If you're looking for glamping near Pecos, look no further. Camping has always been a favorite form of travel for many, but Pecos, NM glamping is a new and unique way to do it. You're sure to find glamping for your New Mexico camping excursion.
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.
$4 - $14 / night
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
Beautiful location. Next to Pecos river. Cultural heritage and scenic area. Beautiful rocks/cliffs along river.
GuideHidden gem. Few campsites with electric. Water available. Dumpsite available. Tucked away in the mountains. On pecos river. Great area to hike.
TravelerBeautiful, quiet location near the Pecos river. We did not have any Verizon/AT&T data connection without our weboost. But with the cell booster on we both had 2-4MBPS.
GuideA couple of good hiking trails, campsites right on the Pecos. I can imagine it gets a little busy, but it's an underrated park with nice, big sites, good fishing and hiking.
Traveler
My favorite KOA, this one is nestled in the ever greens close to the Pecos National Forest. The office is reminiscent of an Adobe home and the hosts are super nice and welcoming. The spaces are ample and the facilities clean.
GuideThe drive to this park takes us back in time through the tiny town of Villanueva. Once through the gates I was amazed at the fast flowing Pecos River right next to the tree shaded sites. A gem. Good hiking trails too!
GuideStayed here for a week with the family close to Santa Fe and Pecos national forest. Managers very friendly and can be quite entertaining if you hang around for a bit. Spaces are a bit tight if you have slide outs. Great place to stay and relax.
TravelerVillanueva SP is a few miles south of I25. Right on the Pecos River, the campground is nestled between two cliffs and has well spaced sites. Opt for a campsite with a shelter and you get adobe-like cover for the table or a tent !
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!
GuideSo, the campground hosts and the ranger Lawrence were very friendly. Bathrooms were cleaned often, and the showers were hot. Very secluded sites along the Pecos River, and a cute store for firewood etc nearby. There are hiking trails, and the one along the ridge was fun to hike.
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.
Scout
We 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.
GuideFirst longer stop (3 nights) on our cross country trip. 22 ft trailer, sewer hook ups, Koa worker leads you to your spot, which was nice. Fence between campsites gives some privacy. Great dog park area and playground for 2 yr old. Everyone we interacted with was nice and helpful. Laundry is clean: $3 washer, $1.59 dryer— need 2 runs on the dryer. 18 minute drive into downtown Santa Fe. Did the grasshopper canyon trail 9 minutes away, pecos national historic monument 30 minutes and Bandelier national monument 50 minutes.
LegendIt's a bit challenging to get to this campground coming from the southeast because GPS instructed to turn down a dirt road. Just continue on through town of Villanueva and at the fork in the road turn right to the park. The drive in has a steep hill and the lanes felt narrow, but doable in my rig (25' class C). There were larger rigs than mine in the park when I was there. Also, if you need cell service, Verizon was nil at the campsite. I had to walk up to the bath house to get a signal.
The park is nestled between 2 sandstone canyon walls and along side the Pecos River. It's a gem! The site I had was right on the river. The kiddos from a few sites down were wading into the river from this site. Could put in a kayak from here too.
The park has pull thru and back in sites, some with electricity and water, others just water. Also a tent area, playground, pit toilets and a bath house. The awesome park attendant, Gilbert, said that they will be upgrading all sites to electric soon. Fairly level sites. There's a dump on site, but it was closed during my stay.
Big old cottonwood trees provide shade and lots of birds visit the area. Hummingbirds galore!
Make sure to do the vista trail hike. It's moderate to challenging and the views are a treat! Also the river trail is an easy walk along the Pecos.
Last but not least, check out the little village of Villanueva at the top of the "hill". Charming! The general store in town sells a delicious spice blend that is made with New Mexican hatch peppers. Try their nacho pie and enjoy!
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.
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 😂.
LegendThe park itself is tucked away into a canyon between two towering cliffs. There are shady campsites along the Pecos river, which was a little high when we visited in June, but otherwise might be nice to float down on a tube. In fact, some adventurous neighbors were floating--but I was one mom and had 6 kids with me (between my own and some friends). There are also some campsites higher up with a commanding view, but less shade.
There is fishing in the river, hiking up to the mesas with commanding views, geocaching, a playground, showers, relaxation, and it is only a short drive to Las Vegas, NM. The adobe picnic shelters were wonderful. No phone signals in the park, but hiking up to the mesa will catch you a decent number of bars (as joyfully discovered by my teen). The campsites are really spacious, and water is easily accessible. The group shelter and camping area was gorgeous. There is a small visitor center with really friendly and helpful park staff.
While this campsite is not particularly visited by bears, etc., please be advised to keep your food OUT OF your tent. The squirrels and chipmunks are particularly good at finding food and did cut a hole through our neighbors tent to get to it! Likewise, unattended food at the campsite will be carried away by our four legged critters with super fluffy tails.
ScoutMy husband had the great idea of tent camping just the two of us. Up to this point our tent camping adventures were reserved for grandbaby time. But I said What the hey! Let's do it. I wanted somewhere cooler than home. The Santa Fe area had plenty to keep us busy for the week.
We did not get a tent spot but opted for a small trailer site with electric and water. Our spot was near the bathhouse but not too close. Each site has native trees and plants, so everyone has privacy. The site had a nice flat spot for the tent, picnic table, fire pit and grill. We had more than enough room to set up our awning for a dining area. We loved our little spot for the week.
The bathhouse was clean and very nice. New tile and fixtures. It was a little small for the size of the campground.
They have plenty of activities there for everyone and in the evening it is very quiet.
TravelerBasic sites at expensive prices. It was clean and safe. There was a dog run. They had bushes which were overdue trimming between sites. We couldn’t open our awning due to the low limbs. Our site was FULL of ant mounds of three varieties.
ScoutThis was a quick overnight to dump and refill. We arrived just as the office was closing. The staff was very accommodating and friendly. This has all the normal stuff you would expect from a KOA plus some services we didn't use like cable TV. It is located in the foothills so it is not out in the hot windy flatlands or the cool woods. It is close to but not in or near SantaFe.
GuideThis seemed to be one of the better KOA grounds I’ve been to. There were a lot of trees and the place was super clean. The shop was well stocked and pleasant. The only con was how close the sites were to one another. It felt like we were on top of one another but everyone was friendly and respectful!
GuideWe were very disappointed and only stayed one night. Campsites were cramped to the point that our neighbor’s picnic table was approximately 3 feet from ours. The website stated that they were only operating at 50% capacity. Probably not the best choice if you are trying to social distance during these times.
ScoutCouldn’t stay due to Covid-19 restrictions imposed by state governor. The owners would not refund deposit.
TravelerWe decided to rent a van and take a 10 day trip and just keep hitting dead ends but that makes half the adventure doesnt it?? A cold front came thru and we wanted a campsite last minute with electric to run our space heater in the van, but this location was closed even though it came up on the list available. Just wanted to give y'all a heads up before you drive circles like we did! Cheers!
GuideWe tent camped and the spaces are well maintained and include a little fire pit, picnic table, place for your car, and fairly flat space for the tent. It’s easy to get to from the highway, but that’s also the downside because you can hear all of the traffic. The bathrooms were clean and have a code to enter, we arrived at night to just get a spot so we didn’t have a packet to tell us the code but another camper gave it to us. Overall a nice and convenient spot.
ScoutAs with many KOA’s a bit pricey but clean and reliable. Tent sites are near the road and are a bit dusty and noisy with road traffic. There is a current drought and requests to minimize water. One tent site is set apart - near a water holding area … not a great smell but away from the road. The smell they said is drought related.
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