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melissa D.
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GuideOjo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa
Camping spots are close and tight. But nice to be on the grounds of Ojo Caliente Resort
Dog-Friendly Camping near Youngsville, NM
11 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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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. Pet-friendly campgrounds in the Youngsville area range from hookup sites with covered picnic tables and fire rings to dispersed spots along the Rio Chama where leashed dogs can access cool water during hot summer months. 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."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $10 - $80 / night
2. 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."
3. 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."
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. "
"Easy walk to the Amphitheater."
Check Availabilityfrom $10 - $50 / night
5. Ghost Ranch
"The campground is situated in a beautiful setting and area right at 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."
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! "
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 / night
10. Rio De Las Vacas Campground
"Access to good trails for day hiking. One of the best camping spots I’ve visited. Stayed on a Sunday night - was quiet and peaceful."
"Clear Creek was full so we camped her for the night and had a great place to park the pop up and our friends were out behind us in their tent. Very beautiful area!"
11 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $20 / night
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 • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Whirlpool Dispersed Camping Area
Oak Point Campground
Rio Chama Campground
Clear Creek Campground (Nm) — Santa Fe National Forest
San Antonio Campground
Road 378, Fenton Lake - DispersedM
El Rito Campground Group Shelter — Carson National Forest
Fenton Lake State Park Campground
Dispersed on 4 - Fenton Lake State Park
Las Conchas Trailhead - Primitive Climber's Camp
Jemez Falls Campground
Cuba Hwy Pulloff on Forest Road 88S
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Youngsville, NM
681 Reviews of 98 Youngsville Campgrounds
Julia C.
TravelerOhkay Hotel Casino/RV Park
There is so much construction. And there seems to be a construction war between the travel center and the tribe. The travel center is truly bad. It is NOT a travel center. The buffet at the casino sounds delicious, but there is.no where to wait for Friday. I don't need hook-ups. I just needed a travel center. And I don't want to get fully dressed for a casino everyday. Thus thw ine star. And don't use google maps to get here. It takws you through a lot of unnecessary construction zones.
- CChristie S.
RangerCuba Mesa Canyon
Great BLM spot off Rt 197 near Cuba. Enter thru gate, short drive to private canyon with quirky rock formations. Two bars Verizon, careful not to attempt in rain as area is a sand wash that floods easily.
- Mike M.Traveler
Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa
Awesome campground at one of the nicest hot springs you’ll ever visit. Great farm to table restaurant and wine bar. New Mexico at its best.
- JJohn L.Guide
White Rock Visitor Center RV Park
County Managed Parking Lot
Location is a lined parking lot with 16 sites. Electric hook up at each site. Water spigot available along with dump station. Lot is not level so be prepared with blocks and chocks. Price is great for what you get. Spacing is close. Also be aware that lot is managed by Los Alamos county. Sites listed as taken may be vacant while sites listed as vacant may be taken. We arrived and a camper was on our reserved site. Owner could not be located. Reps are difficult to reach by phone and we got lots of phone tag. Nice lady moved us to an open site. Then someone showed up with a reservation for our new site. Then we were told to leave for a construction project. Then we were told they can’t manage the campground occupancy. And on and on. To reserve a site you’ll need an account on the county system first. We made it work but a hassle and a run around.
- JJohn L.Guide
Main Gate RV Park
Parking Lot for RVs
This is a 10 slot parking lot for RVs. There is a dump station, water spigot, and a couple picnic tables. It’s on a hill so need leveling. Can be tricky to back in so check first. Reservations must be made thru Los Alamos county web site, and you’ll need to create an account to use it, a real pain especially if on shaky connection. Also tricky, reserved sites may be empty and available sites may be occupied. They are not managed properly at all so be ready for anything. Ok for parking your rig while visiting the area.
- RRoy R.Guide
Free Dispersed Camping
Free Dispersed Camping
This easy to miss spot is a free camping area near the ranger station. The road to get to the sites is probably only a couple hundred meters from the ranger station so slow down if you are going West on 64 and turn around if you reach the station going East on 64.
The actual camping spots are towards the very end of the road where they form a sort of triangle. There are three picnic tables with what look like fire rings. But there is a lot of open space around those three tables if they happen to be taken by any chance. I did notice that most boondockers would just park their vehicles on the side of the road along the way. So basically the entire area seems to be available for boondocking. There are no trash cans, water, more vault toilets. It's packed everything out. There are a couple of vault toilets at the ranger station and you can actually walk from the campsite area because there are trails that lead to the ranger station.
Very pretty area. Very quiet. Few vehicles on the nearby road.
- NNathaniel S.Traveler
Ghost Ranch
Beautiful area; challenging camping
The campground is situated in a beautiful setting and area right at Ghost Ranch. Campground has sites that are gravel and not very level, as others have noted, making it a bit of a challenge (site 16 in particular). Also note that some electric hookups are 20A only, not 30A. Full hookups at front of campground; tent only at rear. Showers were great and heated; laundry and bathrooms clean. Host and staff friendly. Lots of great hiking trails within walking distance of the campground. 2 small museums worth visiting. We paid $50 for electric hookup. Meal plan is now $50.
- LLani B.Guide
Caja Del Rio Dispersed Camping
Great overnight stop!
Close to town. Yes landfill nearby but no smell and beeping only in the daytime. Secluded. Arrived at night and found a spot no problem. Roads are a little rough after some rain but nothing a van can’t handle.
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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly
campsite near Youngsville, NM?
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Youngsville, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Youngsville, NM is Riana - Abiquiu Lake with a 4.3-star rating from 23 reviews.
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dog-friendly camping near
Youngsville, NM?
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Youngsville, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 98 dog-friendly camping locations near Youngsville, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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