of loop selection for families.
Kid-friendly fishing spots: Free fishing for children under 11 at nearby hatcheries. "If you have little ones (age 11 and under) you can continue up to the hatchery for free fishing for the kiddos. They're pretty much guaranteed to catch something," shares a parent who camped at San Antonio Campground.
Wildlife observation opportunities: Dawn and dusk offer best viewing times. "We had several TV channels so were able to stay up to date with the weather" notes a camper at Juniper Campground who adds, "We did that then hiked the trails down there. You can also hike back up to the campground, but we opted to take the shuttle instead."
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup options: Limited but available at specific dog-friendly campgrounds near Jemez Springs. "Loop 1 - this is where we stayed in both May and June. It's the easiest walk to the lake, but also has the oldest vault toilet," reports an RVer at Fenton Lake, noting the trade-offs between amenities and location at pet-welcoming campgrounds.
Leveling challenges: Many sites require blocking. "No hook-ups at any of the spots but there is a dump station near the entrance with potable water. There are also potable water spigots throughout the campground," shares an RVer at Juniper Campground who adds "Not the easiest site to navigate or level, but we made it work and had plenty of room to park the truck in front."
Solar considerations: Site selection impacts power generation. "Our spot #9 was perfect for solar, no obstructions at all. Most of the other sites we saw at least had some potential for shade," advises an RVer who cautions that "The campground was a little tight for us so I'd think anything much bigger (40' is probably pushing it) than us will have some trouble getting around."
