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Ellen C.
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ScoutJemez Falls Campground
Awesome place to camp
This is one of the places to camp in New Mexico
Dog-Friendly Camping near Youngsville, NM
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Dog-friendly camping near Youngsville, NM spans developed campgrounds with electric and water hookups to primitive riverside sites, giving campers with pets several solid options in the area. Riana - Abiquiu Lake campground's policies allow pets while maintaining clean facilities and offering excellent views of the water. Many of the 54 campsites accommodate dogs across four camping loops: Pedernal (with electric and water hookups), Chama, Puerco, and a walk-in tent area. Campsites provide covered picnic tables, fire rings, and lantern hooks where pets can remain with their owners. The Army Corps of Engineers strictly enforces campground rules, including proper pet management. Camp hosts make regular rounds to ensure compliance with regulations. Sites typically have plenty of space between neighbors, though the Pedernal Loop offers the most room for RVs with pets. The campground lacks dedicated pet amenities but features several hiking trails where leashed dogs can exercise, including the 4-mile Abiquiu Lake Vista Trail with interconnected loops suitable for dog walking.
Dispersed camping opportunities with dogs exist at nearby Whirlpool Dispersed Camping Area along the Rio Chama, providing a more primitive experience for campers with pets. The area features vault toilets and sites spacious enough for RVs, trucks with tents, and hammock camping among cedar trees. Though the riverside location attracts bugs during certain seasons, the cool water access benefits active dogs during hot summer months. Campers should prepare for potentially muddy conditions near the river and pack out all pet waste. The Ghost Ranch, located just minutes from Abiquiu Lake, allows dogs throughout most of its property and offers hiking trails where Georgia O'Keeffe once painted. Most campgrounds in the area maintain standard leash requirements and expect campers to clean up after their pets, with enforcement varying by location and season.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Youngsville (98)
1. Riana - Abiquiu Lake
"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."
"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."
from $10 - $80 / night
Check Availability2. Rio Chama Campground
"Rio Chama RV park in Chama, New Mexico, is at the intersection of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the upper Rio Chama. A nice place to stay May 1 thru mid October."
"We were able to find a very private spot with easy access to the river!(went on a random Saturday) We will be visiting again. Great for our dog too."
3. Whirlpool Dispersed Camping Area
"Seems a given, since it’s close to the river! I found a site right next to the Rio and even though it was muddy, I still appreciated being able to get in to cool down a bit."
"In my van and with Grandkids & dog in a tent. We had a rock campfire ring and I bring my folding table & chairs. The kids love to hang hammocks in the cedar trees."
4. Echo Amphitheater Campground — Carson National Forest
"Small campground next to U.S. Highway 84. There are 9 campsites with 3 small pull-throughs. I have seen large RVs in the day use area, not sure if this is tolerated. No services. "
"Hour outside of santa fe."
from $10 - $50 / night
Check Availability5. Ghost Ranch
"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."
"All in all we got three meals for our family of 4 and a nights stay while we hiked around trails on the property for less than $100 all in, and the food (upscale summer camp type) was very good."
6. Rio Puerco Campground
"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."
"It's actually only 10 miles off the main road, & 6 miles after the pavement ends, but Google took us down the wrong path."
7. Oak Point Campground
"there’s a fire ban, so it makes it hard to stay warm at night, but the stars are amazing. it’s quiet. it’s lovely. there’s canyon walls for miles. it’s really amazing. some of these pics are from the nearby"
"I've stayed here twice now since being in New Mexico. This site is right on the water, overlooks the canyon, and is close to a hike to the right side of the canyon through a dried up riverbed."
8. Coyote Canyon Camping Area
"Great experience, not too far, about 7 miles off the beaten path."
"You can’t drive your car right up to each site, but you can park fairly close."
9. Jemez Falls Campground
"This is one of the places to camp in New Mexico"
"**Campground Review: ** Imagine 1.25 Ma ago an eruption blew apart the landscape of Northern New Mexico that would rival the shear volume erupted by the world famous Yellowstone hotspot! "
from $20 / night
Check Availability10. Dispersed on 4 - Fenton Lake State Park
"While we pulled up to Jemez camping nearby, the park rangers told us it was closed because of Covid, but we could go down the road to this unmarked, unnamed, dispersed camp site. "
"We stayed on the edge of the cliff at the far back right side of the campsite and it was easily one of the top 5 locations that we have camped at."
