Best Tent Camping near Llano, NM
Tent campgrounds around Llano, New Mexico offer backcountry experiences in Carson National Forest with several established sites available for overnight stays. Trampas Trailhead Campground provides access to hiking trails and features basic tent sites with picnic tables. Taos Junction Campground, located along the Rio Grande, offers tent camping with more amenities including drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets.
Forest roads in the area vary in condition, with some requiring high-clearance vehicles. FR 207 provides better access to the Trampas area campgrounds, while FR 639 requires good shocks and becomes difficult after rain due to mud. Most tent sites include fire rings and picnic tables, but amenities are limited. Trampas Trailhead Campground offers free camping with vault toilets but no drinking water. Water access is available at some locations from nearby streams, though treatment is necessary. Most primitive tent sites have seasonal availability, with some mountain areas inaccessible during winter months.
The surrounding forest landscapes feature aspen, pine, fir, and spruce trees providing natural shade at many campsites. Tent camping areas near Llano serve as excellent basecamps for hiking and backpacking into the Pecos Wilderness and surrounding mountains. La Junta Canyon offers dispersed camping options with well-spaced sites in beautiful forest settings. Campers seeking solitude will find quieter options at higher elevations and along less-traveled forest roads. One reviewer noted that "the campground has 3-4 campsites with good separation between sites" at Trampas Medio, while another mentioned that the area has "wonderful trails and mountain views." Many walk-in tent sites provide creek access, creating pleasant white noise for sleeping and reliable water sources for filtering.
