Carson National Forest and the surrounding public lands offer free camping near Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico at elevations ranging from 8,000 to 10,000 feet. The area sits at the southern end of the Rocky Mountains with many dispersed sites available along forest service roads. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing while summer monsoon seasons can impact road conditions.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At Elk Creek Trail, campers can enjoy creekside fishing. "Parked on edge of flat in trees close to creek. Nice ambient noise. Fire rings, metal and stone. Plenty of room. Two vault toilets were clean plenty if TP. Lots of trails, bridge over creek, lakes are near by foot," notes Jason R.
Hiking the Continental Divide Trail: Access the famous long-distance trail from various dispersed sites. Near Dispersed Camping Near Hopewell Lake, one camper reports, "This dispersed area is close to Hopewell Lake and Campground where there is fishing and vaulted toilets. The Continental Divide Trail goes right through this location."
Stargazing: Clear mountain skies offer exceptional night viewing. At Del Norte Dispersed Camping, Michael W. shares, "The star gazing at night was amazing. Great to see everyone packing out there trash. One of the cleaner and quieter camp areas I've been too in a while."
What campers like
Riverside camping: The sound of running water enhances many sites. At Whirlpool Dispersed Camping Area, Tim W. reports, "We got there on a Friday and had our pick of sites. We picked one right on the river. No electricity. No water. No picnic tables. No trash receptacle. Vault toilets. Camp spaces are spread out."
Wildlife viewing: Many campers report excellent wildlife sightings. At Edward Sargeant Wildlife Management Area, Andrea P. notes, "The Sargeant is gorgeous. Good fishing opportunities, and I pretty much always see elk and/or mule deer."
Solitude and quiet: Less developed sites offer privacy. At Buckles Lake Rd, Aly E. describes, "We found a spot at buckle road trail head and they had a vault toilet and fire pit! Elk and deer and nothing but peace. Not a soul around us for miles."
What you should know
Seasonal closures: Some campgrounds close during winter months. A camper at Whirlpool Dispersed Camping Area warns, "Closed for winter! Beautiful area, would recommend visiting anyways. Day area is stunning."
Road conditions vary: Many access roads require careful navigation. At Tres Piedras Camp, Wild Berries B. advises, "Easy and short access to the camp sites via gravel sandy road, some with fire rings and camp tables, leveled grounds for trailers and lots of pine trees for privacy."
Pack it in, pack it out: No services means being self-sufficient. Kim M. from Whirlpool notes, "People were having a good time but were chill at night, something I always appreciate at free sites. Roads were good and any vehicle can make it. Just go slow as usual!"
Tips for camping with families
Accessible hiking: Look for trails that accommodate various ability levels. Jacob W. says about Carson NF - Forest Road 578, "I saw two elk across a swath of sage. I could see the snow capped peaks of the Sangre de Cristo range on the eastern horizon when I walked farther up the road."
Fire safety: Be aware of seasonal restrictions and always use established fire rings. Michael N. cautions about Whirlpool, "This camping spot is awesome but can be busy at times. One down side being close to the river is the bugs, literally thousands of them can make it unpleasant."
Cell service considerations: Connection varies widely between sites. At Edward Sargeant, Andrea P. notes, "There are pens for horses, and in the camping area I have 2-3 bars of service (Verizon). Much of the wildlife area does not have cell reception."
Tips from RVers
Leveling options: Many dispersed sites offer flat parking areas. At Tres Piedras Camp, Leslie S. reports, "Close to main roads but quiet flat and wide spots. Several fire spots (3-5 didn't count all). We had neighbors we could see but all are pleasantly spaced."
Access road assessment: Carefully evaluate roads before committing to larger rigs. Olympia H. notes about Edward Sargeant Wildlife Management Area, "There are some deep potholes but our RV had no problem. There are two pit toilets. There are a few tall trees but not much shade. There's a bunch of level parking and setup was a breeze. Lots of space to park our rig!"
Weather planning: Seasonal conditions significantly impact accessibility. Timothy N. at Dispersed Camping Near Hopewell Lake shares, "It rained for several hours and our spot stayed solid. Some offshoot roads were rutted out. The main road had minimal rocks and holes, didn't get very muddy."
