Looking to go glamping near Montezuma and enjoy a rustic retreat into nature? Glamping is not only a fun alternative to traditional tent camping, but also allows you to pack more or less gear as you see fit. You're sure to find glamping for your Montezuma camping adventure.
$4 - $14 / night
Ah, this campground is a desert oasis at the end of a busy day. The patio is a delightful resting spot in the shade, where you can watch hummingbirds whiz by. This is your home base as, day by day, you visit the Santa Fe Plaza, San Miguel Mission, Palace of the Governors, Loretto Chapel or Canyon Road, where you'll find many galleries and artists to observe. Summer brings an abundance of festivals to enjoy. And don't forget the wonderful local cuisine! Many restaurants are small family-run establishments, and the recipes handed down through the ages keep getting better. Relax at the campground and plan your next day's activities. Will it be the Rio Grande Gorge or a day touring Native American ruins? Whatever you decide, it will enrich your life. Max pull thru: 65 feet. Your hosts: Larry and Phyllis Pasekoff.
Situated in a beautiful steep canyon right along Holy Ghost Creek, 16 miles north of Pecos on NM 63 and FR 122. Uses: camping, picnicking, fishing, hiking. Facilities: vaulted toilets, water, trash bins, tables and grills. No hook-ups or showers. Special Instructions: Horse trailers are not allowed, but can be parked at Terrero. Picnickers must pay fee. Users are encouraged to recycle and pack out trash. Please visit the Leave No Trace website for more information about frontcountry and backcountry outdoor ethics at www.lnt.org.
$8 / night
Located above 9,000 feet, Iron Gate Campground is an excellent spot to access the Pecos Wilderness for day hiking and horseback riding. Uses: camping, hiking, horseback riding. Facilities: 14 units, vaulted toilets, trash bin, tables, fire pit/grill, 4 horse corrals. NO WATER. Special Instructions: Maximum recommended length for vehicle and horse trailer is 30 feet. Forest Road 223 very rough and not recemmeded for low clearance vehicles. Users are encouraged to recycle and pack out trash. Please visit the Leave No Trace website for more information about frontcountry and backcountry outdoor ethics at www.lnt.org. NO ATVs ALLOWED IN CAMPGROUND
Campground Facilities:
Due to parking and campsite size limitations, the maximum RV length allowed is 18 feet.
Non-Reservation Sites:
26 Developed Sites
No Water
No Electric
No Dump Station
Holy Ghost Campground is tucked away in the Santa Fe National Forest, on the cusp of the breathtaking Pecos Wilderness in Holy Ghost Canyon. This group campground sits high in the canyon, with Holy Ghost Creek gently flowing alongside it. A network of trails invites hikers and horseback riders to discover the stunning landscapes of the surrounding wilderness. For more information on first-come, first-served sites, be sure to visit the Holy Ghost Campground website.
Hiking and horseback riding are the most popular activities at Holy Ghost Campground. Holy Ghost Trail #283 runs along Holy Ghost Creek for 4.2 miles and connects with Winsor Trail #254, which accesses a 350-mile network of trails within the Pecos Wilderness. This includes Skyline Trail and 4 beautiful lakes (Katherine, Stewart, Johnson, and Spirit Lake). Anglers enjoy fishing along Holy Ghost Creek. Supports Rainbow and Brown Trout. Stocked regularly by New Mexico Game and Fish. Visit https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov for a weekly stocking report and fishing regulations.
Holy Ghost Campground is nestled among a lush ponderosa pine and fir forest, right where aspen trees begin to flourish, in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. During the summer, the area bursts into color with vibrant wildflowers, creating a stunning backdrop for outdoor adventures. The campground is bordered by Holy Ghost Creek, offering scenic views of both the forest and the majestic mountains. Nature lovers will delight in the diverse wildlife and variety of bird species that inhabit the surrounding area, making this a perfect spot for hiking, horseback riding, and simply taking in the beauty of the great outdoors.
There are many hiking and fishing areas along the Pecos River, offering great opportunities for anglers and hikers alike. Just 50 minutes away, Pecos National Historical Park features prehistoric archaeological ruins, 19th-century ranches, and a Civil War battlefield, providing a rich glimpse into the areas history. The town of Pecos is located about 22 miles south of the campground. 46 miles to Santa Fe.
