Three Rivers Petroglyph Site

Has one handicap accessible & next to bathroom). There is a group site that has three picnic tables under a shelter and two grills. 2 RV sites have covered picnic tables and grills and water and electric hookups. Five tent sites. One of the tent locations is at the handicap accessible site. CLEAN restrooms with flush toilets and drinking water are available. Pets are allowed in the campground(on leash), but are not allowed on the trails. Petroglyph trails are rocky, but not difficult (keep your eyes peeled, there are petroglyphs everywhere). Hosts were very nice. Campground has well-functioning electronic/pay check-in. Great BLM campground. Other places in area include Malpais lava flows. Sierra Blanca hovers to the east. Sunset was early in Nov. so if hiking trails in late afternoon take a flashlight. Nearby Carrizozo reportedly has a photo gallery or three that we were told were well worth checking out but we did not get chance to do so.

Three Rivers Petroglyph BLM , NM Campground: Great location between White Sands and Valley of the Fires. It is about 3 miles from the highway off a gravel road that is in good condition. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)

Overall Rating: 3 because most sites are in a large open gravel area . Our site: 4 Price 2024: $ w interagency pass Security: No Usage during visit: Full each night mostly with one or two night stays. Site Privacy: 1 and 2 are set off by themselves a bit. The rest have no privacy. Site Spacing: fine Site surface: gravel Reservations: First come first serve v Campground Noise: Quiet Outside Road Noise: No Through Traffic in campground: Folks come in to hike. Electric Hookup: Sites 1 & 2 Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: No Potable Water Available: Yes. Filter the water. Generators: Yes Bathroom: Very well kept flush toilets. Showers: No Pull Throughs: Most are Cell Service (AT&T): 1 to 2 bars. Setting: Open desert shrubbery between the splendid looking White Mountains and Recent Weather: Winy time of year. Solar: Absolutely. Insects: None. Host: On site. Rig Size: Some sites can fit a large 5th wheel.
Sites: Most of the few sites are spread out in a graveled area. There is not much distinction between sites. Sites 1 and 2 set off from the rest and are the best sites.

We stayed 2 nights. Bathrooms were clean and the hikes were very fun. To see and imagine the people who created the petroglyphs was incredible. We also drove to the mountain camp area and took a short hike up the 3 river. It was fun!

First come first serve. 2 sites w elec/water no sewer hook up. Great cel service. Perfect spot!

The BLM campground has a number of nice sites with canopies, picnic tables, and grills. There also is two RV sites with electricity and water. The bathrooms have flush toilets but no hot water. At $18 a night ($9 with a National Parks pass), it is a great value. The petroglyphs are definitely worth the visit and the surrounding views of the Sacramento Mountains make this a wonderful place to visit.

I pulled in at 5pm , they had one spot available, I'm so glad. A mostly level site with picnic table, grill and canopy. They views all around are astounding, the basin, hills and mountains. But I came for the petroglyph. The following morning in completed 3/4 of the trail. Seeing pictures drawn 1,000 years ago puts your life into perspective. The weather forecast was for wind, 25mph to 60mph gusts . So have chosen to stay put for two more evenings. The ranger is knowledgeable and pleasant.

We pulled in late and parked beside a picnic shelter. It cost us $3.50 for the night, because we are seniors. Good WiFi and very quiet sleeping.

This place has changed a lot over the past couple of years! Last time I was here there was only the bathroom and two picnic areas. Now there are upwards of 10 campsites situated for RV’s or tents. Tent camping can be done along the outside of the area because the parking lot is mostly gravel so it would be hard to set up a spot there. Ideal for RV’s though.

Lots of turnaround space and cheap camping.

They have a visitor’s center (which wasn’t open due to covid) and they are remodeling their bathrooms. Bathrooms are flush toilets and heated but need updating.

It is a quiet campground, pretty out of the way so most people just come for the day to hike around the petroglyphs.

The trail is incredible and filled with over 20,000 carvings. It is windy so be prepared for all sorts of weather. I hiked in a tank top and woke up the next morning to 7 inches of snow.

