Looking to get away and reconnect with nature? Glamping near Vallecitos is the perfect choice. Glamping is not only a fun alternative to traditional tent camping, but also allows you to pack more or less gear as you see fit. The Dyrt makes it easy to find glamping for your Vallecitos adventure.
Riana Campground is located on a 150 ft. bluff overlooking the scenic Abiquiu Lake in northern New Mexico, just one hour northwest of charming Santa Fe. The lake sits at an elevation of 6,400 feet on the Rio Chama, a tributary of the legendary Rio Grande.
Abiquiu Lake offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation. The fishing here is some of the finest in northern New Mexico. Visitors enjoy boating, water skiing, and hiking. Lake shore access for boat launching is 1 mile from the campground.
Fragrant Pinion pine, juniper, and sage cover the campsite, providing a distinct smell of northern New Mexico, but offering limited shade. Colorful rock formations surround the park. Visitors are awarded a panoramic view of the narrow mesa, Cerro Pedernal, locally known as "Pedernal." Famous American painter, Georgia O'Keefe, had her ashes scattered over its top.
For facility specific information, please call (505) 685-4561.
Northern New Mexico is full of beauty and history. The educational and historical Ghost Ranch is about 10 minutes from the park. The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, San Pedro Wilderness, Cumbres Toltec Railroad, Chaco Canyon, and Bandelier National Monument are all nearby. The ski-town of Taos is just over an hour away, and colorful Santa Fe is an hour southeast, both with restaurants, shops, and museums.
$10 - $80 / night
$40 - $60 / night
Vista Linda Campground is a first come, first serve campground in the San Diego Canyon on the Jemez National Recreation Area. There are thirteen sites throughout the campground. Potable water and vault toilets are provided amenities. Each campsite has picnic tables, a fire ring, and a charcoal pedestal. Sites with shad features are available; not all sites provide shade features.
Vista Linda Campground is one of five developed campgrounds in the Jemez National Recreation Area on the Jemez Ranger District. There are numerous outdoor recreation opportunities throughout the Jemez National Recreation Area, from scenic driving to fishing accesses and day-use picnic areas. Vista Linda Campground is a brief drive from numerous developed day-use sites on the NM-4 Corridor and a short drive from multiple access points to Trail 137
Vista Linda Campground is situated in a basin of the San Diego Canyon, south of the town of Jemez Springs, NM. It is surrounded by redrock and sandstone mesas in a vibrant cottonwood bosque. The Jemez River runs parallel to the campground, and provides ample fishing access for campers. The campground provides excellent stargazing options on cloudless nights.
Vista Linda Campground is part of the Jemez National Recreation Area. There are numerous developed, dispersed, and undeveloped recreation opportunities throughout the Jemez National Recreation Area. It is also near the Valles Caldera National Preserve, Bandelier National Monument, Dome and Bandlier Wilderness Areas, the town of Los Alamos, and a two-hour drive to Santa Fe.
$10 / night
Ah, this campground is a desert oasis at the end of a busy day. The patio is a delightful resting spot in the shade, where you can watch hummingbirds whiz by. This is your home base as, day by day, you visit the Santa Fe Plaza, San Miguel Mission, Palace of the Governors, Loretto Chapel or Canyon Road, where you'll find many galleries and artists to observe. Summer brings an abundance of festivals to enjoy. And don't forget the wonderful local cuisine! Many restaurants are small family-run establishments, and the recipes handed down through the ages keep getting better. Relax at the campground and plan your next day's activities. Will it be the Rio Grande Gorge or a day touring Native American ruins? Whatever you decide, it will enrich your life. Max pull thru: 65 feet. Your hosts: Larry and Phyllis Pasekoff.
