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Best Tent Camping near San Acacia, NM

111 Reviews

The mountainous terrain surrounding San Acacia, New Mexico offers several tent camping options within driving distance, with New Canyon Campground and Bear Trap Campground providing established tent-only sites. New Canyon Campground features 10 tent campsites accessible via drive-in access, while Bear Trap Campground in Magdalena offers both drive-in and walk-in tent sites. These primitive tent camping areas provide basic amenities in natural settings, with most located at higher elevations that offer cooler temperatures during New Mexico's hot summer months.

Most tent campgrounds in the region have minimal facilities. Bear Trap Campground provides vault toilets, picnic tables, and allows campfires, but campers must bring their own water as there are no water sources on site. According to reviews, the road to Bear Trap is "rough and narrow with some hair-pin turns," requiring careful navigation and higher-clearance vehicles. New Canyon Campground offers vault toilets but prohibits fires and pets. Sites typically feature relatively flat ground suitable for tent setup, though formal tent pads are uncommon. Campers should note that the Bear Trap area experienced significant burns in 2022 fires, so checking with the Mimbres Ranger District of Gila National Forest before planning a visit is essential.

Walk-in tent sites provide additional backcountry tent camping opportunities with greater seclusion. One camper noted that Bear Trap Campground has "just 4 camp sites and a pit toilet in an isolated setting," making it ideal for those seeking solitude. The campground sits at approximately 8,500 feet elevation, where "August nights are very comfortable; by September, the nights are chilly." New Canyon Campground receives positive reviews for its hiking access, with visitors mentioning "tons of great trails" and rock climbing opportunities nearby. The surrounding landscape offers distinctive desert beauty with memorable sunsets, though the low vegetation provides limited privacy between sites. Fall brings particularly attractive conditions to many tent campgrounds in the region, with pleasant temperatures and colorful foliage.

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Best Tent Sites Near San Acacia, New Mexico (4)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near San Acacia, NM

2 Photos of 4 San Acacia Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near San Acacia, NM

111 Reviews of 4 San Acacia Campgrounds

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 10, 2019

    Escondida Lake Park & Campground

    A fishing pond and inexpensive sites

    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). There's a picnic table (numbered with the site so there's no question which one is which) and fire ring. Bathrooms offer flush toilets, no showers and it is not heated. Numerous portable toilets also got the park around the pond and play area. In early December only 4 of the sites are occupied and one person was fishing. It's handicapped accessible with a paved path to a small dock.

  • Damon T.
    Jun. 24, 2016

    Fourth of July Campground

    Clean campground with access to great fall foliage

    The Fourth of July Campground provides a starting point for hiking 4th of July Canyon, which is a must-do for anyone in NM in the fall.

    The campground itself is pretty standard: gravel pad, fire ring and a picnic table. The sites are a little close together, so don't expect too much privacy. We found one that had a flat spot up the hill a bit so we almost felt like we were alone, but the neighbors barking dogs when I went to the bathroom in the AM brought me quickly back to reality.

  • Day Hiker Chronicles
    Sep. 30, 2019

    Fourth of July Campground

    Solid sites but nothing special

    This was our first time camping in the Manzanos. The campsites are well made with a picnic table and fire ring. There isn’t a tent pad but all of the spots have a nice section of relatively flat ground. There are several vault toilets spread through the site. Cost is $7 per night. There is no water source at or near the campsites so make sure to bring enough for your stay. The campground is clean and well maintained. The sites are relatively close together but the campsite wasn’t crowded. The road in is a forest road. SUV’s will be fine but starting to push it for cars. You can walk from the sites to the Fourth of July trail

  • W
    May. 15, 2022

    Manzano Mountains State Park Campground

    Quiet park. Clean and Shady.

    Nice tall shade trees at all sites. Clean facilities (vault toilets). Some tent sites have brick wind structures around their picnic tables, which can be a handy especially with NM spring winds.

  • Jennifer A.
    Oct. 6, 2021

    Red Canyon Campground

    Nice Campground, loud nighttime visitors

    There are vault toilets, trash bins, and bear boxes. This campground is nice with sites for RV and tent camping. We camped here one night with our scout troop. I did have spotty T-Mobile service, others had phone service as well but I’m not sure of their provider. We had a great night with a campfire and a good view of the stars and moon. All was well until someone started illegally cutting down trees at 2 in the morning. After an annoying couple of hours they were gone, most of our group were wide awake and tried to go back to sleep. We stayed at the site till afternoon with no other problems, just a group of tired scouts.

