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San Lorenzo Canyon's dispersed camping areas welcome pets throughout the rugged landscape, providing a scenic desert camping experience northwest of Polvadera. Both San Lorenzo Canyon and San Lorenzo Canyon Dispersed offer free pet-friendly sites accessible for tents and RVs with drive-in options. The Box Recreation Area, another pet-friendly dispersed site, provides primitive toilets and allows fires with no hookups or amenities. Escondida Lake Park & Campground near Socorro offers more developed pet-friendly options with electric hookups, water, sewer connections, toilets, and picnic tables. Many campers report difficulty finding San Lorenzo Canyon, advising against following Google Maps directions and instead using specific landmarks or coordinates for navigation.
Off-road vehicle access makes San Lorenzo Canyon ideal for pet owners seeking seclusion in a dramatic canyon setting with hiking opportunities. The canyon features numerous pull-off spots with ample space between campsites, though sandy terrain requires four-wheel drive for trailers or larger RVs. No drinking water, trash service or sanitary facilities exist at the dispersed sites, requiring campers to pack in all supplies and pack out waste. The canyon offers excellent hiking trails through slot canyons and rock formations, though reviewers recommend bringing extra water for pets during hot periods. Cell service becomes weak to non-existent deeper into the canyon, with one camper noting Verizon coverage drops significantly after the first two miles.
"I didn't stay but I did drive through to check it out for future stops. First impression was very clean!"
"Not much to catch at the lake. 3pm someone rolls up next to us. Definitely in the wrong spot and he would have known that if he was aware of the “back in” policy."
from $18 / night
Check Availability"Follow the coordinates to the exit. Make a left off to go over pass then make a right onto the frontage road."
"Don't attempt unless you have 4 wheel drive and/or sand mode if you plan to pull a heavy trailer. Otherwise, most other vehicles out tent camping didn't seem to have too many problems."
"The only things to be aware of are the flies around the bathroom in the main area, and the giant ants up in the second area mentioned — there are quite a few anthills."
"It worked and allowed quick access to the crag in the morning. Does start to get busy with climbers fairly early (8am or so). Would be perfect for somebody with a camper-van or teardrop."
"If you have 4 wheel drive and can unhook and leave your trailer or if you have an ATV I would suggest parking here and then driving into the canyon."
"We were able to drive through the canyon and to our camping spot! Definitely will be back!"
"We did fine, and someone in a review said stop at the cottonwood trees because no place else for bigger rigs to turn around."
"I saw very few people it will feel like you are not driving on the right place as the ‘road’ is eventually just a dry river bed, but keep going the course and you will find gorgeous sites to camp at."
"We are surrounded by what looks to me like oak trees, but I have yet to confirm that. It reminds me of my home state of Minnesota!"
"It is right near the Rio Grande (but admittedly not a very spectacular portion). The foliage in late fall is a lovely pale yellow and orange."
"Little noise from I25 but very pet friendly. Will be back."
"Kiva RV Park is just a 5 minute drive from the NWR, so we stayed there on a Friday night, so we could get up bright and early for our hiking the next day."
"There is great rock climbing routes, hiking and equestrian trails. Sunrise and sunset is amazing."
"Here, the Rio Grande pauses on its long winding path to the Gulf of Mexico and allows these waterfowl and other migratory birds a place of rest and safety during their bi-annual migration."
"There are walking paths where you can walk to the river. Mosquitoes / other bugs not bad when we were there in early December. No trash bins and no bathrooms. Please pack out your waste!"
LegendThis is a basic campground located about a mile from I-25. The campground has the basics but that's it. It's a good place to stop while traveling thru New Mexico. There's a baseball field and a small lake adjacent to the campground. The trains do blow their whistle in this area.
Cell Coverage: Good
TravelerHiked near here, didn’t camp. Need to correct location information field. this is in New Mexico, not Oklahoma…
GuideYou don't often find free developed camping at the end of a paved road in New Mexico, but Water Canyon is one of those exceptions. It seems to be one of those spots that people don't take the time to get off the highway to explore -- on a weekday in July there was only one other campsite occupied.
There are about a dozen campsites, vault toilets, trash cans, a group campsite at the bottom of the hill and easy access to some great hiking trails, all about ten minutes outside of Socorro and an hour from Albuquerque.
While the campground is free for now, I did see some notices posted about the Forest Service taking public comment on levying a $10 per night fee per site.
TravelerThis is a very neat place and new mexico is just neat in general. Great service too.
TravelerWe stayed at La Vista for one night on our way through New Mexico heading to Utah. The owners are extremely friendly and were very helpful. They are a couple who own the park independently and you can tell the long term renters are happy there.
We woke up to a gorgeous view of the nearby scenery and were just a half mile from a Loves to gas up and head out for another day of driving.
