Karen N.
Guide
GuideSanta Barbara Campground
Beautiful weekend
Stay at Santa Barbara Campground in Northern New Mexico. Was a beautiful spot. Road to Campground was well taken care of Beautiful trails throughout area
Equestrian Camping near Ocate, NM
12 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Search destinations
Add dates
Jacks Creek Horse Camp is located in the Pecos Wilderness area with direct access to wilderness trails. The campground accommodates both tent and RV campers who bring horses, though larger rigs may find access challenging due to road conditions. Drinking water is available for horses and riders, while toilet facilities provide basic amenities for overnight stays. The campground does not permit dogs, keeping the focus on equestrian activities without potential conflicts between horses and pets. Located at approximately 8,800 feet elevation, the cooler temperatures make this an ideal summer destination for riders seeking mountain trail experiences. The campground typically sees most activity during the May to October season when trails are clear of snow.
The wilderness trails accessible from Jacks Creek Horse Camp connect riders to high mountain lakes, alpine meadows, and panoramic vistas throughout the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Trailer parking is available though limited, so arriving early during peak summer weekends is recommended. Forest roads leading to the campground can be rough and challenging, especially after rain, making high-clearance vehicles preferable for hauling horse trailers. No reservations are accepted, operating on a first-come, first-served basis. Rio Costilla Park offers additional horse-friendly camping opportunities in the region, with access to different trail systems. The limited facilities at these wilderness-adjacent campgrounds mean riders should pack in feed, portable corrals or highlines, and be prepared for primitive camping conditions while enjoying some of the most scenic backcountry riding in northern New Mexico.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Ocate (12)
1. Agua Piedra Campground
"There is a trail head with 2 trails, one atv accessible and one hiking/horse that goes up to Indian Lake. Beautiful views and about 1200' elevation change."
"Tent camped at this location in the middle of September (a week before closing). Very beautiful place to watch the leaves change, trailheads close by and picnic tables at each site."
from $30 - $175 / night
Check Availability2. Santa Barbara Campground
"Stay at Santa Barbara Campground in Northern New Mexico. Was a beautiful spot. Road to Campground was well taken care of Beautiful trails throughout area"
"The trails are absolutely wonderful and well worth taking a few hours to walk part of them. Hard core hikers will use the campground as a starting point for a lengthy hikes."
from $30 - $80 / night
Check Availability3. Las Vegas/New Mexico KOA Journey
"Cute cats and dogs all around. Pretty views and conveniently located within driving distance of a lot of attractions. Def recommend checking out the local hot springs."
"It is off the highway but nice and secluded. Pretty location and outside of Las Vegas, NM. It isn’t a five star because the sites are pretty close together"
from $45 - $75 / night
Check Availability4. Cimarron Campground
"Beautiful location in a place I wasn’t expecting it to be sooo green! Very relaxing and remote as there is zero service. It was perfect & exactly what we were looking for."
"There is a walking trail at the back of the campground to get to Surree Ponds."
from $22 - $40 / night
Check Availability5. Iron Gate Campground
"During rainy seasons, ruts form with deep mud on some spots driving up."
"It'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.."
6. Rio Costilla Park
"This is the first campground I’ve found in New Mexico where I felt like I was camping in Colorado, it was so green and beautiful!"
"The park is HUGE and just so beautiful. 10,000 acres of aspens and ponderosa pines only one hour away from the town of Taos."
from $30 / night
Check Availability7. Borrego Mesa Campground
"About a 15min drive from the highway. Only 5 or 6 sites. Close to the Rio Mario Trail trailhead. Campsite is at elevation over 8,000ft so it can get chilly at night. Worked great for tent camping."
"Campground is a little off the beaten path, about 30m from the High Drive highway. Dirt roads were nothing to worry about, should be fine for any SUV or sedan."
8. Jacks Creek Horse Camp
"The sites on the outside of the loops are decently wooded, smaller and not well suited to RVs. The sites on the inside of the loops have longer, RV sized pull in and little trees."
"Great overnight spot to use as a "home base" with lots of trail access. Multiple units of corrals and plenty of parking and turnaround space for large trailers."
9. Mallette Creek North
"Serene surroundings and even and beautiful place to camp during a thunderstorm!"
10. Jacks Creek Group Area
"Beautiful drive out, creeks on both sides. Nestled deep in the Pecos Wilderness. Camping overlooks the mountains. Beatty’s trail head is nearby. Made a fire and had electric to charge my phone"
from $100 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 1 hr 50 min from Santa Fe, NM
- 2 hrs 25 min from Albuquerque, NM
- 2 hrs 43 min from Pueblo, CO
- 4 hrs 32 min from Farmington, NM
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Ocate, NM
88 Reviews of 12 Ocate Campgrounds
Warren K.GuideLas Vegas/New Mexico KOA Journey
Campground close to a cool little town
We stopped here for an overnighter and it was not the most aesthetic choice, but the town of Las Vegas is quite charming. The town has a great plaza and historic hotel where we had a pretty good meal. The sunsets and landscape in this part of New Mexico really take your breath away.
- Christa A.