  • Katriza L.
    Jul. 30, 2021

    Manzano Mountains State Park Campground

    Our new favorite spot!

    We 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!

  • Patrick B.
    Oct. 16, 2022

    Water Canyon Campground

    Can't beat the price (for now)

    You 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.

  • Elliott B.
    Sep. 27, 2016

    Capilla Peak Campground — Cibola National Forest And Grasslands

    Much busier than I would have thought for how rough it was

    Pretty open sites (less than a dozen) which are on some pretty rough desert/mountain terrain.

    There are some nice shaded picnic shelters, but no water...there are vault toilets (a bit smelly and hot)

    Cobola national forest has a ton of awesome trails and you're not too far from Albequerque

  • Candice T.
    Jan. 4, 2021

    Escondida Lake Park & Campground

    Okay Park

    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.

Guide to San Acacia

Tent camping around San Acacia presents unique high-desert camping experiences between 6,000-8,500 feet elevation. The region experiences dramatic temperature shifts between seasons, with summer highs potentially reaching 90°F while winter nights can drop below freezing. Autumn camping is particularly popular due to moderate temperatures and minimal rainfall.

What to do

**Hiking trails: New Canyon Campground offers extensive trail access for day hikes with varying difficulty levels. "Great small campground hardly used & nestled well in the valley. Great hikes, rock climbing & tons of great trails," notes Mike R., who recommends driving "the additional 5 miles to the top & visit that campground & enjoy all of the deer & other wildlife."

Rock climbing opportunities: The terrain surrounding New Canyon provides natural climbing surfaces for beginners and experienced climbers. One camper observed the area is "very rocky good for climbing," making it popular with the regional climbing community during spring and fall when temperatures are moderate.

Wildlife viewing: The forests around Tajique Campground contain diverse wildlife habitats. Campers should maintain awareness of local wildlife, as one visitor at New Canyon reported being warned that "there was a boar and a bear coming down the canyon. He said they were about 700 yards away."

What campers like

Secluded camping experience: Bear Trap Campground receives praise for its remote location. Kristine C. describes it as "one of my favorite hidden gems" with "no frills here" but appreciates the "spacious, mostly flat" sites that "provide a lovely view of the mountainside."

Fall foliage viewing: The high elevation forests display colorful autumn transitions. Odyssey A. recommends visiting after the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta: "Didn't think we'd find anything but glad we were wrong lovely colors here with fall!"

Cooler temperatures: The higher elevation provides relief from summer heat. Bear Trap sits "at about 8500 ft MSL elevation" where "August nights are very comfortable; by September, the nights are chilly," according to frequent visitors.

What you should know

Road conditions: Access to some campgrounds requires careful driving. The road to Bear Trap is described as "rough and narrow with some hair-pin turns" with "spectacular views" but Kristine C. cautions "don't plan on getting there fast" and would "not recommend trying the road with an RV."

Limited facilities: Most tent sites offer minimal amenities. Hughes Mill Campground operates seasonally from May to October with no potable water, requiring campers to pack in all necessary supplies.

Weather preparation: Temperature variations require appropriate gear. At Bear Trap's elevation, September nights become notably cold, requiring warmer sleeping bags and layered clothing.

Fire restrictions: Campfire policies vary by location and season. New Canyon has strict no-fire policies while Bear Trap typically allows campfires when fire danger is low.

Tips for camping with families

Concrete amenities: Some New Canyon Campground sites feature practical additions for family use. Joshuah F. notes "some of the campsites had concrete picnic tables and bear containers" though they "were up a walkway and some stairs."

Bathroom facilities: Family-friendly sites typically offer basic sanitation. Melanie G. mentions New Canyon has "10 great campsites. Vaulted toilets available," while Joshuah F. found "the vault toilets were clean."

Cultural sites: Combining camping with historical exploration enhances educational opportunities. Mike R. recommends visiting "a church from the 1800's" near New Canyon as part of the camping experience.

Tips from RVers

Vehicle restrictions: Many tent-focused campgrounds have limitations for larger vehicles. At Bear Trap, a camper with "an old Honda CRV AWD" pulling "a small trailer" managed the access road but specifically warns against RVs.

Seasonal closures: Winter conditions affect accessibility to several campgrounds in the region. Hughes Mill and similar high-elevation sites close completely during winter months due to snow and freezing conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near San Acacia, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near San Acacia, NM is New Canyon Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 6 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near San Acacia, NM?

TheDyrt.com has all 4 tent camping locations near San Acacia, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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