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San Lorenzo Canyon Dispersed camping areas near Lemitar provide free, pet-friendly sites for both tent and RV campers without hook-ups or facilities. Dogs can explore the remarkable canyon formations while staying on-leash, with multiple sites available throughout the arroyo. Campers regularly mention the canyon's hiking trails as excellent for pet exercise, though the sandy terrain can be challenging for some vehicles, especially when pulling trailers. Escondida Lake Park & Campground offers more amenities for pet owners, including water and electric hookups at sites with picnic tables, while still maintaining a pet-friendly environment. The campground features flush toilets and sanitary dump stations, making it suitable for longer stays with pets. Cell service remains strong at the front campsites of San Lorenzo Canyon, though signal weakens further into the canyon.
The Box Recreation Area permits pets at its free dispersed camping areas, providing toilet facilities without other amenities. When visiting these pet-friendly BLM lands, campers should bring ample water for themselves and their animals, as drinking water is not available at most dispersed sites. Some areas can be difficult to locate—San Lorenzo Canyon specifically requires careful navigation as Google Maps directions often lead to closed gates or incorrect locations. Follow the frontage road past the freeway overpass to the second right that goes under the freeway tunnel, then take the first right onto the dirt road. Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel in Bernardo offers more developed options for RV campers with pets, providing full hookups including 50-amp service, showers, and a dedicated area for horses, though wifi access requires an additional fee.
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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.
Dispersed camping near San Acacia offers direct access to canyon landscapes and desert wilderness within Bureau of Land Management lands. Temperatures range from summer highs near 100°F to winter nights below freezing, with limited shade at most sites. Flash floods can occur during monsoon season from July through September, requiring campers to monitor weather forecasts.
Hiking in slot canyons: San Lorenzo Canyon features impressive geological formations with multiple hiking trails through narrow slots. "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 camper at San Lorenzo Canyon Dispersed.
Bird watching: The area near Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge attracts serious bird enthusiasts, especially during winter months. "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 visitor at San Antonio Riverine Park.
Rock climbing: The Box Recreation Area provides established routes for climbers of various skill levels. "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)," shares a climber who stayed at The Box Recreation Area.
Affordable full hookups: Budget-conscious campers appreciate the value at Escondida Lake Park. "FHU by the pond for $18?! But wait, there's more; free firewood! Place was clean, level gravel, had great neighbors, and caught a fish within 10 minutes throwing out my lure," reports one satisfied camper at Escondida Lake Park & Campground.
Fishing opportunities: The pond at Escondida Lake provides accessible fishing close to camp. "This is a state park campground that offers everything from basic tent sites to full hookups near a small pond for fishing (no swimming or boating). It's handicapped accessible with a paved path to a small dock," notes a reviewer.
Stargazing: Clear night skies offer excellent stargazing conditions. "Starlink worked well though! In addition to birdwatching there are numerous, unlabeled trails and access roads all along the river bank and the canal for walking, or biking," mentions a visitor at San Antonio Riverine Park.
Google Maps issues: Navigation apps often provide incorrect directions to remote sites. "DONT FOLLOW GOOGLE MAPS! You will end up at a closed gate with instructions on where you are supposed to go, wasting 30 mins in the process," warns a camper at San Lorenzo Canyon.
Limited amenities: Most dispersed sites lack basic facilities. "I enjoy camping here very quiet and peaceful. No bathroom and water," states a camper at San Lorenzo Canyon. Similarly, at San Antonio Riverine Park, visitors note: "No trash bins and no bathrooms. Please pack out your waste!"
Seasonal considerations: Weather can be extreme, with strong winds common in spring. "It's okay. Has decent hookups and a firepit. Comes with free firewood, which was nice. Has a picnic table. No showers. No bathrooms during covid, which sucks. Campsites are pretty close together," reports a camper about seasonal limitations at Escondida Lake Park & Campground.
Pet exercise areas: For those seeking pet friendly camping near San Acacia, New Mexico, many sites welcome dogs but require leashes. "Spots are accessible and park is clean. Stables for horses with exercise area. A little bit noisy from interstate but not to bad," notes a visitor at Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel.
Playground access: Escondida Lake Park offers recreational facilities for children. "There are two basic areas, the fishing area around the pond which is good sized and shaped so that there's lots of shoreline. The other area is the camping area with hookups and tent sites. In between was the playground and bathroom area," describes one visitor.
Wildlife viewing with kids: Schedule wildlife viewing during morning hours. "Dawn and dusk are something to behold, so get your cameras ready! The campsites themselves are loosely defined, but a few actually have developed campfire pits and picnic tables," recommends a visitor at San Antonio Riverine Park.
Vehicle clearance: Many dispersed sites require high-clearance vehicles, particularly after rain. "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. Otherwise, most other vehicles out tent camping didn't seem to have too many problems," advises an RVer at San Lorenzo Canyon.
Campsite selection for larger rigs: Choose sites carefully as many are not suitable for big rigs. "The road down into the campground is steep and raggedy, but we did ok (i.e. didn't scrape) in our 26ft class c," reports a camper at Chupadero Mountainview RV Park.
Interstate noise considerations: Some campgrounds near highways experience traffic noise. "This is a simple campground with sites very close to each other and without shade at the sites. It has a clean bathroom and shower available during the day. It's out among ranch fields which were nice to look at and meant you weren't right on the road," notes a visitor at Chupadero Mountainview RV Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near San Acacia, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near San Acacia, 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 San Acacia, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 28 dog-friendly camping locations near San Acacia, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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