Best Equestrian Camping near La Joya, NM

Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel offers specialized facilities for traveling equestrians and their horses near La Joya, New Mexico. The property features dedicated horse stalls with exercise areas, allowing riders to safely house their animals during overnight stays. Stables are maintained in clean condition with adequate space for horses to move comfortably. Horse trailer parking is available with convenient pull-through access for larger rigs. The campground accommodates both RVs and tent campers with full hookup sites that include water, electric, and sewer connections. Highway noise from the nearby interstate is noticeable but generally not disruptive to horses accustomed to traveling. Sites are accessible and the park is clean with mature trees providing shade throughout the property.

Trail riding opportunities exist within reasonable driving distance from Kiva, with several equestrian-friendly public lands in the region. Water Canyon Campground, located approximately 30 miles southwest, offers primitive camping with horse access and connects to forest service roads suitable for riding. The Manzano Mountains area provides additional options for day rides on established trails with occasional equestrian traffic. Trail riders often encounter free-roaming cattle in outlying areas, which typically pose no problems for experienced horses. The campground is positioned for convenient access to Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, though not all refuge trails permit horses. Horse owners should carry their own water supplies as drinking sources are limited at primitive sites. The relatively mild climate allows for extended camping seasons, with most horse-friendly areas remaining accessible from April through November.

Best Equestrian Sites Near La Joya, New Mexico (4)

    1. Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel

    4 Reviews
    La Joya, NM
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 861-0693

    "Kiva RV Park is just a 5 minute drive from the NWR, so we stayed there on a Friday night, so we could get up bright and early for our hiking the next day."

    2. Water Canyon Campground

    13 Reviews
    Magdalena, NM
    28 miles
    Website

    "You don't often find free developed camping at the end of a paved road in New Mexico, but Water Canyon is one of those exceptions. "

    "Every year, we drive from Texas to Apache National Forest. Cibola is halfway. Every year, we make sure to stay the night at Water Canyon. First: the views. Secondly, the amenities."

    3. Red Canyon Campground

    8 Reviews
    Mountainair, NM
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 847-2990

    "Nice kid-friendly trails adjacent to the campground. We had a nice shady site, some others seemed more exposed."

    "However, though there are bathrooms at the location, they are really smelly and flies surround them."

    4. Manzano Mountains Camp

    2 Reviews
    Mountainair, NM
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 346-3900

    "Took awhile to get here, well off the beaten path. Ponderosa Pines, oak and juniper scrub. Ample supply of downed trees to use as firewood. Gets muddy if it rains."

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near La Joya, NM

27 Reviews of 4 La Joya Campgrounds


  • Patrick B.
    Oct. 16, 2022

    Water Canyon Campground

    Can't beat the price (for now)

    You don't often find free developed camping at the end of a paved road in New Mexico, but Water Canyon is one of those exceptions.  It seems to be one of those spots that people don't take the time to get off the highway to explore -- on a weekday in July there was only one other campsite occupied.

    There are about a dozen campsites, vault toilets, trash cans, a group campsite at the bottom of the hill and easy access to some great hiking trails, all about ten minutes outside of Socorro and an hour from Albuquerque.

    While the campground is free for now, I did see some notices posted about the Forest Service taking public comment on levying a $10 per night fee per site.

  • J
    Aug. 19, 2020

    Water Canyon Campground

    A solid stop

    Every year, we drive from Texas to Apache National Forest. Cibola is halfway. Every year, we make sure to stay the night at Water Canyon. First: the views. Secondly, the amenities. A level spot, with a fire ring, table and maintained vault toilets for $0. The most spacious spots are the first two, after that a six man tent is the largest tent you’ll fit on a level spot. We have never really explored further than our camp site, as our children are small and out number us. But for 12-36 hours, it is a beautiful stay that includes campfires, lizards and the occasional equestrian that lets our kids treat their horses. Treasured memories, unplugged and free.