Drive Time
- 1 hr 11 min from Santa Fe, NM
- 1 hr 56 min from Albuquerque, NM
- 2 hrs 8 min from Farmington, NM
- 4 hrs 8 min from Pueblo, CO
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Youngsville, NM
78 Photos of 98 Youngsville Campgrounds
Michael N.
Whirlpool Dispersed Camping Area
Megan V.
Oak Point Campground
Naythin H.
Rio Chama Campground
Ken M.
Clear Creek Campground (Nm) — Santa Fe National Forest
Katriza L.
San Antonio Campground
Maeci W.
Road 378, Fenton Lake - Dispersed
Naythin H.
El Rito Campground Group Shelter — Carson National Forest
Katriza L.
Fenton Lake State Park Campground
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Dispersed on 4 - Fenton Lake State Park
Katriza L.
Las Conchas Trailhead - Primitive Climber's Camp
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Jemez Falls Campground
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Cuba Hwy Pulloff on Forest Road 88
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Youngsville, NM
641 Reviews of 98 Youngsville Campgrounds
marycatmathis ..
RangerOak Point Campground
Lovely, Beachy, Scenic
These coordinates are a rough estimate, but this entire forrest road is filled with amazing campsites you can simply pull off and camp in. currently there’s a fire ban, so it makes it hard to stay warm at night, but the stars are amazing. it’s quiet. it’s lovely. there’s canyon walls for miles. it’s really amazing. some of these pics are from the nearby canyon that’s a bit of a walk up the road, but most are from our campground. loved our first experience camping in New Mexico!
- Beth B.
GuideRio Chama Campground
Great place to watch the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Train
Rio Chama RV park in Chama, New Mexico, is at the intersection of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the upper Rio Chama. A nice place to stay May 1 thru mid October. The train passing by twice a day is an exciting event and it's a short walk to the train yard.
Pull through sites have great shade and full hookups with 30 or 50 amp electrical service. Spacious tent sites with full service restrooms nearby. Pet friendly with dog park and free wifi. A great place for fishing, train watching and relaxing.
James F.GuideRiana - Abiquiu Lake
Nice camp hosts
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.
- CColleen P.Guide
Rodeo de Santa Fe
Cheap camping in expensive location
Santa Fe New Mexico is a great place to visit and has easy access to other popular locations. RV parks are on the expensive end. If you plan to spend most of your time sightseeing and just need a place to park with full hookups, this might be a great spot for you. Other than full hookups, security and a dumpster for trash, there are no RV park amenities. What it has is easy access to Santa Fe and other nearby popular tourist locations and you cannot beat the price. It's quiet most of the time and there are onsite personnel. You might expect some ranch smells because are horse corrals close to you. Easy access to all the popular tourist locations. Don't miss the Santa Fe Farmers and Artists Market. Santa Fe has a great rail and bus system.
Esperanza R.
TravelerSante Fe National Forest BLM-Road 62 Dispersed
Great Boondocking Spot!
Great boondocking spot @15 mins from downtown Santa Fe.
Zero amenities but clean, huge open areas, and safe.
Your are behind a huge solid waste transfer station but you’d never know besides the huge hill. No smell or garbage anywhere.
Pros-
-HUGE open area -WIFI is great (pull in and go to the left down by the cattle coral) -Clean areas -Safe -Bathrooms (Didn’t Use) -Tons of hiking -15mins tops to downtown Santa Fe -Free
Cons-
-Windy -Dusty -No water -No Dump Station
We got water at the dog park up the road with our water bladder bag. Try to go during dusk as it is way less busy with fewer spectators watching and wondering what you’re doing, we had zero issues! 😊
It’s a great Free spot for a night or two weeks also surrounded by BLM land so you can’t really go wrong.
This area is well big enough for any size rig, just stay to the right on the gravel road pass the cattle guard where the road is gravel and smoother for sure!
Enjoy! 😊
- sseryna R.Scout
FR376 Dispersed
Amazing
This camp spot is one of the best free camp sites in New Mexico. Would definitely go again. Highly recommend to anyone who loves to camp and drive four wheelers
Alan B.
LegendPajarito Springs (Dispersed)
Great Spot for Free Camping before the Caldera!
This is a nice secluded dispersed campsite on the eastern flanks of the Valles Caldera. It's the closest CG to Sante Fe along the 4 before it enters the caldera proper. While most of the trees in this area were burnt by fires less than 10 years ago, it still provides great views of the valley below and the highest mountains in all of New Mexico! The campground has no amenities so bring everything you'll need and bring along a high clearance vehicle if you plan on heading up the road beyond the campsites that are right off the pavement to the right.