***Ponderosa Group Campground will be closed starting November 1, 2024 while the park works to complete a major water line replacement/improvement project. The closure is anticipated to last several months.*** Ponderosa Group Campground is located 6 miles (9.7 km) from the park's main entrance and is an ideal place to stay for large groups visiting Bandelier National Monument. The campground is adjacent to Ponderosa Trailhead providing access to more than 70 miles (113 km) of hiking trails and is just a short drive from the Visitor Center, the Frijoles Canyon Shuttle System (mid-May to mid-October), and the town of Los Alamos, Valles Caldera National Preserve, Manhattan Project National Historic Site, and the Santa Fe National Forest. Ponderosa Group Campground is open year-round (water is only available from mid-May to mid-October). Same-day reservations are not permitted. Frijoles Canyon and the park Visitor Center are accessible only by shuttle bus from mid-May to mid-October. The shuttle bus system stops at the Bandelier Visitor Center, Juniper Campground, and the White Rock Visitor Center in the town of White Rock. Outside of the designated shuttle bus period, visitors may access all park areas by private vehicle. Public events are prohibited at Ponderosa Campground. Private events that adhere to campsite capacity limits, may be permitted after obtaining a special use permit. Visit the park's Permits & Reservations web page or call (505) 672-3861 ext. 1102.
Accessible from Ponderosa Group Campground, the Ponderosa Trail descends into the park through ponderosa pine forest and connects to many other trails including the Middle Frijoles Trails which leads 8 miles (13 km) through Frijoles Canyon to the Visitor Center and Main Loop Trail. The Visitor Center houses museum exhibits, park film, information and ranger programs, Western National Parks Association sales outlet, and more. Entrance to Frijoles Canyon and the Visitor Center is by shuttle bus only from mid-May to mid-October. These areas are accesibile by private vehicle outside the shuttle bus period.Although rock climbing is prohibited within Bandelier National Monument, many popular climbs are within a short drive up Route 4 into the Jemez Mountains.
Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres (13,355 ha) of rugged, beautiful canyon and mesa country which features evidence of human presence going back over 11,000 years. Petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls pay tribute to the early days of a culture that still survives in the surrounding communities. Bandelier National Monument sits at the southern end of the Pajarito (Spanish for "little bird") Plateau. The plateau was formed by two eruptions 1.6 and 1.4 million years ago. Home to the Bandelier Wilderness, Bandelier ranges from 5340 feet (1628 m) at the Rio Grande River to the south and 10,199 feet (3109 m) at the summit of Cerro Grande to the north, almost a mile (1.6 km) of elevation change in just under 12 miles (19 km). This elevation gradient creates a unique diversity of habitats specific to Northern New Mexico. The diversity of habitats and quick access to water supported a relatively large population of Ancestral Pueblo people. Currently, Pi__on-Juniper woodlands dominate in the southern parts of the park transitioning through ponderosa pine savannahs and forests, finally reaching mixed conifer forests at the highest elevation. Scattered throughout the park are desert grasslands, montane meadows, and riparian areas in the canyon bottoms. Over 70 miles (113 km) of trails at Bandelier climb in and out of deep canyons and cross large flat mesas, showcasing the entire spectrum of volcanic geology and ecosystems found within the park.The park is home to over 55 species of mammals including mule deer, Abert's squirrels, mountain lions, black bears, and 16 species of bats. Reptiles and amphibians of all shapes and sizes can be seen. Birds such as Steller's jays, canyon towhees and mountain chickadees stay year-round, whereas turkey vultures, western tanagers, and black-headed grosbeaks are summer residents.
The town of Los Alamos has shopping, museums, amenities, a movie theater, ice rink, ski hill, and is home to the Los Alamos unit of Manhattan Project National Historic Site. Nearby Department of Energy and US Forest Service lands provide trails which accommodate pets. Valles Caldera National Preserve is 16 miles (26 km) west of Bandelier. Jemez Historic Site is 37 miles (60 km) west. Pecos National Historical Park is 70 miles (113 km) southeast. Santa Fe, 40 miles (64 km) south of the park, is home to the New Mexico state capitol, museums, historic districts, art galleries, food, accomodations, and more.
$50 / night
Guide
New Mexico is just beautiful and this park really brings that to life. Its a great place for fishing, camping, hiking and breath taking river veiws. Love every picture I took here.
