Karen N.
Guide
GuideSanta Barbara Campground
Beautiful weekend
Stay at Santa Barbara Campground in Northern New Mexico. Was a beautiful spot. Road to Campground was well taken care of Beautiful trails throughout area
Equestrian Camping near Truchas, NM
11 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
RV Park at HIPICO Santa Fe accommodates horses with dedicated corrals on its grounds, making it the main equestrian-focused campground near Truchas, New Mexico. The facility welcomes both tent and RV campers while providing modern amenities including electric hookups, water connections, sewer hookups, showers, and restrooms. Horse owners have access to on-site corrals where they can keep their animals during their stay. The campground maintains reservation requirements for visitors planning to bring horses. Located approximately 30 miles southwest of Truchas, the park offers full hookup sites with 30-amp and 50-amp electrical service. Sites have trash collection and clean facilities for both riders and their horses.
The Pecos Wilderness area offers additional horse camping opportunities with Jacks Creek Horse Camp providing access to multiple trail systems. The camp features sites suitable for horses with drinking water and toilet facilities available. Trails from Jacks Creek connect riders to Round Mountain, offering superb views and pleasant routes through aspen groves. The horse camp includes multiple units of corrals with ample parking and turnaround space designed for large trailers, making it appropriate for group trail exploration. Borrego Mesa Campground also accommodates horses with small horse pens, though riders would need to create gates on them. The campground isn't suitable for large living-quarters horse trailers but works well for smaller rigs. Many sites throughout the region require reservations during peak summer months, with varying seasonal availability between May and November.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Truchas (11)
1. Borrego Mesa Campground
"About a 15min drive from the highway. Only 5 or 6 sites. Close to the Rio Mario Trail trailhead. Campsite is at elevation over 8,000ft so it can get chilly at night. Worked great for tent camping."
"Campground is a little off the beaten path, about 30m from the High Drive highway. Dirt roads were nothing to worry about, should be fine for any SUV or sedan."
2. Santa Barbara Campground
"Stay at Santa Barbara Campground in Northern New Mexico. Was a beautiful spot. Road to Campground was well taken care of Beautiful trails throughout area"
"The trails are absolutely wonderful and well worth taking a few hours to walk part of them. Hard core hikers will use the campground as a starting point for a lengthy hikes."
from $30 - $80 / night
Check Availability3. Agua Piedra Campground
"There is a trail head with 2 trails, one atv accessible and one hiking/horse that goes up to Indian Lake. Beautiful views and about 1200' elevation change."
"Tent camped at this location in the middle of September (a week before closing). Very beautiful place to watch the leaves change, trailheads close by and picnic tables at each site."
from $30 - $175 / night
Check Availability4. Iron Gate Campground
"During rainy seasons, ruts form with deep mud on some spots driving up."
"It's a nice little place tucked away in the woods. The road to get there is a bit rough, hence the title. By no means, Not a road for a large trailer or 5th wheel. Wild life everywhere.."
5. Jacks Creek Horse Camp
"The sites on the outside of the loops are decently wooded, smaller and not well suited to RVs. The sites on the inside of the loops have longer, RV sized pull in and little trees."
"Great overnight spot to use as a "home base" with lots of trail access. Multiple units of corrals and plenty of parking and turnaround space for large trailers."
6. Jacks Creek Group Area
"Beautiful drive out, creeks on both sides. Nestled deep in the Pecos Wilderness. Camping overlooks the mountains. Beatty’s trail head is nearby. Made a fire and had electric to charge my phone"
from $100 / night
Check Availability7. Las Vegas/New Mexico KOA Journey
"Cute cats and dogs all around. Pretty views and conveniently located within driving distance of a lot of attractions. Def recommend checking out the local hot springs."
"It is off the highway but nice and secluded. Pretty location and outside of Las Vegas, NM. It isn’t a five star because the sites are pretty close together"
from $45 - $75 / night
Check Availability8. Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 - Dispersed Camping
"Many open areas to camp right off the highway. The views of the mountains across the valley are best after the fork in the road. Please pick up extra trash if you use"
"I didn’t see anyone else camping or driving by. The forest is a nice mix of sage, juniper, and pine trees. I saw two elk across a swath of sage."
9. Ghost Ranch
"The whole ranch has been turned into a top notch facility with campgrounds and motel rooms, horses for rent, classes, and great hiking. The campground is large with several interconnecting loops."
"Recommend arriving not too late to see if you can get a good spot, we didn’t have shade so had to go find a nice shady bench away from our site for eating lunch / relaxing after our hike."
10. RV Park at HIPICO Santa Fe
"This is a very spacious private campground southwest of Santa Fe with access to public land. Located 20 minutes from downtown Santa Fe. There are probably 50 sites with restrooms and showers."
from $55 / night
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Drive Time
- 43 min from Santa Fe, NM
- 1 hr 32 min from Albuquerque, NM
- 3 hrs 14 min from Farmington, NM
- 3 hrs 37 min from Pueblo, CO
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Truchas, NM
78 Reviews of 11 Truchas Campgrounds
Warren K.GuideLas Vegas/New Mexico KOA Journey
Campground close to a cool little town
We stopped here for an overnighter and it was not the most aesthetic choice, but the town of Las Vegas is quite charming. The town has a great plaza and historic hotel where we had a pretty good meal. The sunsets and landscape in this part of New Mexico really take your breath away.