  • Reuben
    Nov. 3, 2020

    Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel

    Humble but still pretty nice

    We live in Albuquerque, but wanted to spend a day hiking the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. Kiva RV Park is just a 5 minute drive from the NWR, so we stayed there on a Friday night, so we could get up bright and early for our hiking the next day.

    The folks running the place were very friendly. Led us to our spot and made sure everything was okay for us. It's a fairly humble place...gravel roads and parking spots. No concrete to be seen. Each slot has a fairly wide planted area, but this is not patches of green lawn. They have mature native trees and shrubs that are well maintained. Plenty of big cottonwood trees provided shade. The place is clearly run on a low budget, but is well maintained and there is pride in the work here. When we visited, it appeared to be nearly full, and it felt like perhaps 50/50 mix between long-term residents and overnight(or nearly overnight) visitors. There is a large corral area for horses. We walked over to it but there were no horses there. There's a little dog park, a bathhouse and laundry. We didn't use any of those amenities, so I can't comment. I believe the laundry is listed as free.(This is not the case with the wifi, which was complex and had a fee.) I just used my hotspot from my Verizon service and because we had 4 bars, that worked just fine for streaming some Netflix that night.

    We really like the place. Lots of neighbors, but everyone was very friendly, and no late partying. A few kids. But really, it was all very pastoral and nice. We'd stay here again. 

    Not all was perfect. Aside from the less-than-friendly wifi: 1) The sewer hookup is just an open pipe. No threads. A little stinky when you take the cover off.  2) It is almost literally right next to the interstate. There's no denying those traffic noise is real. We slept with no issues, but if traffic noise doesn't act like white noise for you...you might want to look somewhere else. We're lucky; but I know this is a deal-breaker for some.

    They do offer a Good Sam discount of 10%, so with tax, we paid $34. Well worth it. Very nice stay.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 4, 2023

    Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel

    Horse Motel

    Park is very nice. Spots are accessible and park is clean. Stables for horses with exercise area. A little bit noisy from interstate but not to bad.

  • Gavin J.
    Jun. 2, 2021

    Red Canyon Campground

    Relaxing weekend getaway

    Came recommended by a friend. Beautiful secluded spot in the Manzanos. Nice kid-friendly trails adjacent to the campground. We had a nice shady site, some others seemed more exposed.

  • S
    Sep. 8, 2019

    Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel

    Nice for overnight

    Nice place for an overnight stay. Owner is nice, laundry, showers & restrooms. Close to highway, which you hear, but nice stop for just an overnight. Takes Good Sam & Passport.

  • Melinda J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 4, 2025

    Water Canyon Campground

    Water canyon

    There are campsites available but not for big rigs. We have a 40 foot toy hauler and the dirt roads and narrowness would not allow for us. If you have something maybe 18’ or less and 4wd you could probably make it fine. We stayed right at the entrance near the picnic area. Spoke with fire inspector from the forest service and he said it was fine. The location was decent. Pretty quiet except for early morning vehicles driving up the road to the observatory and lab? We didn’t make the drive up as we have a dually and the road is pretty narrow.

  • Atheena T.
    Apr. 12, 2025

    Red Canyon Campground

    Red Canyon

    This is an amazing campsite. There are nice fire pits and picnic spots. However, though there are bathrooms at the location, they are really smelly and flies surround them.

  • J
    Apr. 19, 2021

    Red Canyon Campground

    Nice location

    This is not the state park campground. This is the NFS campground in beautiful setting. No reservation required. Right next to trailheads. Great Mountain biking on forest roads that link canyons. Toilets but no water so come prepared.


Guide to La Joya

Campgrounds near La Joya, New Mexico offer campers access to diverse terrain spanning mountains, canyons, and high desert landscapes. Located at elevations between 4,600 and 6,500 feet, this region experiences dramatic temperature shifts between day and night. Water availability varies significantly by season, with most primitive sites requiring campers to bring their own supply.

