13 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
McCrystal Campground accommodates horse campers with dedicated corrals installed at multiple sites. Located in a remote area near Questa, New Mexico, the campground is particularly popular with equestrians and hunters seeking access to the surrounding wilderness. The level sites offer good separation between camping areas, with adequate space for horse trailers. Bears frequent the area at night, attempting to raid garbage bins, which makes tent camping somewhat unnerving for some visitors. A small creek runs nearby, and the surrounding flat lands provide opportunities for riding and hiking. The campground features pit toilets that are well-maintained, though no water hookups are available.
Rio Costilla Park spans 10,000 acres of aspens and ponderosa pines approximately one hour from Taos, offering extensive terrain for horseback riding. The park's expansive layout creates a dispersed camping experience with sites spread far apart along streams and rivers. Four-wheel drive vehicles access the more remote areas and higher elevations within the park, including trails to Little Blue Lake. Cattle roam freely throughout the property, occasionally wandering through campsites in the early morning hours. The park charges $30-40 per night depending on the season, with additional fishing permits available for the quality waters that attract fly fishermen. Portable toilets are positioned near camping areas, though no running water is available. Picnic tables under roofs by the clear river enhance several of the camping sites.
"The location is isolated and you need to bring plenty of water. The advantage is being able to walk into the Gorge, which if you fly fish, is an amazing thing."
"Bring your own water, their "well is broken" as of Oct. 2026, so if you run out you're looking at a 20 mile drive round trip to buy a couple gallons at the local grocery store."
"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 Availability"Serene surroundings and even and beautiful place to camp during a thunderstorm!"
"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 Availability"Many open areas to camp right off the highway. The views of the mountains across the valley are best after the fork in the road. Please pick up extra trash if you use"
"I didn’t see anyone else camping or driving by. The forest is a nice mix of sage, juniper, and pine trees. I saw two elk across a swath of sage."
"My wife and I have stayed at Hopewell Lake twice now. The first time we stayed here, we stumbled upon this little gem of a site while driving from Durango, CO to Taos, NM."
"No luck fishing but several people around us were catching very nice sized trout. Vault toilets were well stocked and clean."
from $24 - $125 / night
Check Availability"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 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 Availability"Red Lake hike was awesome and easy."
from $20 - $65 / night
"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
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TravelerAll the campgrounds in the wild rivers area are very well maintained, the sites have sturdy pavilions, picnic tables and grills. Sites are nicely spaced and some have amazing canyon views. Vault-style toilets that are kept clean and stocked. Bring your own water, their "well is broken" as of Oct. 2026, so if you run out you're looking at a 20 mile drive round trip to buy a couple gallons at the local grocery store.
ScoutThe view is great. But nothing is level. Lots of trash. OHV's driving everywhere. This is a big OHV area. We were in a campervan. Never could get it level. Not real private. 2 Stars for the view only. We won't be back.
GuideReally enjoyed this campground. Most of the sites are FCFS and the host comes to you for payment.
The pit toilets were very clean, no flies or anything gross. The road is a bit rough but nothing to unusual for a campground up here.
The scenery is absolutely gorgeous with plenty of aspens amounts the pines.
I will definitely visit again.
TravelerThis 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. Very pleased with our 3 nights there.
TravelerIt 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.
RangerGreat 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.
TravelerIt 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.
GuideEven 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!
ScoutEveryone, this is a beautiful site with Lots of trees. The camp ground is nestled up in the mountains several miles from town. The stream is nice and comforting and the camp host was very informative and helpful.**** HOWEVER, there are herds of cows that roam the campground. They defecate EVERYWHERE!!! The cows keep you up all matters of the night. You can’t take 4 steps without stepping in poop-It’s EVERYWHERE!!!( Flies included) This site would be so perfect but you can’t eat or cook around the pit because it is surrounded by cow poop. We cut our camping trip short because it was just too much.
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.
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.
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."
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."
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Questa, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Questa, NM is Big Arsenic Springs Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Questa, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 equestrian camping locations near Questa, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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