Join the fun near Mescalero. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Mescalero. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Mescalero and user-submitted reviews.
"You can get as far away from main roads as you need. There are infinite spots on this road. It’s quite long and the road conditions aren’t all that bad, so anyone can access it."
"04/15/22 service road 568, Lincoln National Forest, NM
Friday night/Good Friday
I found this camp on a suggestion from a local waitress at Big Daddy’s."
"You can get as far away from main roads as you need. There are infinite spots on this road. It’s quite long and the road conditions aren’t all that bad, so anyone can access it."
"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."
"There are no amenities here, and surprisingly there was no trash at all. There is a gravel road off the highway that leads into the campground."
"1990 Winnebago Chieftain towing a '95 Wrangler from LA > FL
Got here late last night driving from Albuquerque and since it's essentially just all dirt/shrub, you're able to park wherever you can (just"
"Dispersed camping along the bluff spring stream. A ton of campsites, and easy access to bluff spring and a trail complex. High clearance vehicle recommended, pretty packed in the summer months."
"This is a quiet area tucked away in Lincoln National Forest. It's not too far from Cloudcroft, NM so it's easy to resupply on water, snack, etc."
"Very much so dispersed camping with no amenities. The road up was a little muddy but over all smoother and easy. We picked a spot at the highest point along Bailey Canyon Rd."
"However, the trail up to the camping spots is steep, washed out, and tight. Can be navigated with a stock 4x4 pick up. Also, there is a gun range at the bottom, so you'll hear gun shots til sundown."
"Main dirt road is fine, even for larger rigs. Side road that runs north/south may give you issues.
Plenty of obvious campsites, many of which are level."
"The turn off from the paved road is difficult to spot and the unpaved road is rough. High ground clearance recommended."
"A lot of dispersed camping areas don't have toilets, but this one does.
Lots of first come first served campsites along the little creek. Not much privacy when it's busier (warmer months)."
"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."
"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."
"Follow sunspot highway to mile marker numbe 5, the forest road is right there. Once you enter take a left down the slope."
RangerWe tent camped in mid September 2022 in the Lincoln National Forest south of Cloudcroft, NM off Forest Service Road 64. Over 9,400’ and it got cold at night. Saw one elk and heard more bugling. Plenty of wood to make a fire. Nice forest. We stayed at a spot on a meadow about 4-5 dispersed sites south of Sunspot Highway. Good times.
GuideA very nice spot to stop on a road trip. There are no amenities here, and surprisingly there was no trash at all. There is a gravel road off the highway that leads into the campground. There is a lot of open space for you to pick and just set up camp. Here I used a tent. Theres no need for a permit or checking in. A state trooper drove in in the morning for something but didn’t stop to interact with anyone. There was just me and two other van campers. The gate seems to be open all year round. Can be found as Lake Holloman on Google. In the morning I woke up to fighter jets flying from the Air Force base that is near by. A beautiful sight to wake up to. Would stop here again
ScoutFound the location on Google. During my time there the lake had a bit of a funk but not too bad. Some reviews said there wasn’t anything while they were there but alas I was not so lucky
No amenities, just an empty lot, but decent enough for a night while exploring white sands. Gravel access road is pretty good and my low clearance sedan had no trouble with it
GuideNeeded a last resort spot to sleep and decided on finding a spot here. 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. You can get as far away from main roads as you need. There are infinite spots on this road. It’s quite long and the road conditions aren’t all that bad, so anyone can access it. You can tell where other people have been due to campfires. But if you visit anytime in the year I’m sure you’re able to find a spot, as they can extend up to 200ft back into the woods and have lots of area. About 5 min drive to main road and 8 minutes to cloudcroft. There was no trash, and also no amenities. I highly recommend this spot if you need somewhere free to stay extended or even one night if you’re visiting Lincoln. Coordinates are accurate
GuideNeeded a last resort spot to sleep and decided on finding a spot here. 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. You can get as far away from main roads as you need. There are infinite spots on this road. It’s quite long and the road conditions aren’t all that bad, so anyone can access it. You can tell where other people have been due to campfires. But if you visit anytime in the year I’m sure you’re able to find a spot, as they can extend up to 200ft back into the woods and have lots of area. About 5 min drive to main road and 8 minutes to cloudcroft. There was no trash, and also no amenities. I highly recommend this spot if you need somewhere free to stay extended or even one night if you’re visiting Lincoln. Coordinates are accurate
GuideDispersed camping along the bluff spring stream. A ton of campsites, and easy access to bluff spring and a trail complex. High clearance vehicle recommended, pretty packed in the summer months.
GuideThe camping is great and the views are amazing. However, the trail up to the camping spots is steep, washed out, and tight. Can be navigated with a stock 4x4 pick up. Also, 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.
Traveler1990 Winnebago Chieftain towing a '95 Wrangler from LA > FL
Got here late last night driving from Albuquerque and since it's essentially just all dirt/shrub, you're able to park wherever you can (just don't block the worn in dirt roads obviously). Had about 30 other RVs, campervans, 5th wheels, tents and cars parked all around. Any type of camper is welcome and their space respected. Quiet, everyone was respectful of one another. Mostly families with young children and retirees. Woke up to a beautiful lake. A bit windy though, for anyone thinking of tent camping or has a tall vehicle.
GuideWe were here for 2 nights. Beautiful sunset you must stay for and see. 5 mins from White Sands NP. No amenities but free. It is right off the highway but couldn’t hear traffic noise. Also please note that the marker from the directions on the app is a little inaccurate. If you’re going West on 70, about another .2 miles down and you will see it on the right. If you are coming East (passing the park), then it’ll be bit before. There is a left lane on the highway to turn into the entrance. We missed it coming out of the park and had to make a u-turn. No big deal but want to give others a heads up!
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Mescalero, New Mexico, where nature enthusiasts can enjoy serene landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities. This area offers numerous spots for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Mescalero, NM is Forest Road 568 - Dispersed Camping with a 4.4-star rating from 14 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 24 dispersed camping locations near Mescalero, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