Besides exploring the caldera there are plenty of amazing things to do in nearby Sante Fe! Our favorite attraction was the MeowWolf permanent art exhibit. It's an absolutely amazing surreal piece of art that you walk through and interact. I cannot stress enough how much you should visit because in addition to being an art pillar in New Mexico they also contribute to local and soon regional art and philanthropic endeavors.
Brian O.LegendBlanco Campground — Heron Lake State Park
Kinda spooky.
Nothing wrong with this campground, per se...
The sites are large, and shadier than we'd have thought (we brought a patio umbrella all the way from Chicago and discovered our site was under a large pinion pine, go figure).
The pit toilets and the plumbed facilities are clean and maintained.
Open fires are not allowed.
But, we rarely saw anyone. One couple walking their dog and the camp host who we didn't meet until we were leaving. We joked that all the RV's were "Breaking Bad" meth labs, this being New Mexico. The sense of desolation is enhanced by the wind, the cawing of birds and occasional howls of coyotes or wolves (?). It was downright spooky.
Heron lake is currently at 25% capacity. Which means the boat ramp and marina are perhaps a mile from the current shoreline, dried up and one of the saddest sights you'll see.
However, it was a good base of operations for our trips to Chama to spend the day on the scenic railroad, as well as day trip into Taos.
Guide to Youngsville
Dispersed camping near Youngsville, New Mexico offers campers access to the Rio Chama wilderness area with elevations ranging from 6,000 to 7,500 feet. The region experiences wide temperature fluctuations, with summer days reaching 90°F while dropping to 50°F at night. Most dispersed sites in this area lack facilities but provide direct river access for cooling off during hot summer months.
What to do
Hiking forest trails: Several hiking options exist near Oak Point Campground, where you can explore canyon walls and dried-up riverbeds. "The road is runner friendly, so you can go on a jog if you like. Its definitely a campsite for people looking to strictly hang out," notes one camper.
Water activities: The Rio Chama provides opportunities for kayaking, rafting, and tubing at Rio Chama Campground. "We visited memorial day weekend 2021 with a group of 6. This spot is beautiful with a good amount of tree coverage. It's an easy dirt road drive down the river and you will pass many dispersed site and a couple of defined camping grounds. The sites are all close to the river and at most a quick drive away from a place to put your kayak or tube in the water."
Fossil viewing: Visit nearby museums to learn about regional paleontology. "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."
What campers like
Riverside sites: Many campers appreciate direct water access at Whirlpool Dispersed Camping Area along the Rio Chama. "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."
Privacy between sites: Campers value the well-spaced sites throughout the area. "These coordinates are a rough estimate, but this entire forest road is filled with amazing campsites you can simply pull off and camp in. currently there's a fire ban, so it makes it hard to stay warm at night, but the stars are amazing. it's quiet. it's lovely. there's canyon walls for miles."
Stargazing conditions: The lack of light pollution creates optimal night sky viewing. "You can see every star on a clear night. The road to the campground is about 6 miles of curvy dirt and gravel single lane. But a woman managed it in a Jaguar so not too bad just go slow."
What you should know
Seasonal restrictions: Not all campgrounds operate year-round. "The campground is open April 15-Oct 15," notes a reviewer of Riana - Abiquiu Lake.
Road conditions: Many dispersed camping areas require travel on unpaved forest roads. "The road to get there is about 10 miles but it takes about 40 minutes to drive. It's a little rough and narrow in spots. But totally worth the drive!"
Weather fluctuations: Prepare for dramatic temperature changes and wind. "Strong wind out of the west. The rock formation blocked the wind then I saw the campground sign. Great place to stay. Drinking water, tables, and fantastic views."
Tips for camping with families
Beachfront sites: Look for camping spots with safe water access. "We were lucky to have found a spot mid-day and that had a sort of 'beach front' type inlet to the river. Definitely a place to launch kayaks or rafts."
Creative activities: The river environment offers natural materials for projects. "There are hiking spots, the echo amphitheater, and a monastery to visit. We even made objects from the clay in the river. Then fired them in the camp fire."
Educational opportunities: Take advantage of local history at Ghost Ranch. "Georgia O'Keefe lived in the area and did some of her work. Most sites are fairly spaced apart to allow privacy so that was really nice."
Tips for RVers
Site selection: Most dispersed areas have limited space for larger vehicles. "After 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."
Hookup availability: Few sites offer electrical connections. "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."
RV-friendly routes: Navigate carefully on forest roads. "We 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."
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Youngsville, NM is Riana - Abiquiu Lake with a 4.3-star rating from 21 reviews.
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