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The Caja del Rio area is a lower elevation and drier section of the Santa Fe National Forest. This is mainly a Piñon-Juniper dominated vegetation zone with areas of sage and mixed grasses. It is often open for recreational opportunities when the rest of the Forest is snowed over. Watch for seasonal road closures due to wet and very muddy roads. It is another good area for solitude and lesser travelled trails.
TravelerGreat boondocking spot @15 mins from downtown Santa Fe.
Zero amenities but clean, huge open areas, and safe.
Your are behind a huge solid waste transfer station but you’d never know besides the huge hill. No smell or garbage anywhere.
Pros-
-HUGE open area -WIFI is great (pull in and go to the left down by the cattle coral) -Clean areas -Safe -Bathrooms (Didn’t Use) -Tons of hiking -15mins tops to downtown Santa Fe -Free
Cons-
-Windy -Dusty -No water -No Dump Station
We got water at the dog park up the road with our water bladder bag. Try to go during dusk as it is way less busy with fewer spectators watching and wondering what you’re doing, we had zero issues! 😊
It’s a great Free spot for a night or two weeks also surrounded by BLM land so you can’t really go wrong.
This area is well big enough for any size rig, just stay to the right on the gravel road pass the cattle guard where the road is gravel and smoother for sure!
Enjoy! 😊
ScoutThis is dispersed camping with mostly RVs, some vans, and a few tents and teepees. There are no hookups but near the entrance there is a building with two enclosed bathrooms. There is no trash collection so you must carry out everything you bring in. This is great free camping or just free overnight parking if you are self sufficient with your own water and solar power. There is lots of space but it seems like a lot of people just pull in and find spots near the front. We camped in August 2021 and days got up to 90 degrees. We hung out in SantaFe until about 8pm and it dropped to 80 and the breeze picked up. It is dry in the desert so 80 is very comfortable. Another nice thing about desert camping is there are some flies, and a few mosquitos but compared to the moist midwest we seem fine without having to use a lot of bug repellant. We will stay here again.
Ranger
The area is right next to a landfill which worried us at first but turned out not to be a problem, I imagine it gets worse in the warmer months. You can drive around and find some cool and private spots but there is trash seriously everywhere. We even found shot gun shells a little further out all over the ground. When you pull up to the area you can either turn right into the blm land or go straight past the signage into the National park area. I think it said El Camino Real. This is where the toilets and shelter is. The toilets were actually well kept. There were some nice people but I can imagine if you drive further out away from people it feels a little sketchier. It wasn’t the best, but it was definitely free.
Guide
Perfect dispersed camp spots close to town but very quiet. Except a few evening fun shots. Lots of spots scattered with plenty of privacy.
TravelerThis is a massive dispersed camping area. I’m not really sure how far in the camping spots go, but so far I’ve seen over 100, with about 1/4 of them taken right now. Many, but not all, are level spots. Roads vary depending on which spots your getting to. Great cell service. Great views. And minutes away from stores and gas stations.
Guide
There are a few tent spots and car camping spots, and it’s right along a creek where you can fly fish. It was a longer drive out there than expected, but there’s a sign that lets you know your in the National forest and out of peoples private property. You probably want 4WD because the road was rough, but definitely worth it with the fall colors! We loved this spot!
GuideThere are a ton of campsites here, and even more options if you have a high clearance vehicle.
If you have a low clearance RV I recommend taking the first road to the left after crossing the cattle guard. That road leads around most of the camping area and you can avoid the side roads with the steep entrances.
It is right next to a landfill which is interesting but there were no flies or smells in October.
For a free camping area right next to a city the area felt safe and was surprisingly clean.
ScoutLots of open space for dispersed camping
TravelerOverall, this is a good spot to camp. It was simple to find, there was plenty of space for dispersed camping, and was a quiet place.
TravelerDispersed camping on the edge of Santa Fe. Easy access. Some former homeless camps and trash scattered around. Go further in for a more scenic vista on high ground.
GuideNot too far out of Santa Fe. There are multiple places for dispersed camping along the same road, including a few trailhead campgrounds like Diablo Canyon (rock climbing hot spot).
Guide20 mins from Sata Fe, lots of open roads and land for dispersed camping. Can get a bit crowded and hard to find a spot away from people, but plenty of room.
TravelerMy first time dispersed camping was a success! Enough space for people to spread out, little trees help with privacy. Freezing here at night but it is winter! Beautiful views and just enough service for t-mobile! Couldn’t ask for more really! Just remember Leave No Trace as I did see some litter, nothing crazy tho. Awesome spot.
GuideEasy to get to just outside of Santa Fe. It’s BLM dispersed so no facilities at all and a bit of a Nomadland vibe. Some folks were pistol shooting in an arroyo until dark. We were able to find a spot with adequate privacy but not isolated, although one could certainly go further in. A truck with just running lights came through during the night and a BLM LE officer came by in the morning. It was cold af in mid-Dec. I would stay here again.
GuideSpacious sites, great cell reception and very close to town. Will definitely boondock here again!
GuideFor Dispersed Camping this is good. We are a 45’ DP with 30’ trailer and found a place shortly after we came into the gates. I had rained the day before but had no issues as ground soaked it up. The area did a have several other campers all about a football field apart. Cell was 3-4 bars on ATT and Verizon. If you look on google maps you will see it is close to the landfill but we experienced no issues from that.
