Pine Springs Campground - Guadalupe Mountains National Park

## Overview

  * **Before booking a reservation: It is your responsibility to review all (Site Details, Allowable Equipment, Allowable Vehicle/Driveway and Need to Know) for the individual campsite. Failing to do so may result in being prohibited from occupying the site upon your arrival. Refunds are not provided by the park.**
  * **Dog Canyon is a 70-mile drive from the nearest town of Carlsbad, New Mexico and is 110 miles from the Pine Spring Visitor Center & Campground (a 2 hour drive time).**
  * Dog Canyon Campground lies in the secluded, forested canyon on the north side of Guadalupe Mountains National Park at an elevation of 6,300 feet. It is located at the end of NM Hwy. 137 (Queen Highway).
  * This quiet location is great for relaxing, wildlife watching and hiking. 
  * The campground is open year-round and is busiest, March-May and September-November.



## Recreation

  * Trails from Dog Canyon offer good access, with relatively easy grades, to the high country of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. 
  * The hike to Lost Peak is 6.4 miles round-trip, is considered strenuos and has 1500’ elevation gain. 
  * The hike to Marcus Overlook is 4.5 miles round-trip, is considered moderate with an 800' elevation gain. 
  * The Indian Meadow Nature Trail near the campground is 0.6 miles and winds around a grassy area surrounded by a mix of broadleaved evergreens, deciduous trees, and pines.



## Facilities

  * The campground features 13 sites total with 9 tent, 4 RV sites and 1 group site available by reservation. 
  * Campsite occupancy is limited to 6 persons or 2 tents, per site. The group site allows 10 -20 persons. 
  * **No open fires (this includes charcoal) are permitted anywhere in the park.** Only stoves or lanterns using containerized fuel is permitted. 
  * Tent sites are hike-in only (61’ – 178’ from parking) and cannot accommodate RV parking. Each site offers a tent pad and picnic table. 
  * RV sites are gravel with picnic tables. 
  * No shower facilities, hookups or dump stations. 
  * Dog Canyon is remote. Fuel your vehicle and purchase supplies before heading to the park. 



## Natural Features

  * The Dog Canyon Campground is in an area with wooded drainages, meadows, and grassy hillsides and sparsely vegetated outcrops. Large alligator junipers, oaks, maples, madrones, piñon and ponderosa pine are in and near the campground. Shrubs include ceanothus, sumacs, mahonia, and mountain mahogany. Desert-adapted plants include a variety of prickly pear cactus, agave, and chollas. Western scrub jays, acorn woodpeckers, and a variety of hummingbirds frequent the area. Mule deer are commonly seen.
  * Algerita ridge casts morning shade, and cool mountain air settles in the canyon bottom nightly. Daytime highs are similar to the Pine Springs area, but nighttime lows can be much cooler. Views of the night sky are pristine.
  * During the Permian Period, shallow marine water that was behind the Capitan Reef, created a series of layers of limestone and sandstone. Faulting and subsequent erosion created the canyon. Nearby topographic features include Lost Peak, Blue Ridge, West Dog Canyon, and the Brokeoff and Cutoff Mountains.



## contact_info

This location has limited staffing. Please call (915) 828-3251 for general information. 

## Nearby Attractions

**Carlsbad Caverns National Park:** In addition to a variety of cave tours, the national park also offers hiking trails and a scenic drive. Rattlesnake Springs and Slaughter Canyon, part of Carlsbad Caverns are nearer attractions for day use activities. Birding is excellent at Rattlesnake Springs.

**Lincoln National Forest:** The Guadalupe District of the Lincoln National Forest is located just over the state line, north of the national park. Road access is through New Mexico, north of White’s City, via Dark Canyon Road to NM SR 137 through Queen (also the way to the national park’s Dog Canyon). The forest provides for various camping, hiking, caving, hunting, and picnicking opportunities. Sitting Bull Falls is a nice waterfall and picnic area in the Lincoln National Forest. Five Point Vista is a glorious ridge road ride of the area, closer to Dog Canyon.

**Fort Davis National Historic Site and State Park:** Fort Davis is one of the best surviving examples of an Indian Wars' frontier military post in the Southwest. From 1854 to 1891, Fort Davis was strategically located to protect emigrants, mail coaches, and freight wagons on the Trans-Pecos portion of the San Antonio-El Paso Road and on the Chihuahua Trail. This is located about 2.5 hours south of the park. A state park is located nearby with camping and a scenic drive. Also located in Fort Davis is McDonald Observatory with several programs available.

**White Sands National Park:** Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. White Sands National Park preserves a major portion of this unique dunefield, along with the plants and animals that live here.

**Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site:** Hueco Tanks State Park is located on the east side of El Paso, about an hour and a half from the Guadalupes. At Hueco Tanks, you can hike, rock climb, bird watch, study nature and history, picnic and stargaze. Visitors can take guided and self-guided tours to view rock imagery.

## Charges & Cancellations

  * Individual Site: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you modify your reservation or change your stay dates. Cancelling your reservation prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time two nights before your stay will incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. Camping reservations cancelled the day before and day of arrival incur a $10 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee.
  * If you need to cancel or modify your reservation after 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the day of arrival you must contact park staff by email at gumo_administration@nps.gov.
  * Group Site: Customers who cancel a group overnight reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee & forfeit the first night's use fee.

Dog Canyon Campground

Camping is authorized for overnight horse users only at the Frijole House Campground. The visitor horse corrals and campsites must be reserved up to 60 days in advance of the visit. This camping area is immediately adjacent Highway 62/180 on the Frijole Ranch access road. The Frijole Horse Corrals have a capacity of 10 animals.

Frijole Horse Campground

A backcountry use permit is required for all use of these campsites. Pine Top is the backcountry campground in closest proximity to the Bowl, and offers excellent views of the park's highest peaks. Pine Top is an excellent choice for a single night backpack trip. It is 4.2 miles from Pine Springs trailhead via the Tejas and Bush Mountain trails. Elevation gain is 2300 feet. Though secluded in trees, Pine Top is susceptible to high winds & lightning. Eight designated campsites are defined by tent pads.

Pine Top Wilderness Campground

Dog Canyon Campground - Guadalupe Mountains National Park

From the KOA website:
Kick back with family and friends at this beautiful desert oasis built in 2000. This award-winning KOA is big rig friendly: All sites are huge 30/50-amp pull thrus with free Wi-Fi and free cable TV. The staff will spoil you as you enjoy the 2,000-square-foot community room, meals delivered to your site, a beautiful commercial laundry, outstanding restrooms, a fenced dog park and a heated pool. From this KOA in the heart of SE New Mexico, visit Carlsbad Caverns, Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park, Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area, Roswell's International UFO Museum and White Sands National Monument. Check out the Robert H. Goddard rocket collection at the Roswell Museum and Art Center and the "Billy the Kid" history at the campground. A horse hotel also is available. See how this KOA is going green with the help of a wind turbine. Pool: March 15 - October 15. Max pull thru: 75 feet. Your hosts: Scott, Susan and Brian Bacher.

Carlsbad KOA

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The Best Equestrian Camping in Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Top Campgrounds in Guadalupe Mountains National Park (6)

1.

Dog Canyon Campground

2.

Frijole Horse Campground

3.

Pine Top Wilderness Campground

4.

Dog Canyon Campground - Guadalupe Mountains National Park

5.

Pine Springs Campground - Guadalupe Mountains National Park

6.

Carlsbad KOA

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