Are you looking for a place to stay in Santa Clara with your horse? Equestrian camping is an adventurous and unique way to experience the city. Find New Mexico equestrian campgrounds with ease on The Dyrt.
RV Park
Whether you are camping in a tent or full-size recreational vehicle, there is a place at the Gila Hot Springs ranch. Owned and operated by Becky Campbell, this facility is an AAA rated campground. We are committed to make sure that your camping experience is an enjoyable success. For further information contact us at gilahotspringsranch@gilanet.com or call 575-536-9314 (evenings).
Free Wi-Fi is available at Doc Campbell's Outpost.
Our sites have both hot and cold taps at all hookups. You have the option to enjoy the hot springs water in your own RV or use the RV Park restroom with showers. Be sure to enjoy the Natural Hotsprings Jacuzzi, too!
We also have a picnic pavilion with a grill. A fire ring is also available and is a great place for group activities. In addition, your children can romp and play in our playground. Horse corrals are also available.
Rates* Hookups: Overnight: $23 - $29 Weekly: $129 - $161 Monthly: $320
Overnight tenting: $5.75 per person. Tenting rates include use of showers. Natural Hotsprings Jacuzzi use: $4.60 per person Surcharge for a/c and electric heaters
$6 - $29 / night
This is a nice shady campground under ponderosa pines.
Sapillo is an undeveloped campground under ponderosa pine and is a favorite of group campers.
No reservations are necessary. First come - first serve. All Gila NF campgrounds have a 14-day stay limit.
There is no firewood available. Please bring your own if you plan on building a fire.
Please "Pack It In, Pack It Out" and do not dispose of trash in the campfire rings.
There are numerous dispersed camping sites in the campground.
BLM land near the City of Rocks entrance
Snow Lake is a small reservoir located in the Reserve Ranger District approximatley 30 miles from the town of Reserve. Snow Lake is most easily accessed via FR 142.
Guide
When I called about availability we were told there were a lot of dry spots available. Works for us! When we got there the person at gate had no idea where the campgrounds were and would not let us check out sites without paying for day use. The campground had water shutoff on Memorial Day weekend. No bathrooms or showers.
Management aside, this place is gorgeous. We dry camped by lake right under mountains. Would not pay for campground with no water but for $10 to dry camp by the water, love it.
Great T-Mobile service. Easy to access.
Guide
There are plenty of nice spots to camp along North Star Road, north of Mimbres, NM. You'll find dispersed campsites with fire-rings all along the edges of the road and on spur forest roads sprouting from it. North Star Road is usually well maintained and most vehicles should make it to at least North Star Mesa.
Nothing in terms of services and amenities, but nice hiking nearby. Very clear skies at night.
As always, please follow LNT principles when dispersed camping.
Guide
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.
TravelerVery helpful staff. The place was very clean and spacious. There are plenty of places to hike and fish. Great place to take the family to create memories.
Legend
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.
RangerThe park is on the lake it's named after. They have a brand new visitor Center opened yesterday December 11, 2021. There are views of the lake and the nearby mountains. The sites are spacious and spread out on flat level gravel. There are a few tall trees but there are shrubs and some small Juniper and Pinyon tree's. It is not far off of I 25. There is another state park within 10 miles on the other side of the dam. You can sometimes hear highway noise from 817. You can see the traffic on I-25.
TravelerWe pulled right into our campsite with hot and cold water at our site. I believe they pull it from the natural hot springs that run beneath the mountain. What a treat! Even if you're not glam camping with a fancy RV it's perfect! How many times have you had to wash your dishes in cold water st a campground.
I pull a 37ft gooseneck horse trailer that is now used for camping. No amenities but next best thing to camping in a tent.
There is a short walk to the natural hot springs down by the river which is really rustic and relaxing. Especially after climbing the step to the cave/cliff dwellings which are approximately 4 mi further up the road.
The restrooms are flush toilets, hot water and a heated floor. Super clean! You can pay a small fee to utilize the "hot tub" which is more modern but the best part is that there's no ceiling! That means as you sit in the hot tub you're privy to the unobstructed view of the Milky Way! Bring a pair of binoculars! We saw several shooting stars and we blown away by the majesty of the heavens which were out "ceiling"!
You can get out of the hot tub, go directly into the restroom/shower. There's a code to enter the two shower/hot tub complex. Great because it keeps unexpected/uninvited guests from entering.
We parked at site #08 close to the restrooms. There are hookups for more luxurious RVs.
We ran out of propane and were easily accommodated with a fire ring and wood for a small fee. Well worth it! Mornings were in the 30's. It warms up quickly so layering worked for us.
The camp host were very accommodating and friendly.
I loved watching them round up their herd of horses that roam freely through the campground from time to time.
At sunset we watched deer in the pasture grazing happily. Then watched them hop right over the fence one by one! How fun is that!
Sunrise and sunsets there cast the most beautiful hues on the rock formations surrounding the area.
While walking down to the natural hot springs we were delighted to see sheep who had given birth to a couple sets of black & white faced twins! Too cute for words...
Bring a lunch as there are picnic tables next to the creek. Great after soaking in the three separate soaking areas.
I was told you could arrange pack trips on horses and explore any of the back country areas. This is love to return and take advantage of! As amazing as it is on foot and in the car it Hass to be mine blowing on the back of a horse! I was also told that they do trail rides for those less experienced riders.

ScoutQuiet campgrounds a bit on top of each other but the services are excellent
GuideThis campground is not far from I-25, not far from Truth or Consequences, with easy access on paved roads. There is a dump and water fill station as well as sites with electric and water, fire pits, a grill, and a pavillion with half walls for shade and privacy. Dispersed camping is available down by the lake near the boat ramp. Cell coverage is iffy, at best. Comfort Stations are clean, toilets have running water. There is only cold water at sink, and sporadic warm but mostly cold water in showers. There are no surfaces to set things down on. Only very few hooks in shower and toilet stalls. Waking up with calls from the cranes across the lake made my day happy! You’ll enjoy the sounds of night creatures, although the noise from I-25, depending on the direction of the wind, can be deafening, especially if you are in a tent. Bring ear plugs! Sunsets are breathtaking! If it were warmer I’d love to go out on my paddle board. I’d come back to this campground again and again!
GuideCampsites are well sized and maintained. Bathrooms not open. Beautiful lake. Close to beautiful Gila National Forest. Ride on hwy 152 was awesome. Close to Elephant Butte’s perfect beaches. W/E. There are a few FHU.
GuideNo 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!)
GuideWas a big grass camping area lots of space. Close to the water from camping sites....Grills tables and shade area....
GuideA 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 😂
Guidenice area, near Truth or Consequences. we camped with water and electric for a few days then parked down on the lake and primitive camped for a few more...fire pits, grills, covered picnic tables..clean bathrooms..
GuideI come out here to mostly kayak, fish & walk my dogs. Kayaking is best when the sunrises because you get a beautiful view of it rising behind the mountains. My dogs enjoy exploring the surrounding area.
GuideGreat 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Santa Clara, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Santa Clara, NM is North Star Mesa Dispersed Camping with a 4-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Santa Clara, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Santa Clara, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