For facility specific information, please call (505) 757-6121.
$50 / night
22 miles north of Pecos on NM 63. Uses: Camping, picnicking, and trailhead access. Facilities: Tent camping only, Vaulted toilet, Trash bins, Tables and grills, 3 three-sided shelters, 19 parking spaces, Drinking Water. Fishing in Cave Creek. Special Instructions: NO HORSE TRAILERS ALLOWED.
The Aspen Basin Campground is located adjacent to the very large parking area at Santa Fe Ski Basin. There are 10 units, Picnic tables, and fire rings. There is a vaulted toilet at the far west end of the parking lot. This campground is less developed than most, and primarily serves those who use it for an overnight stay before embarking on a backpack into the Pecos. There is ample space for trailer/RV camping, but no dump station is available. There is no potable water and no Campground Host. The entire area is very scenic, and NM 475 is also designated as the Santa Fe Scenic Byway. Because of the scenic quality and the easy access from Santa Fe, the area is very busy, especially in the summer and in the fall aspen viewing season.
Guide
Pecos national forest is by far one of the best places to camp in northern New Mexico. Great fishing, amazing hiking and views for days.
Guide
If Jacks Creek campsite is all booked, this is the next one you should try. Iron gate is ok too but it’s a lot longer drive than you think and might need all wheel drive since the road to Iron gate gets bit tricky road every now and then. Holy! This campsite offered me a lot more than I expected! Nice trail heads nearby (not only one) and each campsite was spaced out well enough so you still get a privacy. Of course the site by the creek gets filled first. Be aware of skunks! Do not leave food unattended and keep your dogs under control ;) Overall, a decent campsite but only 3 in nation but I would give 4 in New Mexico!
Scout
The campground has been open since March! The campground is open from March 1st until October 31st each year! Please correct your information in the heading to reflect the campground is open!
GuideBeautiful clean campground. No fires 🔥 were allowed which was the only thing missing
Saw lots of wildlife (deer, eagle,foxes as well chipmunks). Fishing was okay. Caught 1 fish on pink power bait.
GuideHubby and I happened onto this beautiful state park. When we were there they had only been open for about two months. The camping spots were perfect equipped with a picnic table and a fire ring. Perfect place on top of a mountain with amazing view!
TravelerNice flat tent platforms. Can drive up to campsites probably 30 places. Trout fishing but must have license from closest store 20 miles down in Mora. Maybe 8500 ft elevation. Very cool even in July; need blankets.
Chipmunks were a hoot but need to guard your food.
Large travel trailers work for the 1st 10 sites then path gets too windy and hilly. Had a Honda civic and meandered all the way up to the last campsite
TravelerQuiet mountain lake with ponderosa pines surrounding it. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
TravelerNewly renovated! Has great camp spots around the lake. Beautiful views. Went for the day and loved hiking around the lake. Lots of small fish. Everyone was respectful and nice. Hope it survives the fires.
Ranger
We spent one night in Iron Gate before embarking on a three-day backpacking/camping adventure. Campground was well maintained, had plenty of clean restrooms and parking. Agree with the other reviewer... a low-profile vehicle will have a tough time making it up the hill to the campground, especially in rainy/snowy weather.
GuideEnjoyed the hiking trails. Definitely difficult in a car. We made it barely. A nice remote campground. Saw quite a few backpackers Looking forward to camping there again this year now that we have a truck
TravelerRoad isn’t terrible going up, saw many 2WD vehicles. Good amount of spots but many have no shade/not level. Decent amount of traffic too. For being way out there there’s a lot of day hikers. Overall a fun weekend spot though.
ScoutWe camp here as often as possible! Often we use it as a base camp to start over night backpacking trips in the Pecos. It's tucked away, so there are usually few other campers. It's a nice hike down to the river from Iron Gate, too. If there is mud, it could be very difficult getting into the campground without a 4x4.
GuideIt's a nice little place tucked away in the woods. The road to get there is a bit rough, hence the title. By no means, Not a road for a large trailer or 5th wheel. Wild life everywhere..