TravelerRio Costilla Park
So spacious!
This is the first campground I’ve found in New Mexico where I felt like I was camping in Colorado, it was so green and beautiful! The camp sites were nicely spaced, so we felt like we were primitive camping, but it was nice to have a picnic table, especially because we have a small child. Family friendly. We wish we would have brought our 4x4 vehicle because we had initially planned to camp at little blue lake, but my Subaru Impreza was not powerful enough/didn’t have high enough clearance to make it up the road that lead to the lake! We are definitely planning on camping back to check out the lakes. The only negative thing was that we found some trash at our site from the previous campers. Also, some cows woke us up early in the morning, which was cool, but also scared the shit out of us!
- D
Dorrs T.
ScoutIron Gate Campground
Not as great as I thought it would be.
Based on the reviews I thought this place would be a cool oasis up in the trees. Alas, it's not. There's a loop with 14 total sites. Unfortunately, at least half the sites in the inner ring are unusable because of road runoff making it tough to get to them, and we have a Toyota Tacoma. As a result, they do not get used and are, therefore, overgrown with New Mexico ground cover, which is not comparable to soft grass. That immediately bumps it down to about 10 sites. When we arrived, there was one site available that we could access. It was behind the main trailhead parking area and completely shaded. All in all, not bad, just not our ideal choice since it's right there close to any and all foot traffic. Luckily, as we walked the rest of the loop to see if there was anything else, a couple was just finishing packing up so we were able to snag their spot (#13), which we felt was the best one. Score!
Now, let's talk the road to get there. Absolutely do not try to take a camper of any size to this campground unless it's a legit overland type tear or squaredrop, ideally with an articulating hitch. People are not kidding when they say that's not a good idea. We had our Tacoma in 4L and I'm honestly not sure how some 2WD vehicles make it. There are many spots where the incline is pretty good, a number of deep crevices as a result of water runoff, many sections that are absolutely one lane only, and at least 6 spots where there was a small pond of standing water to drive through. Were any of the ponds show stoppers, no, but the water in one dip came up past the bottom of our doors. All in all, the road is no joke. Yes, I get this is a forest road, but the road snakes through multiple pieces of residential property (albeit they are probably summer homes but we saw people at almost every house when we drove past), and there's a hiking trailhead at the campground, so I expected it to be not THAT bad. In my book, it's not officially 'offroading' but it's worse than other forest service roads we've been on. Oh, and the couple residents we passed driving in their vehicles (you can tell by looking at them they are not campers or hikers) made it abundantly clear they weren't happy with us being on their road. All in all, nice campground with great trailheads but there are too many other beautiful places to hike and camp in NM for us to want to go back.
- Jeff K.Guide
Borrego Mesa Campground
Great campsite!!
Good road all the way in. About a 15min drive from the highway. Only 5 or 6 sites. Close to the Rio Mario Trail trailhead. Campsite is at elevation over 8,000ft so it can get chilly at night. Worked great for tent camping. Sites have a small horse pen but you would need to make a gate on them. Not good for big LQ horse trailers.
Steve & Ashley G.
LegendAgua Piedra Campground
Great Northern New Mexico Camp
We stayed at this site on the way back to Texas from our Colorado trip this summer. This is a great National Forest Campground south of Taos in the Carson Forest. The campground is just off the highway and situated in a beautiful mountain pine forest and next to a great trout stream. You have great shade during the hotter summer months. It’s far enough away from the highway that you don’t hear the traffic. It has a huge meadow and group camp site which look fantastic. The individual sites have some privacy between the sites and come equipped with fire pits and picnic tables. We made a reservation but the camp had a number of open sites in the peak summer season. The highlight here is the proximity of great hiking to nearby lakes and fishing in the trout stream. They had great facilities including clean pit toilets and some historic log cabins. They have a camp host and the sites accommodate tents and smaller vans and campers. I would give this another visit on our next trip to NM.
Ken M.TravelerMccrystal Campground
Remote camping with plenty of wildlife to see
A remote location and popular with horse campers and hunters. The campground has sites with horse corrals installed. The campground was quiet and mostly clean. There are pit toilets on site and well maintained. Level spots with good separation. Nice hiking accross some flat lands and a smal creek runs near by. Early one morning we saw a herd of elk down in a valley near a turn out off the road. Bears frequent the area trying to raid the garbage bins during the night. Makes tent camping a bit unnerving. If you want to explore the area, this is good place to camp. It takes an hour to get to the campsite on a graveled road off the highway out of Cimerron. 25mph was best speed to go to handle the washboard road to the campsite.
Tammy V.TravelerAgua Piedra Campground
Excellent campground!
There is a trail head with 2 trails, one atv accessible and one hiking/horse that goes up to Indian Lake. Beautiful views and about 1200' elevation change.
Potable water available at camp host's location. It has sulfer but the smell cleared after half a day sitting in the sun. We brought our own to drink though.
Some campsites were more separated and others were close together if you were with a group. River runs along the camp for fishing, and they were catching fish.
