Join the fun near Red River. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Red River is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
"A vehicle with off-road capabilities is recommended if you want to reach this campground. While not impossible with a regular sedan, it does take navigating up some unpaved switchbacks."
"There are about 5 by the lake and then 3 on the trail up. It's a busy road, constant stream of people. The trail itself is maybe a 2/10 for difficulty."
"Sites are right on a creek & have picnic tables."
"Picnic tables were marked up, but the sound of the River was so worth all of it."
"Right off the road, literally. it hidden behind some trees so the barrier between the site and road makes for a little privacy. Great spot for a day or two right next to a creek so you fall asleep to"
"First coms first served with mostly tenting spaces."
"Tent camped in July and could not get into the water; but did freeze my ankles off. Have nice latrine commode and that is all. There are no specific sites. Just find a place and set up."
"The Hondo River runs right next to the campground so you have easy access to water."
"The sites are fairly primitive but the location is one of the greatest around. It’s a decent drive up here from Taos but you won’t be disappointed once you get here."
"Each campsite had a concrete pad and awning."
$7 / night
"Hiking trails down to the Rip Grande river are close by."
"Located by the river. No luck fishing though Quite a few ATVs around. Only 2 miles to Sipaupu with a nice little store with firewood and necessities."
"Make sure you go all the way to the coordinates as there are a ton of great spots off to the left of the road, plenty of room to spread out and some solidly flat spots."
"Don’t drive to the John dun bridge from Taos use the longer route instead. The switch back road is blocked off now."
"We stayed at camp site #27, which was the biggest and spacesious site, 10/10 the weather was wonderful and if you camp during the week you can pick any spot you want!"
ScoutReservations are a must on summer weekends with some one night only walk-ups available. Large but sparse tree cover and fairly close sites limit privacy. Campground is on the banks of the Red River which was running high from extraordinary snow melt and had taken out a dam between the lakes. These circumstances limited fly fishing success but we still saw people bringing in a catch from time to time. The camp is close enough for day trips to Red River, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, Taos, and the Enchanted Circle. The Scenic Canyons contract camp hosts from neighboring campgrounds went the extra mile to cover this campground when its host fell ill and did a marvelous job maintaining the grounds and vault toilets and keeping fire wood available. Campground accommodates anything from tents to large RVs in most sites with a truck or tent area only as well. Recreation.gov does need to refine its on-line info about extra vehicles. There is an extra vehicle charge of $5.00 per day even if the site info says 2 vehicles are allowed. Overall, it’s a very nice place to camp.
ScoutBeautiful, clean area with about 15 campsites. There is a place to get water and restrooms in the park. Each campsite has plenty of space between sites, but has no electric or water hookups and there is no dump station. Very nice views of the lake and great walking trails with lots of flora and fauna.
LegendI liked the small roadside campground in the Carson National Forest. It’s located near some of the smaller ski slopes about 30 miles south of Taos NM on Highway 518 near Rock Wall New Mexico. The National Forest Service campground has 10 sites along a nice mountain stream. The campground is just off the highway with some privacy between the campsites. They have picnic tables and fire rings and clean Pit toilets. This site did not have a host and works from a self service. The hiking and fishing are the highlights here along with the scenery. I also appreciated this was mostly empty in the peak summer season. This is a nice option if you want to avoid the crowds a do some trout fishing in a relatively quite location. The only downside is the noise from the highway.
GuideCimarron Canton State Park is a wonderful place to stay, right on the Cimarron River. Bring your fishing gear and license for some relaxing fishing. Some of the sites are immediately adjacent to the river. My favorite campground is Tolby, the Westernmost. It has a Ranger/Information Station in the east end of the campground. It has flush toilets and sinks, but no shower. This is my favorite, because I love to hike and backpack. Just south across Highway 64 from the campground entrance is the Tolby Trailhead. The Tolby Trail takes you all the way back to Tolby Meadow on an excellent trail. A good spot for overnight tent camping. Tolby campground is also just minutes from Eagle Nest, NM and within easy range of Angel Fire, Red River, and a little less than an hour from Taos.
There are two other campgrounds for RVs, Maverick and Ponderosa, as well as one more for tent camping. Maverick sits right next to a pair of gravel pit lakes for added Fishing opportunities. Ponderosa is across the street from that, but is more like a parking lot with painted camping slots around its perimeter.
In the town of Cimarron I recommend dining at the Historic St. James hotel (very haunted) or lunch at the Creemee. Stop in at the headquarters of Philmont Scout Ranch for the National Scounting Museum and a Tour of the Villa Philimonte (Waite Phillips’ mansion). Also recommended is the Tooth of Time Traders at Philmont. It’s a camping/hiking store that is like an REI.
If you’re coming via Raton, the Colfax Tavern between Raton and Cimarron at Cold Beer New Mexico is a great place to stop for food and drinks.