Guide
Pecos national forest is by far one of the best places to camp in northern New Mexico. Great fishing, amazing hiking and views for days.
Ranger
This is an artist paradise. So many beautiful land formations and gorgeous sunsets. The campground includes a bath house with laundry room and electric hookups if needed. $30 to tent camp (no electric). Lodging, yurts and cabins, are also available.
Guide
If your wanting to get out and play in the snow or explore more in depth the beautiful culture of New Mexico, Taos has a little for everyone
GuideNot a bad setting. Surrounded by mountains, yet you are really in the city of Taos. Prices are fair, pull through with Electric and Water $43.00. The landscape is really cool, fits the New Mexico motif. A little noisy in the morning with the barking dogs in the surrounding neighborhood. We felt safe with no problems.
GuideThis is a great place to stay if you want to explore Taos. Much more vegetation than you would expect from a campground close to town. The staff are friendly. The facilities were clean. The park is older but in an charming New Mexico way. They have funky wooden shade structures at some of the sites. We felt safe here. We will definitely stay here again.
Guide
The campgrounds is nicely laid out and decent. There isn't much for shade or privacy. The camp hosts are very friendly and helpful. There are nice trails that you can hike or mountain bike. Some are near cliff edges and not for the beginners. The lake is nice for New Mexico and sees a lot of use. Didn't get a chance to fish or get to the waters edge this trip. The area is near where Georgia O'Keefe lived and did some of her work.
Guide
I would have given this property 5 stars but they’ve become unfriendly to families. Children under 13 are not allowed in the hot springs.
The camping area is more of a campground than an RV park, in a positive way. Many of the sites are shaded with mature trees. A river runs by the edge of the campground (It can’t be seen from most sites).
Hike or mountain bike right from your campsite. No open flames are permitted but there’s a community campfire by the main lodge.
There’s an amazing restaurant on the property. Yoga is available in the yurt.
Guide
If Jacks Creek campsite is all booked, this is the next one you should try. Iron gate is ok too but it’s a lot longer drive than you think and might need all wheel drive since the road to Iron gate gets bit tricky road every now and then. Holy! This campsite offered me a lot more than I expected! Nice trail heads nearby (not only one) and each campsite was spaced out well enough so you still get a privacy. Of course the site by the creek gets filled first. Be aware of skunks! Do not leave food unattended and keep your dogs under control ;) Overall, a decent campsite but only 3 in nation but I would give 4 in New Mexico!
Ranger
We really enjoyed our two days at the park this fall. The sites a quite large and well spaced. It felt more like being out in the woods by yourself as we couldn't see another camp site from our trailer.
If you are coming for the lake you maybe disappointed. With the drought, the lake level is very low and the shore line off in the distance. We came for the peace and quiet and that we found in abundance. The park was clean and well maintained. Cell service was 2 bars but speed was acceptable.
Any sized rig will fit and we stayed in the Blanco loop with power and water. We will stay again is we find ourselves in north central New Mexico.
LegendThe site is like a number of other campgrounds we have seen that were created alongside county or state reservoirs. The campground is in a good location in Northwest New Mexico. We ended up staying an extra night here due to the amazing sunsets as well as the peace and quite. They have self checkin and well maintained pit toilets. The camp was about half full on the weekend in August. Each site had some shade and privacy depending on location. The exterior sites on our loop had a great western view to see the sunsets. The water level of the reservoir was very low and some campers were trying their luck at fishing. The have a couple of stores a few miles outside the camp with limited supplies. The roads are well maintained gravel and the sites all a bit uneven if you have a trailer or van. We took the dirt road southwest to exit the park. This was a mistake the road is very rough and requires a high clearance vehicle and 4x4 after rain. We were pulled over by local reservation police who were looking for poachers. The seemed to be overzealous tribal police pulling people over for no reason on a public road. It made for an interesting morning. I would give this a try if you need a short stay site on you way somewhere
Legend
Hamlet went to visit his fun cousins for the weekend -- Diego, Thelma, Louise, Frida, Ralphie, Sunnie, and others– all vintage campers available for rent at this amazingly cool space just outside of Taos, NM.
