Dispersed camping near Red River, New Mexico centers around Carson National Forest and nearby Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. Located at elevations between 8,000-10,000 feet, this area experiences dramatic temperature shifts with summer days reaching 80°F but dropping to 40°F at night. Spring camping often involves navigating muddy forest roads and creek crossings due to snowmelt, with flooding common through early June.
What to do
Hiking along gorge trails: Near Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, a 1.25-mile trail leads into the canyon to access the river. One visitor notes, "Hiking, rafting, horseback riding nearby" with "awesome views" from campsites "overlooking the Rio Grande 800' below."
Wildlife viewing at dawn/dusk: The meadows around Rio Fernando de Taos offer excellent wildlife observation opportunities. A camper shares, "The animals are really coming out though--lots of birds and frogs chirping, ducks were swimming in the ponds, and we even had some elk pass through our camp!"
Hot springs access: From several dispersed sites near Dispersed Camping Near Taos, you can reach natural hot springs via short hikes. A visitor mentions, "It's only a mile walk to the hot springs down below where the bridge is. You can go fishing over there as well as rock climbing."
Gold panning: Bring basic equipment to try panning in the rivers. At Cebolla Mesa, a camper reports finding "Decent gold panning area with swimmable spots" after hiking down to the river.
What campers like
Privacy in less-traveled areas: Many campers appreciate the seclusion at Greenie Peak, where one visitor notes, "lots of spots on the drive up to the peak, so don't have to make it the whole way. Definitely need 4x4 for the trail."
Riverside camping: Sites along flowing water are consistently rated highest. At Arroyo Seco, one camper appreciated that "There are campsites all along the lower part of the road. They aren't super private, but we stayed at a few different ones over the week & everyone was quiet & respectful."
Dark skies for stargazing: The remote location of many sites offers exceptional night sky viewing. At the Rio Grande Bridge Overlook, campers note the "beautiful" views away from light pollution, though "Sometimes RVs will park there for a while and kinda block the spot."
Access to small towns: Free camping near Red River provides easy access to nearby towns. A camper at Arroyo Seco mentions being "close to Arroyo Seco for a good market too" while enjoying riverside camping.
What you should know
Road conditions vary seasonally: Many forest roads become nearly impassable during spring melt or after rains. At Forest Road 5, a camper observed in May: "The melting snow has the ponds and river overflowing, so many of the sites are flooded and inaccessible at the moment."
High clearance vehicles recommended: Most dispersed areas require appropriate vehicles. At Forest Road 5, one visitor advised: "There are several sites along FR-5, though some might require high clearance or 4wd."
Cell service is inconsistent: Coverage varies widely across the region. Rio Fernando campers report "Cell service is sporadic in this area," while Forest Road 5 surprisingly has "5g reception here on Verizon."
Weather preparedness essential: Mountain weather changes rapidly. One Forest Road 5 camper described: "Snowstorm two days after I arrived. Tent reduced by half. No other people for 4 days. Suns out, snow is melting, can't ask for more."
Tips for camping with families
Choose sites with natural barriers: When camping with children, select spots away from cliff edges. At Carson National Forest, campers found a great spot "Nestled in some trees, it was flat for our tent, awesome views, fires were allowed and already had an established rock ring."
Look for water features: Kids enjoy exploring creeks and ponds. At Rio Fernando de Taos, a family notes, "We had 6 kids and 2 dogs. It's not often you find areas like this with decent open spaces that aren't super crowded."
Pack extra layers year-round: Even summer nights get cold at elevation. At Forest Road 5, one camper reported, "Temps got down into the mid-40s -- even in July."
Monitor fire restrictions: Rules change seasonally. An Arroyo Seco camper noted, "Fire pits but they were off limits due to fire season."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Many sites require effort to level larger vehicles. At Mallette Creek North, a visitor observed, "While the drive up is laborious and on a rickety road, there were a dozen large RV's waiting at the site which had no trouble getting in."
Generator etiquette: Be mindful of noise in popular areas. A Mallette Creek camper noted, "At no point did I not hear a generator. Friendly people, but no different than a state park, save for fees and amenities."
Turn-around space: Check if roads have adequate space to maneuver larger vehicles. Rio Fernando de Taos has "a gravel cul-de-sac with a couple obvious places to camp" that works well for some RVs.
Alternative approaches: Some sites have multiple access routes. For Dispersed Camping Near Taos, "You MUST approach from the west, you can't get here coming from the east over John dun bridge. Dirt road but we did it with no problem with our 24ft trailer."