RangerWe love it here! We stayed for a weekend at campsite #6. Ours and A few other sites have RV hookups (electric only). No sewer hook up but dump station on site with water. There are multiple Drinking water spigots available; one next to our campsite 6, at the group shelter, by the dump station, and another spigot at the office / visitor center (closed right now) but that had a lock on it. Some sites have a nice brick and metal shelter and a charcoal grill, but all sites seem to have a picnic table, and fire ring. This is a pretty small electrical loop campground and some sites are pretty close, separated by trees, and vary in driveway length. There’s tent sites (some have good privacy) as well as day-use only sites that look very clean and with shelter. Our site had the picnic table and charcoal grill on one side of the driveway and the fire pit on the other side which is kind of weird but that just means we can drive in or back in depending on our awning side preference. I saw in some reviews that this was a problem for people.
Behind our site there’s a horseshoe area and group site not too far after. The group site has a small parking lot across the way for it and has a large shelter area with nice cement tables and large grills. Next to the office there’s a trail for the outer loop and nature trail. There are several trails within the park and all are pretty easy (kid-friendly) and not too long. This is a pet-friendly campground with dog stations to pick up after your pet. Make sure to bring your own firewood and kindling as gathering is not allowed in the area. There is phone signal for t-mobile and Verizon as well. Vault toilets were clean but no showers.
There is no lake or stream/river in the state park. The nearest lake is Manzano Lake it’s about 10 minutes from the campground in the small town of Manzano. Fishing and picnicking, not a very large lake - more like a pond really but still beautiful and something to see and do. Currently the lake just opened and there’s a sign at the entrance that the fish have not been stocked. Not much for some decent stores around but a grocery store in Mountainair (25 mins away) Also nearby is the Quarai Ruins (15 mins) to check out which has some trails and also pet friendly so long as they’re on a leash.
Also, getting here by GPS, just takes you to where the pavement ends on HWY-131 but you’ll need to go another mile on unpaved road to get the the campground. Just follow the signs for the state park. Also, make sure to check on weather because although the unpaved road is typically well-grated and maintained; when it rains hard - it tends to wash out which makes the last mile to the state park hard for some. Also, there’s not gas stations nearby to this camp.
Overall a great and beautiful place to stay. Definitely bring some bug spray and repellent, lots of flies and mosquitoes to be had! There’s not a whole lot to do besides relax, eat, and check out some trails so bring your own entertainment as we brought a remote control all-terrain car, frisbees, lawn darts, board games, card games, etc to entertain the kids. We would definitely recommend the place and we will certainly be back!
ScoutI would not recommend anyone with an rv or travel trailer to use this site. I was hopeful from the one picture that there would be some nice green trees which is hard to find in New Mexico. I arrived there's a steep decline to go into the park. There are a few big pot holes to be weary of. Most of the area looks to be overgrown and most of the trees look dead. I didn't see any budding in early spring and no signs of greenery. It was also very difficult to turn around. I ended up with a few scratches on the travel trailer.
GuideNice area, clean, shade trees and the management works with you no matter what. Little noise from I25 but very pet friendly. Will be back.
GuideWe live in Albuquerque, but wanted to spend a day hiking the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. Kiva RV Park is just a 5 minute drive from the NWR, so we stayed there on a Friday night, so we could get up bright and early for our hiking the next day.
The folks running the place were very friendly. Led us to our spot and made sure everything was okay for us. It's a fairly humble place...gravel roads and parking spots. No concrete to be seen. Each slot has a fairly wide planted area, but this is not patches of green lawn. They have mature native trees and shrubs that are well maintained. Plenty of big cottonwood trees provided shade. The place is clearly run on a low budget, but is well maintained and there is pride in the work here. When we visited, it appeared to be nearly full, and it felt like perhaps 50/50 mix between long-term residents and overnight(or nearly overnight) visitors. There is a large corral area for horses. We walked over to it but there were no horses there. There's a little dog park, a bathhouse and laundry. We didn't use any of those amenities, so I can't comment. I believe the laundry is listed as free.(This is not the case with the wifi, which was complex and had a fee.) I just used my hotspot from my Verizon service and because we had 4 bars, that worked just fine for streaming some Netflix that night.
We really like the place. Lots of neighbors, but everyone was very friendly, and no late partying. A few kids. But really, it was all very pastoral and nice. We'd stay here again.
Not all was perfect. Aside from the less-than-friendly wifi: 1) The sewer hookup is just an open pipe. No threads. A little stinky when you take the cover off. 2) It is almost literally right next to the interstate. There's no denying those traffic noise is real. We slept with no issues, but if traffic noise doesn't act like white noise for you...you might want to look somewhere else. We're lucky; but I know this is a deal-breaker for some.