It was Thanksgiving weekend, and while many of the campers were fully booked, there was lots of space in the dry camping area just beyond the vintage trailers. There’s lots of room here for dozens of campers, vans and RV’s. There are no trees or shade structures in the dry camping area, just a few randomly placed fire rings. But camping here means you have access to the very clean bathrooms/showers, water, and other services at the "hotel."
Surprise! The weather went from day-time highs in the 60’s to blizzard conditions with overnight lows in the teens. We busted out our Airskirts Insulation to help keep our floor warmer and our heated air inside.
It’s a great place to base your Taos adventures, hiking near the Rio Grande Gorge, or going further up into the mountains. Nearby activities include fishing, rafting, cycling, mountain biking, and skiing in winter. Across the road from the campground is the Taos Mesa Brewery where you can get amazing craft beers and some great food.
It was the perfect place to hang out on a cold, wintery night.
Taos also has all the restaurants and services that you might need, and some of the best southwest eateries you’ll find anywhere. The campground is ideal for solar power, as is the New Mexico weather. We also had no problem connecting with Starlink and had LTE in the campground. If you love the combination of vintages, views, and brews...check this fun place out!
RangerWe enjoyed this place. Perfect for some sightseeing, hiking, and close enough to Santa Fe/Taos if you want to visit those cities (about an hour drive to either). Lots of stars & quiet at night.
LegendCamped 2 nights at site #38 on the Puerco Loop. Reserved thru rec.gov while at the site. Wonderful campground hosts. Site was not quite level for our campervan, but close enough. Good views of lake & surrounding area from site. Vault toilet & drinking water a short walk away. Juniper provided minimal privacy. Site has lantern poll, fire ring, trash can & table. No hookups at this site. $6/night with senior pass. Restroom/shower house within walking distance. Facilities & vault toilets were very clean. Hiking trail in campground. AT&T & T-Mobile service. Overall, quiet & peaceful stay.
GuideReally enjoyed camping here. Great sites for our 17' camp trailer. Awesome view of Abiquiu Lake with amazing sunsets nightly. Hot showers, clean pit toilets, BBQs, tent pads, picnic tables & friendly camp hosts. Senior Passes work here for half price discount. Quiet time from 10pm-6am is enforced & enjoyed. Occasional loud boats & partying on the lake below on weekend nights so be aware. Wind gusts are common so tie down the tumbleweeds or they'll escape!
LegendGeneral: 54-site campground in four loops; the Pedernal Loop has water and electric hookups, the Chama and Puerco Loops do not and there is a walk-in tent site loop. There is also overflow camping.
Site Quality: Sites appeared to be mostly level (at least in the Pedernal loop); most were paved but a few were gravel. Most were back in, but some were pull-through. There are two ADA-accessible sites in the Pedernal Loop. Many have reservoir views. Site 14 has a generous-sized paved driveway. Completing the site is a lantern hook, BBQ, and covered picnic table. Too bad it was so darn windy that we could not enjoy these amenities. There was also a garbage can at the end of each site but no recycling that I saw. If you do not need hookups, sites 34 and 39 (in the Puerco loop) provide excellent water views.
Bath/Shower House: Basic with two shower stalls, two toilets, and one sink. Very clean. There are also very clean vault toilets located throughout the campground. Did not use the shower so cannot comment on how well it works.
Activities: The Abiquiu Lake Vista Trail is a 4-mile hike and bike stacked-looped trail (so you can add or duplicate interconnected loops). Boating access is one mile away. Fishing is also popular. There is also a volleyball net and a very nice modern playground. We were there at the end of April, so it was very quiet (which is the way we like it). Shout out to great camp hosts – we were greeted upon arrival and they made sure we didn’t have any questions or concerns. For $16, this is affordable but with the senior pass, $8 is a bonafide bargain!
