Lincoln National Forest offers diverse camping options near Timberon, New Mexico, ranging from 5,500 to 9,400 feet in elevation. Most dispersed sites lack amenities but provide direct access to forest trails and wildlife viewing. Road conditions vary significantly with many forest routes requiring high-clearance vehicles during the May-October camping season when daytime temperatures average 75-85°F while nights can drop below 45°F even in summer months.
What to do
Hiking Dog Canyon: Located near Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, this trail provides excellent winter or early spring hiking opportunities. "Fun things to do nearby. Quiet and peaceful. Wonderful view of the night sky," notes one camper, while another specifically recommends "Dog Canyon, a great winter or early spring hike."
Wildlife viewing: The Lincoln National Forest area hosts abundant wildlife, particularly during early mornings and evenings. At Forest Road 568, campers report seeing "more elk than we could count! Just glowing eyes everywhere and all in the road." Another camper mentioned "we found a lot of bones from dead animals which was pretty cool."
Explore local waterways: Small creeks and waterfall features provide welcome relief during warmer months. A visitor to Bluff Springs noted, "Awesome overnight stay at Bluff Springs Dispersed Camping... and the spring waterfall was great. Forest Ranger was super helpful."
What campers like
Mountain views: The dramatic elevation changes create stunning vistas throughout the region. At Dog Canyon, campers appreciate "Beautiful New Mexico Mountain Views" with one noting, "This nice little pull in for a quick stop has great views of the Alamogordo mountains."
Night sky viewing: Limited light pollution makes stargazing exceptional in this region. A camper at Dog Canyon reported "starry skies" while another mentioned "Verizon service, starry skies."
Seasonal weather variations: Despite summer heat in lower elevations, higher forest areas remain comfortable. As one camper at Oliver Lee Memorial State Park advised, "Cooler times of the year, like mid-winter, I do recommend the area, particularly Dog Canyon, a great winter or early spring hike. But for mid-summer? No, unless you're an infernal demon it's a bit warm those months."
What you should know
Limited amenities: Most dispersed sites lack facilities, requiring self-sufficiency. A camper at Forest Service Road 64 reported, "We tent camped in mid September 2022 in the Lincoln National Forest south of Cloudcroft, NM off Forest Service Road 64. Over 9,400' and it got cold at night."
Increasing crowds: Popular sites fill quickly, especially during summer weekends. One camper at Bluff Springs observed, "Been camping here several times a year and it just keeps getting busier and busier. Need to find a new place!"
Variable cell service: Connectivity ranges from strong to non-existent depending on location. At Forest Road 568, a camper noted, "I had AT&T 3-4 bars of signal, enough to work my remote job and stream You-Tube," while another location had "5 bars of AT&T."
Tips for camping with families
Water features: Creeks and small waterfalls provide natural entertainment for children. A family visiting Bluff Springs Dispersed Camping shared, "We found a pretty big spot and set up camp. With one camper, two tents, two jeeps, two dogs, six kiddos and 10 adults it was a chore to get everything out and set up but worth every minute to enjoy the next three days worry and technology free."
Temperature planning: Pack for significant day-to-night temperature swings, especially at higher elevations. One family camping at Forest Service Road 64 reported, "Over 9,400' and it got cold at night. Saw one elk and heard more bugling."
Road considerations: Many forest roads require higher clearance vehicles. A camper noted about Forest Road 568, "Road is a little rough but flattens out as you go up the hill."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Many forest roads have limited turnaround space for larger rigs. An RVer at Forest Road 568 advised, "After the fork, sites big enough for a van or larger Class B but that's it... You might get something slightly bigger but not a lot of turnaround space for a bigger rig."
RV parks in town: For those seeking hookups, Circle Cross RV Park in Timberon offers developed sites. A visitor described it as "Very Un-RV Park. The hosts are amazing, the scenery is magical, and most sites are roomy. We stayed at the southern most end of the park so our backs were to the rest of the park."
Water pressure considerations: Some established campgrounds have unusual water systems. At Alamogordo/White Sands KOA, campers noted "water pressure is really high at around 155 psi. So definitely bring a regulator."