- D
Dorrs T.
ScoutIron Gate Campground
Not as great as I thought it would be.
Based on the reviews I thought this place would be a cool oasis up in the trees. Alas, it's not. There's a loop with 14 total sites. Unfortunately, at least half the sites in the inner ring are unusable because of road runoff making it tough to get to them, and we have a Toyota Tacoma. As a result, they do not get used and are, therefore, overgrown with New Mexico ground cover, which is not comparable to soft grass. That immediately bumps it down to about 10 sites. When we arrived, there was one site available that we could access. It was behind the main trailhead parking area and completely shaded. All in all, not bad, just not our ideal choice since it's right there close to any and all foot traffic. Luckily, as we walked the rest of the loop to see if there was anything else, a couple was just finishing packing up so we were able to snag their spot (#13), which we felt was the best one. Score!
Now, let's talk the road to get there. Absolutely do not try to take a camper of any size to this campground unless it's a legit overland type tear or squaredrop, ideally with an articulating hitch. People are not kidding when they say that's not a good idea. We had our Tacoma in 4L and I'm honestly not sure how some 2WD vehicles make it. There are many spots where the incline is pretty good, a number of deep crevices as a result of water runoff, many sections that are absolutely one lane only, and at least 6 spots where there was a small pond of standing water to drive through. Were any of the ponds show stoppers, no, but the water in one dip came up past the bottom of our doors. All in all, the road is no joke. Yes, I get this is a forest road, but the road snakes through multiple pieces of residential property (albeit they are probably summer homes but we saw people at almost every house when we drove past), and there's a hiking trailhead at the campground, so I expected it to be not THAT bad. In my book, it's not officially 'offroading' but it's worse than other forest service roads we've been on. Oh, and the couple residents we passed driving in their vehicles (you can tell by looking at them they are not campers or hikers) made it abundantly clear they weren't happy with us being on their road. All in all, nice campground with great trailheads but there are too many other beautiful places to hike and camp in NM for us to want to go back.
- Jeff K.Guide
Borrego Mesa Campground
Great campsite!!
Good road all the way in. About a 15min drive from the highway. Only 5 or 6 sites. Close to the Rio Mario Trail trailhead. Campsite is at elevation over 8,000ft so it can get chilly at night. Worked great for tent camping. Sites have a small horse pen but you would need to make a gate on them. Not good for big LQ horse trailers.
Steve & Ashley G.
LegendAgua Piedra Campground
Great Northern New Mexico Camp
We stayed at this site on the way back to Texas from our Colorado trip this summer. This is a great National Forest Campground south of Taos in the Carson Forest. The campground is just off the highway and situated in a beautiful mountain pine forest and next to a great trout stream. You have great shade during the hotter summer months. It’s far enough away from the highway that you don’t hear the traffic. It has a huge meadow and group camp site which look fantastic. The individual sites have some privacy between the sites and come equipped with fire pits and picnic tables. We made a reservation but the camp had a number of open sites in the peak summer season. The highlight here is the proximity of great hiking to nearby lakes and fishing in the trout stream. They had great facilities including clean pit toilets and some historic log cabins. They have a camp host and the sites accommodate tents and smaller vans and campers. I would give this another visit on our next trip to NM.
marine J.
RangerRV Park at HIPICO Santa Fe
Great location close to Santa Fe
This is a very spacious private campground southwest of Santa Fe with access to public land. Located 20 minutes from downtown Santa Fe. There are probably 50 sites with restrooms and showers. I saw a few tent but this is really geared toward RVs. They have discounts if you stay 4 to 6 days it is 10% off and 7 to 14 days it is 15% off. There is really nothing to it but it is so spacious and quiet, great vibe and the staff is super nice and helpful. They offer overnight stabling for horses too.
Tammy V.
TravelerAgua Piedra Campground
Excellent campground!
There is a trail head with 2 trails, one atv accessible and one hiking/horse that goes up to Indian Lake. Beautiful views and about 1200' elevation change.
Potable water available at camp host's location. It has sulfer but the smell cleared after half a day sitting in the sun. We brought our own to drink though.
Some campsites were more separated and others were close together if you were with a group. River runs along the camp for fishing, and they were catching fish.
James F.GuideSanta Barbara Campground
Beautiful Hiking
This is a great campground if you like to take some hikes through some beautiful national forest with a picturesque river. The Santa Barbara Campground is relatively small and most of the sites can't accommodate large rv's. A small travel trailer or tent works well in most sites. None of the sites have hook ups so you will be boon docking. There are vault toilets and water available. Sign on the water spigot said not to connect a hose though so filling your rv or trailer is not what they were intended for. I guess it was good that I filled before I left home. There are lots of trees for shade and beauty. The trails are absolutely wonderful and well worth taking a few hours to walk part of them. Hard core hikers will use the campground as a starting point for a lengthy hikes. There were a few cows that got into the camping area. There can also be horses on the trails so be vigilant.The temperatures were quite moderate as the campsite is at 8900 feet. You can hear the Santa Barbara River as it is very close.