The camp hosts are incredibly sweet and helpful. They have firewood for sale when it is permitted but with winds, I wouldn’t trust fires too much.

There is a tourist style store on the main road turning into this place with an incredible art gallery from a local artist named Cameron Blagg. His Indigenous-inspired art fuels the love and natural history of the area.

Site hosts/stewards were replaced by BLM on Oct 23, 2020.

Opened for overnight camping on Oct 1, 2020, having been open only for day use (8am-5pm) previously, due to CoViD-19.   Hosts/stewards kept Site, including flush toilet restrooms, extremely clean;  these hosts were replaced by BLM Oct 23.

There are only 2 RV sites (pull-through).  They have electric (30&50) plus water;  no sewer.

There are 4 tent boxes.

There are 8 (?) shelters, 1 of which is ACCESS designated.

There is 1 group site, for which reservation must be made with the Las Cruces BLM Office (see website for phone).

All other camping is on a first come, first served basis.

This is a Federal fee area.

Dogs are only allowed in the campground area, and must be on a 6-foot or shorter leash if outside the vehicle.

Great hike to see 20,000 plus Jornada Mogollon petroglyphs, 1 mile round trip. Fee area, $5 cash only. Dogs leashed in campground/picnic areas and no dogs on trail.

Really clean picnic areas and flush bathrooms. 11 picnic sites, 1 ADA. Campground closed but when open there are: 2 RV hookups (water and electric 30 amp and 50 amp, no dump station) and 11 dry camping sites (5 of the 11 have tent boxes). One water spigot in campground. Each site has a picnic table, shelter, upright grill, and garbage can.

Call 575-585-3457 to reach this site.

Website is http://www.blm.gov/visit/three-rivers-peteroglyph-site

Must see recreational site with 2 trails, 11 picnic areas with shelters and grills, and really clean restrooms located south of Carrizozo, NM, and north of Tularosa, NM. Quick day trip after White Sands National Monument, Alamogordo, NM.

Open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. Fee area. Only $5 for day use but cash or check only. National Park Passes such as America the Beautiful, Golden Age, Active Military are free day use and half off dry camping/RV hookup. No camping yet.

Three Rivers Trading Post located 4 miles from site can make change. Park Hosts on site are very friendly and helpful but cannot make change.

Free Trail maps are available at Display Board next to fee drop box. The trail map explains petroglyphs at 11 stations. Covered rest area with scenic views of Sacramento and Godfey Mountains located after station 11.

Dogs and other pets must be leashed in campground (no camping in the 11 sites and 2 RV sites since March 2020 due to Covid). No dogs on trails allowed.

Main petroglyph trail is moderate, not easy, as steep in some parts. Be careful to stay on trail due to sharp thorns from mesquite and the possibility of rattlesnakes. Bring lots of water as this is Chihuahuan Desert. Hiking boots recommended.

Village trailhead begins in the campground and continues across the road from the entrance sign. This easy flat 1/4 mile loop showcases 3 reconstructed Jornada Mogollon pit homes.

Camping not open. When open, the 2 RV sites have electricity and water. No dump station. Closest dump station is BLM Valley of Fires, Carrizozo, NM. When open, 11 dry campsites with upright grills and garbage cans. Five of the 11dry sites have clean elevated tent boxes. Water spigot located by Village trailhead. Don' wash dishes in the bathrooms. 14 day limit for both RV and dry camping. First come, first serve.

When open, RV hook up is $18 a day, and dry camping is $7 a day.

This is a great day trip. Most people take an hour on the main trail and then picnic.

While staying at this site I spent most of my time at the petroglyph site down the road playing amongst the igneous rocks. There are over 21,000 petroglyphs to be found. It is a beautiful view of Mt. Blanca and the White Sands in the distance. The hosts are very sweet and full of amazing information. The sites were comfortable and secluded (at least when we were there). It takes a drive to get to but you really feel like you are away for major civilization which is very nice.

There are tent platforms that are a bit small and bathrooms. No showers or additional facilities but there is a general store on the main road to the campground.

2 sites with water & electric. Other sites with no hook-ups. No dumb station. Very clean bathrooms- no showers.