Montoso Campground

Swimming in the Rio Grande is possible from Montoso Campground, with a trail leading down to the river from the rim. The climb back up is steep enough that, as one reviewer put it, you'll want that swim once you return. The campground sits on BLM land managed by the Taos Field Office, overlooking the Rio Grande Gorge, and campers can also walk to the confluence of two gorges, where sightlines open onto both canyon walls. Wildlife shows up here too. Deer have been spotted wandering through the sites.

The campground is small and straightforward: two tent sites and two RV sites, each with a picnic table, fire ring, and shade cover. Drinking water is available from spigots on-site. The pit toilets draw consistent praise for cleanliness across multiple reviews, which is not something most BLM sites can claim. Cell service is listed as available. At $7 per night, the fee is low even by dispersed camping standards.

Little Arsenic Springs Campground sits just 0.2 miles north, and BLM Wild Rivers Recreation Area is 0.1 miles east, giving campers who want more space or different site configurations options without driving far. Campers interested in campsites near San Cristobal will find Montoso among the closest options to that community. This campground works well for anyone who wants direct Rio Grande access, maintained facilities, and a small, low-traffic site on the gorge rim.