Robin T.GuideSanta Barbara Campground
Great location but small noisy campground
This campground has a PERFECT location, right on the border of the Pecos wilderness with fabulous hiking. There is also fantastic fishing there, which many guests took advantage of all weekend. However, this campground only has 15 single sites, but most were occupied by double the amount allowable.. There were huge parties at many of the campsites all weekend, with cards zooming around all day. IT was NOISY and CROWDED.
If the camp host (who didn't seem to care) controlled this, we would have given this campground 5 stars.
The hiking was AMAZING. Views AMAZING....
This campground has a huge backpacker parking lot and when we arrived on Friday it was overflowing out onto the main road. The reason is that this campground is the entry point to the NORTHERN end of Pecos wilderness with access to amazing backpacking, high mountain peaks, and literally dozens of groups of backpackers daily going up the trail or coming back out from their adventures.
Guide to Truchas
Camping around Truchas, New Mexico sits at high elevation (around 8,000-10,000 feet) in the Santa Fe National Forest. Summer temperatures range from 45-75°F with afternoon thunderstorms common from July through September. Winter conditions can be harsh with snow cover from November through April, limiting access to many campgrounds.
What to Do
Hiking near Round Mountain: Access trails from Jacks Creek Horse Camp leading into the Pecos Wilderness. "Round Mountain offers superb views and a nice trail through the aspens. Highly recommend and will be back!" notes Gretchen N. Multiple trail systems connect from this area.
Fishing opportunities: The Santa Barbara River runs near Santa Barbara Campground, offering trout fishing. "There is also fantastic fishing there, which many guests took advantage of all weekend," shares Robin T. The river can flow fast during spring runoff.
Mountain biking: Forest service roads throughout Carson National Forest provide trail access for various skill levels. "The hiking was AMAZING. Views AMAZING," reports Robin T. about the trails near Santa Barbara Campground. Many trails welcome both hikers and mountain bikers.
What Campers Like
Secluded forest camping: Agua Piedra Campground offers a quiet forest experience at 8,000 feet elevation. "This campground is a hidden jewel in the mountains on the north end of the Pecos Wilderness. It is near NOTHING. It has no cell/wifi service. BUT what it does have is quiet, and peacefulness, and charm," reports Robin T.
High elevation escape: Summer temperatures stay moderate due to elevation. "The temperatures were quite moderate as the campsite is at 8900 feet. You can hear the Santa Barbara River as it is very close," notes James F. about Santa Barbara Campground.
Wilderness access: Campsites serve as gateways to backcountry trails. "This campground has a huge backpacker parking lot and when we arrived on Friday it was overflowing out onto the main road. The reason is that this campground is the entry point to the NORTHERN end of Pecos wilderness," explains Robin T.
What You Should Know
Weather variability: Mountain camping means unpredictable conditions. "It got cold at night, like 27 F," reports Jacob W. about Carson NF - Forest Service Road 578 even in mid-April. Pack layers regardless of season.
Road conditions: Many camping areas have rough access roads. "The road to get there is a bit rough, hence the title. By no means, Not a road for a large trailer or 5th wheel," warns Frank and Olga C. about Iron Gate Campground. Four-wheel drive may be necessary for some locations.
Seasonal availability: Most campgrounds operate May through October. "The closer we got to the weekend, the more crowded and noisy the site became," notes Allison C. about Jacks Creek Horse Camp. Weekday visits offer more solitude.
Tips for Camping with Families
Creek exploration: Kids enjoy water activities at select campgrounds. "Went exploring in the river next to the campground and then took a short hike up the river to some amazing river canyon views," shares Donaji R. about Santa Barbara Campground. Always supervise children near fast-moving water.
Safety precautions: Mountain waters can be dangerous. "Santa Barbara river runs right by and can really flow fast in the spring (watch your kids!)," cautions Barbara H. River levels vary significantly with snowmelt and summer rains.
Wildlife awareness: The area has active wildlife. "I saw two elk across a swath of sage," reports Jacob W. Teach children proper food storage and wildlife safety protocols.
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Most equestrian campgrounds near Truchas accommodate smaller RVs only. "Sites have a small horse pen but you would need to make a gate on them. Not good for big LQ horse trailers," explains Jeff K. about Borrego Mesa Campground. Measure your rig before booking.
Hookup availability: Most wilderness campgrounds lack hookups. "Only real con is no electric," mentions Barbara H. about Santa Barbara Campground. Prepare for dry camping with adequate water and power supplies.
Alternative options: For full hookups, consider staying at established RV parks like Las Vegas KOA Journey, located about 45 miles southeast of Truchas. "Easy off/on I25. Campsites are spread out with trees separating sites," notes James P. Expect to pay $45-70 for full hookup sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Truchas, NM?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Truchas, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Truchas, NM is Borrego Mesa Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find
equestrian camping near
Truchas, NM?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Truchas, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Truchas, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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