What to do

Trail riding in Cibola National Forest: Multiple forest service roads connect to Water Canyon Campground, providing access points for riders with their own horses. "We have never really explored further than our camp site, as our children are small and out number us. But for 12-36 hours, it is a beautiful stay that includes campfires, lizards and the occasional equestrian that lets our kids treat their horses," reports one visitor to Water Canyon Campground.

Wildlife viewing at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge: Located minutes from equestrian-friendly accommodations. "We live in Albuquerque, but wanted to spend a day hiking the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. Kiva RV Park is just a 5 minute drive from the NWR, so we stayed there on a Friday night, so we could get up bright and early for our hiking the next day," writes a camper who visited Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel.

Mountain biking between canyons: Forest roads connect multiple canyons in the Manzano Mountains. "Right next to trailheads. Great Mountain biking on forest roads that link canyons. Toilets but no water so come prepared," notes a visitor to Red Canyon Campground.

What campers like

Affordable camping options: Budget-conscious travelers appreciate the free camping available at several sites. "This is a FREE campground but plans are in the works to started charging in 2 years at $10/night. There are gravel tent and parking pads, picnic tables, fire rings, pit toilets and garbage," explains a Water Canyon Campground visitor.

Shade coverage: The mature trees provide crucial relief during hot summer months. "Campground itself is great. Nice area, picnic tables, firepits, vault toilets, trash and best of all, free," reports a camper at Water Canyon Campground.

Wildlife encounters: The natural setting allows for animal observation. "Very green and lush with deer visiting our site at dusk!" shares a camper who stayed at Manzano Mountains Camp.

What you should know

Interstate noise levels: Highway proximity affects some horse campgrounds near La Joya, New Mexico. "Not all was perfect. Aside from the less-than-friendly wifi... It is almost literally right next to the interstate. There's no denying those traffic noise is real. We slept with no issues, but if traffic noise doesn't act like white noise for you...you might want to look somewhere else," advises a Kiva RV Park visitor.

Seasonal conditions: Winter closures affect accessibility to many sites. "This area is very wooded. Could get muddy when it rains. Lots of sites. Big rig friendly," notes a visitor to Manzano Mountains Camp.

Facilities maintenance: Vault toilets require periodic servicing. "There are nice fire pits and picnic spots. However, though there are bathrooms at the location, they are really smelly and flies surround them," reports a visitor to Red Canyon Campground.

Tips for camping with families

Scout for shaded sites: Some campgrounds offer variable sun exposure. "We had a nice shady site, some others seemed more exposed," notes a visitor to Red Canyon Campground.

Be prepared for after-hours disturbances: Occasional nighttime activity can disrupt sleep. "We had a great night with a campfire and a good view of the stars and moon. All was well until someone started illegally cutting down trees at 2 in the morning. After an annoying couple of hours they were gone, most of our group were wide awake and tried to go back to sleep," cautions a scout leader who stayed at Red Canyon Campground.

Pack accordingly for primitive sites: Many locations lack amenities. "There is no drinking water or cell reception from AT&T or Verizon. Pets allowed on a leash. Also there are free roaming cattle we saw on the main road in but none in the campground though there was poop evidence that they've been around," advises a Water Canyon Campground visitor.

Tips from RVers

Road conditions for large vehicles: Access roads vary in quality and width. "There are campsites available but not for big rigs. We have a 40 foot toy hauler and the dirt roads and narrowness would not allow for us. If you have something maybe 18' or less and 4wd you could probably make it fine. We stayed right at the entrance near the picnic area," advises an RVer who visited Water Canyon Campground.

Sewer connection limitations: Be prepared for basic hookups. "The sewer hookup is just an open pipe. No threads. A little stinky when you take the cover off," notes a Kiva RV Park visitor regarding the horse-friendly facilities.

Connectivity challenges: Cell service varies significantly between locations. "Connectivity was spotty. I did get a phone call while using the bathroom in the lower campground," reports a camper at Red Canyon Campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near La Joya, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near La Joya, NM is Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel with a 3.8-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near La Joya, NM?

TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near La Joya, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.