Santa Fe National Forest's Cowles Campground sits at the end of the road into the Pecos Wilderness, where sites line up between a tree corridor on one side and a creek on the other. No reservations are accepted. The campground fills fast on summer weekends, sometimes reaching capacity by Friday afternoon, and a 14-day stay limit applies. Sites near the trees get partial shade through most of the day; creek-side sites have none. A handful of sites include three-sided log shelter structures. Two sites sit directly next to the parking lot; the rest are walk-in. Fishing ponds, including one designated for children and those with mobility needs, are a short walk away. Cell service is unavailable for roughly 30 minutes in any direction, so carry printed directions to campgrounds around Santa Fe National Forest before leaving home. Panchuela Campground and Trailhead is about 1.2 miles north and serves as a reasonable backup if Cowles is full.
Description
Cowles Campground sits at the base of the Winsor Canyon where it meets the Pecos Canyon and is in walking distance of Cowles Ponds, Winsor Creek, Pecos River, and Winsor Ridge Trailhead. Uses: tent camping, picnicking, fishing, & hiking. Facilities: 1 vault toilet, 9 camping units with tables, fire rings, & grills, 2 covered three-sided shelters with fire places, and trash bins. No potable water, untility hook-ups, dumpstations or showers. Special Instructions: Users are encouraged to recycle and pack out trash. Please visit the Leave No Trace website for more information about frontcountry and backcountry outdoor ethics at www.lnt.org.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsCowles Campground is located in New Mexico near Tererro
Directions
20 miles north of Pecos on Highway 63
Coordinates
35.81300035 N
105.66400036 W
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
Drive Time
- 1 hr 11 min from Santa Fe, NM
- 1 hr 47 min from Albuquerque, NM
- 4 hrs 4 min from Farmington, NM
- 4 hrs 10 min from Pueblo, CO