TravelerSite isn't easy to get to for low clearance vehicles. During rainy seasons, ruts form with deep mud on some spots driving up. Once at site, there are about 14 spaces, reasonably spaced apart in some areas.The trees are beautiful and wild flowers grow around. Great hiking trails are near by taking you up to some great scenic outlooks over the mountain sides. The toilets are scary, not my first choice but good to have I guess. I don't recall the fee being too much per night, I want to say $4/day. Tent camping and popups/small campers are fine. No room for RV's and larger travel trailers.
ScoutThis is a great place for couples who want to camp
Guide
We drove out to the Pecos Wildness and decided to backpack a trail called Cave Creek, this is a mild trail about 2.8 miles in and 2.8 out. As per usual we get an idea and have to try it 🤦🏽♀️ 😂, we do not have any backpacking gear so we improvised and used some of our camping gear. This was a crazy decision, let me tell you camping gear even in a small amount is HEAVY. It’s safe to say that this easier trail kicked our butts. No only did we carry heavy gear in the rain but we also took the longer route 🤦🏽♀️ by accident. Once we got the river crossing we decided to set up our camp and chill, this was much needed! 😂 our night was interesting had a lightning storm come in and had to readjust a few times 😂.
TravelerThere are lots of hikes all around this area. I don't really fish, but the area is rich with fish filled streams. We saw happy fisherman coming back to camp with an abundance of fresh fish.
GuideCampsite is situated at the Cave Creek trailhead, a cool hike to some local caves. It's 5 bucks for the night, 2 dollars day use, all backpacking tent sites. Some shelters. Gorgeous views, camp guide says its booked fill every weekend. Good luck
ScoutAmazing campground right next to the Pecos river! Get there early, Friday or even Thursday, it does get filled fast. Beautiful hiking trail nearby. No water though, but toilets are clean and campgrounds are nice. Forest Ranger is nice, came by every day. Fee is $8 per night, but totally worth it. Plenty of fish for fishing as well.
TravelerNice, shaded spots with fire pits and picnic tables. Clean vault toilets but no water, be sure to take your own. Plenty of nearby hiking and fishing. Gets busy on the weekends so get there early to get a spot. Saw a deer walk right by our campground during the evening hours. We will definitely be going back. So many stars at night!
TravelerWe spent the day here hiking and picnicking. There is a fee for day use ($8) same price each night for camping. Vaulted toilets and bear proof trash cans. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table. There is a group site that needs to be reserved. We plan on coming back to camp.
TravelerStayed labor day weekend 2020. Make sure you drive in and find a camp site before you pay. It was VERY busy. No water or showers available. It is a very beautiful place, with a lot to see and explore. We loved it and can not wait to go back.
ScoutThere were a lot more spots to camp (with a tent) than they advertise!
GuideNice campground with creekside sites. Sites are a bit close together but could be worse, it certainly helps to get there early to pick the best site. Close to town and not far out of Santa Fe. Downsides are that it is pretty popular and people don's seem to want to haul their trash out so lots of broke bottles around. Road to get there is potholed but passable by smaller vehicles.
TravelerI drove in from San Antonio, one of my old navy buddies drove in from San Diego, we met here and had an amazing time. The campsites were nice, and provided tables, they had bathrooms, our site was up on top of a hill, cold at night, warm during the day, beautiful scenery
TravelerWe got there a bit later and the day and all of the drive in sites were taken up by either campers or fishermen. Ended up getting one of the walk in sites. I’d recommend one of these. It’s far enough away from the RV area that you can sleep to the sound of the creek.
Some advice to get there, take it slow and dont tailgate. There is two way traffic on a one lane road. Saw a few people get jammed up because they were following too close and couldn’t get out of the way. Beautiful campground with great hiking access. Loved our stay.
ScoutThis campground is just above 8200ft in the forest, more specifically in the Santa Fe National Forest at the edge of the Pecos Wilderness. We stayed at site 3, more or less right next to the creek. Site 2 was just as pretty and a bit larger, but not quite as shaded. No matter the site, the area is green, peaceful, and cool.
It is gorgeous up there, but be aware that the road is really narrow and, though paved, in terrible condition with HUGE pot holes en masse, so it is slow going, particularly with a camping trailer. We have a 22' trailer and we saw only one other, maybe 25', which I think is likely pushing the limits.
It's a bit of a tense drive for the 3 miles along Holy Ghost Canyon, but well worth the effort! We camped at Holy Ghost Campground in a Travel Trailer.
Frequently Asked Questions
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