Best Dispersed Camping near Nogal, NM
Upper Bonito Dispersed Recreation Area provides free camping in Lincoln National Forest near Nogal, New Mexico. The area features established dispersed sites along a small creek with vault toilets but no drinking water or hookups. Access requires navigating dirt roads that can become dusty in dry conditions and potentially impassable when snowed in during winter months. As one camper shared, "There's some privacy if you find a good spot, could be busy during the weekend, but it's worth visiting."
Several other dispersed camping options exist within driving distance of Nogal. West Mesa Trailhead BLM offers free remote forest camping with good cell service and road access suitable for standard vehicles. Guebara Tank Camp provides isolated tent and RV camping with mountain views, while Forest Road 568 dispersed camping near Cloudcroft offers numerous pull-offs under pine forest canopy. Most sites permit campfires (except during restriction periods), allow pets, and maintain the standard 14-day stay limit. No water or services are available, so campers must pack in all supplies and pack out all waste.