GuideA gorgeous and vast dispersed campground just a short drive from Santa Fe. There was enough space and trees/shrubs to offer privacy, and as a solo traveler I felt completely safe sleeping in my crossover. I parked just off the main dirt road between a couple of junipers and still felt like I had the privacy I preferred. You can drive further to get a more secluded space. The only downside: it was very windy and the entire interior of my vehicle was covered in reddish dust. But this place was so beautiful and spaced out that being covered in dust seemed like a small price to pay for a great experience.
The Campground: The main dirt road wasn't in great condition, so the short journey after you turn off of Country Road 62 was very bumpy, but it didn't appear that anyone was having issues navigating it (that might change if there's heavy rainfall). There's a vault toilet and picnic pavilion near the front; this area is also a trailhead. The whole place feels very open and has a nice view of the mountains.
The area: Very close to Santa Fe.
Booking: No booking or fee. This is dispersed camping and there are no official "sites" here. When looking for a place to set up, make sure you chose a place that's well-traveled. Seemed like there were enough areas to camp that I don't imagine this place ever gets too full.
Cell Service: I have Verizon, and my service was good.
Guide
Tons of Boondocking spots.
Not ideal for long wheel base as it’s an out and back without turn around spots.
Best pull outs are to the left as the road forks after the cattle guard.
GuideI arrived after dark on December 28th, and at first missed the turn off for the camping, but using the map here on the Dyrt, could see where I went wrong.
Google gets you there, as soon as you cross the cattle stile into the park, take your first left which comes very quickly. Dispersed camping is on both sides of this road. If you go a little further, you’ll see the vault toilets on the right (I couldn’t find these until the morning).
It was completely deserted, except for one RV (I am sleeping in my car). In the morning I discovered a car which looks like someone may be living in the park, but saw no signs of anyone.
It is beautiful! I woke up to an inch of snow! One downside- it’s right next to a landfill. There was no smell, but I could hear all of the equipment in the morning.
Easy to find, clean, safe (I’m a solo woman). I’d stay here again!
Traveler
I pull a small trailer and the road in was rough. I was concerned about being able to turn around. When I got to the spot where there are six or eight camping spots, finding one suitable for a trailer was difficult, but I did it. This is more suitable to car camping.
There is an open area that would be good for group camping. There are three or more RVs that appear to be permanent features. That was strange. Looked like fishing camps. I didn't want to drive the steep road down to this area.
Personally, I wish I had stopped a the forest service campsites up hill from this location, but if you are in a car and want to tent camp here, I don't see a problem,
LegendThis is a large area with many campsites. Pretty much anywhere you can get your vehicle, you can camp. No services except for a vault toilet near the entrance. The roads are dirt. Main roads are good, side roads have a bit more ruts and divots.
When you come into the dispersed area, there are a lot more people camped near the front, but if you continue down the road you can easily find a secluded spot. The spot was quiet for the most part, just a few dogs barking at night.
ScoutIt's a great area with flat sites and close proximity to Santa Fe. The dirt road is not too long and not bad at all. There were a bunch of campers there but it didnt feel crowded. There was a pit toilet, clean and maintained (had fully stocked TP).
Driving along the access road, seems like there are also camping spots before the gate, but within the gate is the Forest Service grounds.
Stars are amazing at night. We saw nearby hiking and mtb trails, though we didnt get to try them. Santa Fe is also a great city to visit while here.
RangerNice and quiet! LOTS of area to park and be isolated. Easy drive to Santa Fe
LegendStayed here one night. Dispersed large dirt and rock camping area with scattered junipers and other brush. There were a few rock fire pits that others have made but no one there had a fire going at the time we stayed there. It was quiet and if you're lucky you can find a secluded spot among the trees and bushes. There are 2 unisex pit toilets in the area but there is no water or garbage so pack in and out!
Good cell reception with AT&T and Verizon.
ScoutThe 8 campsites are distributed along the forest road. Each campsite is no more than 10 feet from the road (very little privacy), but most appear to have a fire ring close by and space for a tent which is protected from vehicle encroachment by the strategic placement of some very large boulders. The well cared for creek runs next to each campsite. There were two campsites that could possible fit a larger trailer, but again, you will be right next to the road. The forest itself has taken some extensive damage from fire and I’m guessing drought. It is beginning to repair itself, but may take decades to get back to its former glory. Dead trees standing and fallen, dot the hills, but so do live aspens, very young oak, grasses and some fire damaged pine. We have a 4 wheel drive truck, but we saw many smaller 2 wheel drive vehicles. The road is bumpy and narrow at times but serviceable. There was light traffic all day and into the evening, including ATV’s. Our campsite (one of the few that would fit our trailer) had a lot of trash strewn about, including a very used bucket and a car battery. We packed it out, but it’s distressing to see our forests uncared for.
TravelerExcellent campsite with a fire ring and a good view.
ScoutLost signal while driving down the road to the spot but found a spot with service. Picked a secluded spot surrounded by trees with a fire pit. While the sun was up I heard gunshots and people would drive by but it quieted down after sundown. Saw a cop drive around as well. There were a few cars when I drove in but didn’t see any people from where I parked. Very nice and quiet.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Montezuma, New Mexico, where nature enthusiasts can enjoy serene landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities. This area offers numerous spots for camping, each with its unique charm and features.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Montezuma, NM is Sante Fe National Forest BLM-Road 62 Dispersed with a 4.2-star rating from 39 reviews.
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