GuideWe have stayed on the Pedernal loop multiple times and it has always been great. The sites are well laid out, with plenty of room between neighbors. Access to the campground is restricted (closed 10pm-6am), so it is always quiet, with just those camping driving around. Rangers and sheriff patrolled a few times. Camp hosts were very friendly and helpful. All the grounds are clean and well maintained, trash cans at every site. The electrical pillar for our site was new and worked perfectly. Water also worked with no issues. Shower house is clean and well maintained. Access to a few trails, but water access requires a bit of a drive. Amazing views.
ScoutIt's a lovely location, and the camp is hosted by the Army Corps. They do a good job, the facilities and grounds are very well maintained. Drinking and marijuana consumption is strictly prohibited, with the hosts making regular rounds. The sites are so close together it may as well be one big group camp; I could hear everything going on in the sites around me at all hours of the night. Even when folks were in their tents and campers. Forget trying to enjoy a quiet evening stargazing. Was surrounded by large family groups who were having a great time, which I'm glad about, but it is not my cup of tea for camping.
GuideGreat views of the lake in which you can swim (and boat). Not a lot of shade, unless you snuggle in with a Piñon tree, but we spend our days on the lake or hiking Ghost Ranch, which is a few minutes away.
GuideThis is one of the nicest Army Corp of Engineer campgrounds I’ve stayed in. Sites are spacious, all with a view, and with options from horse camping to full hook up. While it’s “lakefront” getting down to the water is a 20 minute hike.
Bonus Tip/ visit Ghost Ranch to learn about the vibrant history of the area.
GuideBeautiful surroundings. Mornings chilly. Nice showers!
Travelerthis campground is a gem. We stayed 1 night in a non electric site then 4 nights in a site with electricity and water. The views were awesome. It was peaceful and quiet. Good hiking opportunities. The two camp hosts were great! Restrooms and showers were good.
LegendGreat campground sitting up from the lake with awesome views. Free showers, several loops, tents separate from RVs- what more could you ask for! There is lake access nearby and some nice hiking trails, but to be honest, the main attraction is Abiqueu and Goergia O’Keefe country. Tons of great hiking to places she hiked to and painted. The campground is just a few miles from the town of Abiqueu, which was O’Keefe’s main home. Be sure to stop in and visit with the librarian, she’s a great resource for information about the area. And the gas station at the bottom of the hill has a pretty good restaurant! Sites don’t have any trees, but the sage provides a bit of protection from the winds. Be sure to stake your tent well as it gets very breezy in the daytime (winds die down with the sun set). One of the nicest amenities (besides the free showers) were the lantern hooks/posts. You just don’t see those very often. Camper beware, the tent only loop is next to the group campsites, so expect some noise.
GuideThe campground is open April 15-Oct 15
RangerAfter a drive up to Abuquiu Lake NM from Albuquerque we checked out some possible boondocking campsites down river from the lake. We only found a couple of possible sites to get my 34ft 5th wheel into. Very peaceful area, beautiful views and decent Verizon cell service.
LegendWe stayed in site # #9 for 5 nights with the National park pass it was $40.00 with water & electric & a view of the lake. The best site is #1. There is NO alcohol allowed in the park so don't get caught with any they will pour it out. 2 Older men were having a beer in their site & they made them pour out 2 cases of beer. Be smart put it in a cup & hide the cans. The camp host were great people suggested a place to eat called El Farolitos (bring your own booze they don't sell it but let you drink), a little drive to get there & nothing near it but a Mars polar landing sculpture.
Beautiful view of the Flat top Mountains nice cool lake to take a dip or kayak. We found a lot of fishing lures wrapped around small bushes that were underwater before the lake dropped 20 some feet.
The fishing was good from the kayak lots of crappie.
The ghost ranch is not far & worth checking out it's got a great museum of paleontology, Dinosaurs and Indians. There is an echo theater close by neat little walk to it the sound carry's & echos.
TravelerSpot is well maintained. Usually lots of others around so not super “off grid” but it’s nice and you can view the lake! Beautiful to drive around too. Pueblo land, be respectful!
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Vallecitos, NM is Riana - Abiquiu Lake with a 4.4-star rating from 19 reviews.
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