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Map showing campground location near Tererro, New Mexico
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Iron Gate Campground

8 ReviewsAdd Review
SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

Hikers and backpackers heading into the Pecos Wilderness use Iron Gate Campground as a staging point, with trailheads accessible directly from camp and a hike down to the river available for those who want moving water nearby. The campground sits within Santa Fe National Forest at roughly 8,000 feet, forested with conifers that provide dense shade over most sites. The loop holds 14 sites total, though in practice that number shrinks. Road runoff has rendered several inner-ring sites overgrown and inaccessible, and multiple reviewers put the functional count closer to 10 usable spots on a given visit.

The access road is the campground's defining challenge. Reviewers consistently describe sections of significant incline, one-lane stretches, deep water crossings, and ruts carved by seasonal runoff. High-clearance 4WD is strongly recommended, particularly after rain. As Cory M. puts it, "No room for RV's and larger travel trailers" applies here in full, and towing anything beyond a small popup or teardrop is not advisable. Day hikers also use the trailhead parking area, so expect some foot traffic even on weekdays.

Amenities include drinking water, toilets, picnic tables, and trash service. Campfires and pets are permitted. The season runs May through November. Jack's Creek Campground, about 1.9 miles west, gives campers a nearby alternative if Iron Gate is full or the road conditions are prohibitive. Campers who arrive with the right vehicle and low expectations for site polish tend to leave satisfied, particularly those using the camp as a base for multi-day trips into the Pecos.

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Map & DirectionsIron Gate Campground is located in New Mexico near Tererro

Detail location of campground
Public Campground

Directions

23 miles north of Pecos on Highway 63 and Forest Road 122

Coordinates

35.83907682 N
105.62184918 W

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Connectivity

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Connectivity

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  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T
    No Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Tent Cabin
  • Equestrian

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

Drive Time

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Reviews8 Camper Reviews - Iron Gate Campground

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

75%
13%
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4.5

out of 5

8 Reviews

Visitors often highlighted the scenic wooded setting and hiking trail access at this remote 14-site campground. Road access requires high-clearance vehicles and can be challenging in wet conditions. Site quality varies significantly due to runoff issues.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile
Reviewed Jul. 28, 2025

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.

Site13
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Apr. 10, 2022

Ruff road ahead

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..

Month of VisitNovember
  • Review photo of Iron Gate Campground by Frank and Olga C., April 10, 2022
Reviewed Jul. 8, 2021

The best campground in NM

We camp here as often as possible! Often we use it as a base camp to start over night backpacking trips in the Pecos. It's tucked away, so there are usually few other campers. It's a nice hike down to the river from Iron Gate, too. If there is mud, it could be very difficult getting into the campground without a 4x4.

Month of VisitApril
Reviewed Sep. 23, 2020

Solid Spot

Road isn’t terrible going up, saw many 2WD vehicles. Good amount of spots but many have no shade/not level. Decent amount of traffic too. For being way out there there’s a lot of day hikers. Overall a fun weekend spot though.

  • Review photo of Iron Gate Campground by Nathan M., September 23, 2020
  • Review photo of Iron Gate Campground by Nathan M., September 23, 2020
Reviewed Apr. 5, 2020

Remote campground

Enjoyed the hiking trails. Definitely difficult in a car. We made it barely. A nice remote campground. Saw quite a few backpackers   Looking forward to camping there again this year now that we have a truck

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Iron Gate Campground by Karen N., April 5, 2020
  • Review photo of Iron Gate Campground by Karen N., April 5, 2020
  • Review photo of Iron Gate Campground by Karen N., April 5, 2020
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Apr. 21, 2019

Great Base Camp for Backpacking Trips

We spent one night in Iron Gate before embarking on a three-day backpacking/camping adventure. Campground was well maintained, had plenty of clean restrooms and parking. Agree with the other reviewer... a low-profile vehicle will have a tough time making it up the hill to the campground, especially in rainy/snowy weather.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Iron Gate Campground by Lisa C., April 21, 2019
  • Review photo of Iron Gate Campground by Lisa C., April 21, 2019
Reviewed Sep. 28, 2017

Great campground

Site isn't easy to get to for low clearance vehicles. During rainy seasons, ruts form with deep mud on some spots driving up. Once at site, there are about 14 spaces, reasonably spaced apart in some areas.The trees are beautiful and wild flowers grow around. Great hiking trails are near by taking you up to some great scenic outlooks over the mountain sides. The toilets are scary, not my first choice but good to have I guess. I don't recall the fee being too much per night, I want to say $4/day. Tent camping and popups/small campers are fine. No room for RV's and larger travel trailers.

Month of VisitAugust
Showing results 1-8 of 8 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there photos available of Iron Gate Campground?

While official photo galleries of Iron Gate Campground may be limited, the best way to view images is to check the campground's official page on Forest Service websites or recreation.gov. The campground features beautiful wooded sites with trees, wildflowers in season, and natural surroundings worth capturing. For the most current visual representation, consider browsing camping apps like The Dyrt where visitors often share recent photos of their camping experiences, showing the campsites, surrounding forest, and nearby trails.

What amenities are available at Iron Gate Campground?

Iron Gate Campground offers basic amenities in a rustic forest setting. The campground features approximately 14 campsites spread throughout the area with varying levels of shade and privacy. Clean restrooms are available for campers. The sites are reasonably spaced apart in some areas, providing a sense of seclusion. There are no hookups for RVs, making this more suitable for tent camping or smaller vehicles. The campground is well-maintained and surrounded by beautiful trees and seasonal wildflowers, offering a true natural camping experience with access to nearby hiking trails.

How do I access the Iron Gate Trailhead from the campground?

The Iron Gate Trailhead is conveniently accessible directly from the campground. Many campers use Iron Gate as a base camp for backpacking trips into the Pecos wilderness. There's a trail leading down to the river from the campground, which is a popular day hike option. The campground serves as an excellent starting point for both day hikes and overnight backpacking adventures. While specific trail markers aren't detailed, the hiking paths are established and frequently used by day hikers and backpackers. For extended trips, you can access wilderness trails directly from your campsite without needing to relocate your vehicle.

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