They do offer a Good Sam discount of 10%, so with tax, we paid $34. Well worth it. Very nice stay.
San Lorenzo Canyon dispersed camping areas offer free pet-friendly camping options just northwest of Polvadera in a high desert environment. The region sits at approximately 4,800 feet elevation with seasonal temperature swings from below freezing in winter to over 90°F in summer. Camping locations range from sandy canyon floors to elevated sites with views of the surrounding mesa landscape.
Hiking slot canyons: San Lorenzo Canyon features numerous side canyons for exploration. "The canyons were amazing to hike in and bike among. I saw very few people it will feel like you are not driving on the right place as the 'road' is eventually just a dry river bed, but keep going the course and you will find gorgeous sites to camp at," notes a visitor at San Lorenzo Canyon Dispersed.
Bird watching: The nearby Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a major attraction. "Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a bird nerd's paradise during the winter. Snow Geese, Sandhill Cranes, and thousands of others congregate in this wetland wonderland," reports a camper from San Antonio Riverine Park.
Fishing opportunities: Escondida Lake provides fishing access. "It's a state park campground that offers everything from basic tent sites to full hookups near a small pond for fishing (no swimming or boating)," explains a reviewer. Another camper shares their success: "caught a fish within 10 minutes throwing out my lure. Fishing was busier in the morning but caught this just before sunset."
Affordable rates: The area offers budget-friendly camping options. "FHU by the pond for $18?! But wait, there's more; free firewood! Place was clean, level gravel, had great neighbors," reports a visitor at Escondida Lake Park & Campground.
Unique geology: The canyon formations provide dramatic scenery. "Drive into an abrupt canyon with straight walls and side slots. Eventually you run into a rock wall that can be traversed by scrambling around it and continue 1/2 mile to a short pour-off," describes a camper from San Lorenzo Canyon.
Rock climbing access: The Box Recreation Area offers climbing opportunities. "Drove down the night before in order to go climbing the next day. Found a decent spot in a dry wash to put up the tent for the night. It worked and allowed quick access to the crag in the morning. Does start to get busy with climbers fairly early (8am or so)," notes a visitor.
Navigation challenges: Google Maps directions are often unreliable. "The coordinates take you to a closed off section if you use Google maps. Follow the coordinates to the exit. Make a left off to go over pass then make a right onto the frontage road. Then it's the second right that goes under the freeway," advises a camper at The Box Recreation Area.
Limited facilities: Most dispersed sites have no amenities. "I enjoy camping here very quiet and peaceful. No bathroom and water," states a San Lorenzo Canyon visitor. For developed options, one camper notes: "This is a state park campground that offers everything from basic tent sites to full hookups near a small pond for fishing."
Weather preparedness: Be ready for sudden weather changes. "Although a bit windy on first night because all canyon (wall protected) areas were taken," shares a visitor. Another camper recommends: "Try to pick a spot that won't require backing up maneuvers if you have a trailer."
Kid-friendly sites: Look for areas with space and facilities. "There's a picnic table (numbered with the site so there's no question which one is which) and fire ring. Bathrooms offer flush toilets, no showers and it is not heated. Numerous portable toilets also got the park around the pond and play area," describes a visitor to Chupadero Mountainview RV Park.
Stargazing opportunities: Clear desert skies provide excellent night viewing. "Great views and incredible star gazing," notes a camper. Another adds: "With big cottonwood trees scattered throughout the area, we got some solar charging with our rooftop panels, but needed to move our portable panel around to collect a bit more."
Pet considerations: Most dog friendly campgrounds near Polvadera allow pets but require proper management. "There are little stickers so don't let pets run in the 'grass' or kids barefoot. And bring your bug spray," warns a camper at Escondida Lake Park & Campground.
Access limitations: Some canyon areas require appropriate vehicles. "We took a 20 ft Jayco Feather Micro travel trailer. Don't attempt unless you have 4 wheel drive and/or sand mode if you plan to pull a heavy trailer," advises an RVer from San Antonio Bosque Park.
Hookup availability: Limited hookup options exist in the area. "This was inexpensive but turns out it will cost us a bit more in the long run. When we pulled up there was a maintenance employee doing his job. We were trying to get into our spot," shares a camper. For those seeking pet friendly campgrounds with hookups near Polvadera, another visitor notes: "This little campground has 8 FHU & 2 water/elec sites. No 'frills', just fairly level sites, great rates & a friendly owner."
Overnight options: Several areas work well for quick stays. "This really is just a legal place to overnight when visiting the wildlife refuge. Perfect for that," notes a camper. Another adds: "Very pleasant spot for an overnight stop near I-25. Being mid-Dec there was only one other camper."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Polvadera, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Polvadera, NM is Escondida Lake Park & Campground with a 3.5-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Polvadera, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 dog-friendly camping locations near Polvadera, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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