James F.GuideSanta Barbara Campground
Beautiful Hiking
This is a great campground if you like to take some hikes through some beautiful national forest with a picturesque river. The Santa Barbara Campground is relatively small and most of the sites can't accommodate large rv's. A small travel trailer or tent works well in most sites. None of the sites have hook ups so you will be boon docking. There are vault toilets and water available. Sign on the water spigot said not to connect a hose though so filling your rv or trailer is not what they were intended for. I guess it was good that I filled before I left home. There are lots of trees for shade and beauty. The trails are absolutely wonderful and well worth taking a few hours to walk part of them. Hard core hikers will use the campground as a starting point for a lengthy hikes. There were a few cows that got into the camping area. There can also be horses on the trails so be vigilant.The temperatures were quite moderate as the campsite is at 8900 feet. You can hear the Santa Barbara River as it is very close.
Guide to Ocate
The Carson National Forest covers much of the northeastern portion of New Mexico, offering multiple equestrian camping options near Ocate. At elevations ranging from 8,000 to 9,000 feet, these camping areas provide cooler summer temperatures compared to lower elevations. Equestrian campsites in this region typically include larger parking areas for horse trailers and proximity to wilderness trail systems.
What to do
Trout fishing in stocked waters: Rio Costilla Park offers quality fishing waters regularly stocked with trout. "Fishing is great and quality waters. It is fisherman's fly fishing dream. Camping is great too as you can park next to the river," notes Michelle B. at Rio Costilla Park.
Hiking into alpine areas: Trails at Cimarron Campground lead to mountain lakes and meadows. "We hiked near Shuree Ponds and camped between Ash Mountain and Little Castillo Peak. The weather was all over the place, but the views were stunning," shares Dusty G. at Cimarron Campground.
Family picnicking by streams: Several campgrounds feature picnic areas near water. "Great campground right off the road with lots of hikes nearby. Zero cell service. Water was not available. Very peaceful and quiet with lots of great views," reports Julie F. about Agua Piedra Campground.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Campers appreciate the spacing at many forest campgrounds. "The campsites were nicely spaced, so we felt like we were primitive camping, but it was nice to have a picnic table, especially because we have a small child," writes Christa A. about Rio Costilla Park.
Cooler mountain temperatures: The higher elevation provides relief from summer heat. "Tent camped at this location in the middle of September (a week before closing). Very beautiful place to watch the leaves change, trailheads close by and picnic tables at each site," notes Megan E. about Agua Piedra Campground.
Immediate trail access: Many sites connect directly to wilderness trails. "There is a walking trail at the back of the campground to get to Surree Ponds. I would say it is of medium difficulty as there is a precarious creek crossing, and it is uphill the whole way back to camp," explains Jen M. about Cimarron Campground.
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Access roads can be challenging after weather events. "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," warns Frank and Olga C. about Iron Gate Campground.
Limited or no cell service: Most wilderness campgrounds lack connectivity. "Visited late September, about a quarter of the sites were occupied. All sites are close enough to the river to hear it from a tent. The site has drinking water and pit toilets, but no cell service," reports Jacqueline D. about Santa Barbara Campground.
Water availability is seasonal: Water systems may be turned off during shoulder seasons. "It is now up to $40. $20 bucks for the night and then $20 for the day pass. It is well maintained. The spots are hit or miss. There's some spots close to each other and some dispersed," notes Savvy about Rio Costilla Park.
Tips for camping with families
Stream play opportunities: Kids enjoy wading and exploring the water. "We took inner tubes and rode them down the stream!" shares Anthony Z. about Santa Barbara Campground.
Wildlife viewing chances: Early mornings offer the best wildlife spotting. "There is trout fishing near by. Miles of hiking and an abundance of wildlife, we watched several herds of Elk down in the valley on one of our hikes. We had deer roam through our campsite," notes Terry R. about Cimarron Campground.
Pack additional water: Many campgrounds have limited water sources. "Potable water available at camp host's location. It has sulfer but the smell cleared after half a day sitting in the sun. We brought our own to drink though," advises Tammy V. about Agua Piedra Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for trailers: Choose carefully when bringing horse trailers. "Good road all the way in. About a 15min drive from the highway. Only 5 or 6 sites. Close to the Rio Mario Trail trailhead. Campsite is at elevation over 8,000ft so it can get chilly at night. Worked great for tent camping. Sites have a small horse pen but you would need to make a gate on them. Not good for big LQ horse trailers," advises Jeff K. about Borrego Mesa Campground.
Prepare for elevation changes: Higher elevations mean temperature fluctuations. "Even with a couple and a new born up the hill I never heard them from our campervan! Serene surroundings and even and beautiful place to camp during a thunderstorm!" reports Erika L. about Mallette Creek North.
Bring leveling equipment: Many sites require adjustment for comfortable camping. "This is what we wanted to find with dispersed camping! Beautiful view! A couple of neighbors but never heard them. Not the easiest piece of ground to get the trailer leveled but we made it work," shares Rosalinda S. about Mallette Creek North.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Ocate, NM?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ocate, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ocate, NM is Agua Piedra Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find
equestrian camping near
Ocate, NM?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Ocate, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Ocate, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring