Near Questa, New Mexico, camping areas range in elevation from 7,500 to 9,500 feet, with cool summer nights and occasional afternoon thunderstorms even during hot days. The region encompasses high-elevation pine and aspen forests that transition to sagebrush meadows across varied terrain. Several developed and dispersed camping options accommodate equestrians with specific facilities.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Rio Costilla Park provides quality waters particularly suited for fly fishing enthusiasts. "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. It's pricey at 20.00 a night but worth it," reports Michelle B. from Rio Costilla Park.
Hiking trails: The Santa Barbara Campground offers access to several trail systems leading into Pecos Wilderness. "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," notes James F. at Santa Barbara Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Cimarron Campground provides opportunities to observe elk and deer in their natural habitat. "We had deer roam through our campsite, they could care less that we were even there. We watched several herds of Elk down in the valley on one of our hikes," according to Terry R.
What campers like
Secluded camping sites: Dispersed camping areas along Forest Service Road 578 offer privacy not found in developed campgrounds. "A nice secluded little forest road. RVs will not make it, so it's nice and quiet. Stayed one night and saw no one else," states Kala J. about Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578.
River access: Many campgrounds feature sites positioned alongside streams, providing both recreational opportunities and natural white noise. "All sites offer a fire pits and some come with nice picnic tables under roofs by the clear river. Only $25 a day you can get to enjoy the nature," explains Lila L.
Mountain views: The high-elevation locations provide excellent scenic vistas. "The views are well worth it," says Matthew D. about Rio Costilla Park. "It is very well kept and managed. The care takers are nice. It's a little more expensive to stay per night than a state park but the views are well worth it."
What you should know
Limited facilities: Most campgrounds offer only basic amenities. "No cell service at the camp site but a short 5 min drive back to the first cattle guard allowed for service to multiple cell providers," reports drew about Cimarron Campground. "It is a long way down a dirt road but well worth the drive to be remote."
Access challenges: Roads to remote camping areas often require appropriate vehicles. "AWD/4WD needed on the rutted rocky road," warns Kala J. about Forest Service Road 578. "Cell service drops completely pretty soon after leaving the highway."
Weather considerations: High elevation means rapid weather changes. "It will drizzle regularly and sometimes pours so prepare for that," cautions Jennifer G. "This campground does get a little chilly in the night, even in summer, so bring a good sleeping bag."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Stream access provides natural entertainment for children. "Took inner tubes and rode them down the stream!" shares anthony Z. about their Labor Day weekend at Rio Costilla Park.
Wildlife education: Bring binoculars for wildlife spotting opportunities. "We had deer roam through our campsite. The kids had a few streams to keep them busy," notes Terry R. about their family experience at Cimarron Campground.
Safety precautions: Be aware of fast-moving water, especially during spring runoff periods. "Santa Barbara river runs right by and can really flow fast in the spring (watch your kids!)," advises Barbara H. at Santa Barbara Campground.
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Most campgrounds accommodate smaller RVs better than large rigs. "Our rig is 28' long, and if the place had been more crowded we may have had trouble finding a spot long enough for us," explains Jeff T. about Purgatoire Campground.
Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven ground at many sites. "The worst we can say about it was that we visited in the height of mud season and it made leveling our rig a little tricky as the levelling blocks kept sinking in the soft Dyrt under the weight of our wheels," Jeff T. adds about Purgatoire Campground.
Water access: Many campgrounds lack hookups and may have restrictions on filling tanks. "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," James F. reports about Santa Barbara Campground.
