Established Camping

Snow Lake

Snow Lake is located in New Mexico, surrounded by forested terrain and open spaces. The area experiences temperatures ranging from 30°F in winter to 85°F in summer. Nearby, the Gila National Forest offers hiking trails and wildlife viewing opportunities for campers.

Description

US Forest Service

Gila National Forest

Snow Lake is a small reservoir located in the Reserve Ranger District approximatley 30 miles from the town of Reserve. Snow Lake is most easily accessed via FR 142.

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Location

Snow Lake is located in New Mexico

Coordinates

33.42139172 N
108.49594 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Good
Verizon
Good
AT&T
Good
T-Mobile
Available

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Equestrian

Features

For Campers

Firewood Available
Alcohol

Drive Time

3 hrs 55 min from Las Cruces
4 hrs 28 min from Tucson
4 hrs 29 min from Albuquerque
4 hrs 37 min from El Paso

Dennis P.

Guide

Reviewed Dec. 25, 2020

Beautiful boondocking.

No facilities (it's boondocking) but beautiful! We camped upstream of the lake in a shallow valley with a dirt road leading to the site/area. We could walk to the lake and across the dam to explore the creek behind it. I slipped in the creek and dislocated my little finger on our second day, so that ended the trip for me. Had to drive to Reserve for medical help.

The area is open grassland with ponderosa pines scattered around in clumps. As you hike into the Wilderness Area (the first one designated as such) the forest gets thicker. Snow Lake is well-known for trout fishing, and people know this. We were there on Memorial Day and it was a bit crowded with fishermen.

There is an established campground there also (Dipping Vat) if you want a picnic table and grill, but we were all equipped for boondocking. High altitude means cold nights, so come prepared with all amenities self-contained, and all contingencies anticipated. (Like my dislocation!)