Best Equestrian Camping near Santa Clara, NM

Quiet ranch in the mountains of Gila National Forest. Must be prepared for a very steep grade drive with switchbacks. Beautiful scenery with sheep and horses.

This lake is great for paddle boarding, relaxing and taking in the views.

It’s a few minutes from the lake but it’s nice and open.. both times we’ve gone it’s had quite a few people but beyond being able to hear them we weren’t running into each other. Great for tents, or campers.. They have metal fire rings to help which was nice.

Only drawback was one time people were running generators which were pretty loud.. but we’d still go back!

This was my first experience in a boat, and the lake was a perfect place to learn. Had such an amazing experience with my family.

Stayed here July 12-14,2019. There were quite a few sites available late Friday afternoon. Short walk to lake. Very well kept. Saw several deer and caught a few fish. Definitely worth the drive from Albuquerque

This is open BLM land. When you turn off Highway 61, you go through a gate. There are multiple pull-outs along the road. Great views, desert terrain. I have good cell service, and my home fi hot spot is working great.

Enjoyed relaxing in the hot springs which are very nice and easily accessible. Vault/compost toilet was clean but smelly as you’d expect while in it. Maneuvering our 24ft sprinter was doable on the property but larger vehicles not advised.

No facilities (it's boondocking) but beautiful! We camped upstream of the lake in a shallow valley with a dirt road leading to the site/area. We could walk to the lake and across the dam to explore the creek behind it. I slipped in the creek and dislocated my little finger on our second day, so that ended the trip for me. Had to drive to Reserve for medical help.

The area is open grassland with ponderosa pines scattered around in clumps. As you hike into the Wilderness Area (the first one designated as such) the forest gets thicker. Snow Lake is well-known for trout fishing, and people know this. We were there on Memorial Day and it was a bit crowded with fishermen.

There is an established campground there also (Dipping Vat) if you want a picnic table and grill, but we were all equipped for boondocking. High altitude means cold nights, so come prepared with all amenities self-contained, and all contingencies anticipated. (Like my dislocation!)

A little rocky but beautiful lake. You can either stay on the north side of the damn where the lake is or stay on the south side where the Rio grande runs. We decided to stay on the river. Decent camp spots. We tried swimming across the Rio Grande. That shot was hard 😂

Campground is very nice with great views. Grounds are well kept. Bathhouse is clean. Water in the showers are annoying because it auto cuts off after about 10-15 seconds and you have to keep it going for at least a minute or two to get hot water. Sites are close but separated my some bushes. The Dyrt app says there is WiFi which there isn’t and also that there are sewer hookups which they aren’t. Not a problem but just fyi.

Was a big grass camping area lots of space. Close to the water from camping sites....Grills tables and shade area....

Great place to kayak especially when the sun rises you will see it over the mountains. My favorite part about caballo lake is floating down from elephant butte to caballo lake in a giant floaty.