GuideMy 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. It was enchanting enough that we made sure to make it back for an opportunity to take in the scenery and relax during a long weekend. The only issue we ran into was an abundance of mosquitos, but this should be expected during the late Spring/early Summer in northern New Mexico and can be easily addressed with a citronella candle and a bit of bug spray. Our most recent stay was on one of those rare nights where you can pull off the rain fly and not worry about a midnight downpour, which left us with a wonderful view of the stars, and the sites are private enough that, as long as you don't set up next to the table, it's comfortable with an open tent and away from prying eyes.
The campground is nice, very well maintained, and the site host is friendly and helpful. The grounds are a
LegendLa Sombra is a National Forest Service camp the highway 64 southeast of Taos New Mexico. The campground is of a number of NFS along this route. They have a nice trout stream for fishing and access to good hikes up out of the canyon. The sites all have fire rings and picnic tables. We camped here for one night on our way back to Texas. The road noise is the only downside. They had clean pit toilets and plenty of space even in the summer.
LegendThis is small campground near the Questa Ranger station in the Carson National forest. There are not many amenities and the campground is located right off the side of the road so there is a lot of road noise.It in not my favorite campground because you are not as close to the trailheads as many of the others, but if it is your only option during peak season it would do.
This park is located between Red River and Questa, so if you are in need of groceries or hot food, it is not far down the road. The Questa ranger station down the road has firewood, but not much else.
This campground has valt toilets, fire rings and picnic tables, plus a communal bear bin for food. Steep mountains line one side and the road the opposite, so you will have to either drive or walk the road to get to hiking trails.
LegendFREE campground! Large relatively flat grass lot with garbage cans and picnic tables. Pit toilets and recycling at the entrance. The lake was completely dry but has fishing and trolling motor boats only allowed when there is water. Very quiet place to stay the night. There was only one other camper that showed up when we stayed here. Lots of wildlife and pets allowed on leash.
LegendWe camped here two nights in July 2019. The site is about two hours west of Trinidad Colorado in the Spanish Peaks Area along scenic highway 12. The road leading to the site is about 5 miles of step gravel and dirt road with multiple switchbacks. The road is wide enough for vans and smaller campers but not the larger 5th wheels or RVs. You follow road up the mountain along the stream to blue lake a small mountain lake that is popular for trout fishing The campground is just north of the lake. The have a couple of loops with about 10 sites in each loop. Most of the sites are located along a beautiful wooded mountain stream. The high elevation of 10,000 keeps the temps down in the summer and the night sky is spectacular. The camp was full during our stay and reservations are highly recommended. A few campers were moving around each night for the odd opening. They have fire wood, water, and nice clean pit toilets. Our site number 8 was great and positioned on the trail to the lake and along the stream. You can see the mountain tops from sites 6 and 7 but they are along the road. This is a popular area for ATVs. So you may have company on the trails or around the site. The sites had a nice mix of tents, vans, and campers. We plan to come back in the fall. This is a keeper. Each site had a picnic table, fire ring and ample parking for two cars or one van. You do have some privacy between the sites. The camps along the river including 8, 9, and 10 are outstanding.
Nestled in the stunning landscapes of New Mexico, tent camping near Red River offers a perfect escape into nature, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What permits are required for dispersed tent camping in Red River, New Mexico?
No special permits are typically required for dispersed camping in the Carson National Forest around Red River, but always check with the Questa Ranger Station for current regulations. Camping is generally limited to 14 days within a 30-day period, as noted at Lower Hondo Campground. Free camping is available in designated dispersed areas, but you'll need to follow Leave No Trace principles. Fire restrictions may apply seasonally, and you may need a free campfire permit during dry periods. Remember that some areas near Cabresto Lake Campground might have specific regulations due to their proximity to water sources.
Where can I find dispersed camping spots around Red River, NM?
The Carson National Forest surrounding Red River offers several dispersed camping opportunities. Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 provides access to numerous dispersed sites in the area. Another option is Sanchez Stabilization Reservoir, which offers beautiful scenery, though it can be windy and experiences some road noise from nearby traffic. For dispersed camping, look for established pull-offs along forest roads, particularly in the areas near Questa. Most sites are primitive with no facilities, so pack in water and pack out all waste.
What is the best time of year for tent camping in Red River, NM?
Late spring through early fall (mid-May to mid-October) offers the best tent camping weather in Red River. Summer months provide warm days and cool nights, perfect for enjoying outdoor activities. Enchanted Circle Campground is particularly popular for fall visits when the area showcases spectacular autumn colors. July and August bring occasional afternoon thunderstorms but also lush wildflowers. Be prepared for chilly nights even in summer, as mentioned in reviews of La Junta - Wild Rivers Rec Area, where higher elevations mean significant temperature drops after sunset. Winter camping is possible but requires specialized cold-weather gear and experience.
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