Best RV Parks & Resorts near Salt Flat, TX
Looking for the best Salt Flat RV camping? The Dyrt can help you find the best RV campsites for your next trip. Search nearby RV campsites or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Looking for the best Salt Flat RV camping? The Dyrt can help you find the best RV campsites for your next trip. Search nearby RV campsites or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Pine Springs Campground is a simple, desert camping area situated at the base of the mountain. Individual campsites are all at a first come, first served basis. There is no reservation system.
Campground conveniences include: potable water, accessible flush-toilet restrooms , utility sink, pay telephones, and a drink machine. There are no showers available in the campground.
Tent campers have a choice of 20 leveled, gravel sites. Small junipers and oaks partially shade most of the sites and each site has a picnic table. Numbers are limited to 6 people or 2 tents per site.
The RV camping area is a paved parking lot with 19 sites to choose from. RV sites are defined by painted lines and numbers on the pavement. There are no hook-ups and there is no dump station. RV water tanks can be filled from an outside water faucet near the registration board. RV campsite #21 is wheelchair accessible.
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). 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 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.
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.
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, pi__on 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.
This location has limited staffing. Please call (915) 828-3251 for general information.
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 Whites City, via Dark Canyon Road to NM SR 137 through Queen (also the way to the national parks 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.
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, you must do so through Recreation.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.
$20 - $60 / night
Sunset Reef Campground is a reclaimed well pad with 11 developed campsites; five RV spaces and six tent sites. Each site has a shaded picnic table, fire pit and grill for your camping convenience with a vault toilet on site. Visitors can dry camp at this campground for a maximum of five nights for free. If on the hunt for a great place to camp while exploring the two national parks in the area, this is the place to stay! Carlsbad Caverns is a 25-minute drive (14 miles) to the north and Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a 35-minute drive (30 miles) to the southwest. __
Accommodations for overnight guests or monthly rentals. Washington Ranch offers lodging in three motel rooms, two single-room cabins, a spacious bunk house, dorms capable of sleeping 20 people each, three 30-Amp RV sites.
RV: 30 AMP electric, water, and sewer dump, shower facilities are available, pets are permitted on a leash
$50 - $150 / night
High ancient sea ledges, deep rocky canyons, flowering cactus and desert wildlife - treasures above the ground in the Chihuahuan Desert. Hidden beneath the surface are more than 119 caves - formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone leaving behind caverns of all sizes.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park offers no overnight lodging or campgrounds. Primitive camping is allowed in the backcountry only and requires a free permit which is issued at the park's visitor center when you arrive (not reservable in advance). Overnight RV parking is not permitted in the park. Seven miles (11 km) from the visitor center you will find a campground (RV/tent/cabin) and amenities in White's City.
The Pine Springs RV campground is not a traditional campground. Be aware, this is a paved parking lot. The area shares a popular and busy trailhead accessing four major trails. The area is frequently congested with day use hikers searching for available parking and with foot traffic from overflow parking areas. 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. Pine Springs Campground is located near the Pine Springs Visitor Center, just off U.S. 62/180 and at an elevation of 5,730 feet. The location offers great hiker access to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park trail system. The campground is situated at the opening to the Pine Springs Canyon with spectacular views of the worlds best example of a fossil reef and of the vast Permian Basin to the east. The campground is open year-round and is busiest, March-May and September-November. High winds with over 50 mph gusts are common, especially during winter and spring.
The Pine Springs Trailhead includes access to many different types of hikes. Hikes to Guadalupe Peak or the Bowl are strenuous, 8-9 miles, and have 2500-3000 feet of elevation gain. Another strenuous hike is the Devils Hall Trail (4.2 miles round-trip, 500 feet elevation gain, of the trail in a rocky, uneven wash which includes route-finding and boldering skills). For a more moderate hike consider the the Frijole/Foothills Trail. The El Capitan Trail offers excellent open views of the surrounding desert and close approaches to the cliff face of El Capitan. Because of its distance, lack of shade, some primitive route travel, and numerous elevation changes, this trail is best saved for cooler times of year and for people with experience in route-finding. The ruins of a Butterfield stage station, called the Pinery are next to the highway, and a short, paved nature trail connects the visitor center and the historic site. The Frijole Ranch & History Museum is 1.5 miles away. The grounds are always open, but the museum is staffed intermittently. Seven miles to the east on Hwy 62/180 is McKittrick Canyon. This area offers three trails, the McKittrick Canyon Nature Trail (0.9 miles loop), McKittrick Canyon Trail (4.8 miles round-trip to Pratt Cabin or 6.8 miles round-trip to the Grotto) and the Permian Reef Trail (8.4 miles round-trip, for serious geology buffs).
The Pine Springs Campground is in an area with small, scattered trees, shrubs, and grasses. Trees include gray oaks and alligator junipers, which cast partial shade at some sites. Texas madrones, bigtooth maples, chinquapin oaks, and ponderosa pines become more common along the canyon floor. Higher elevations include Douglas fir and hop-hornbeam. Shrubs include whitethorn acacia, Mexican orange, Apache plume, sumacs, and algerita. Desert-adapted plants also occur in this area, and include prickly pear cactus, New Mexico agave, sotols, and soaptree yuccas. Hunter Peak and cross-sectional views of the Capitan reef are visible from the campground. Roadside pullouts (one mile and four miles away) provide excellent views of El Capitan. Hiking into Pine Springs canyon or along the foothills reveals Guadalupe Peak. The Guadalupe Peak trail ascends to the highest point in Texas and offers excellent views of the surrounding desert. Birds commonly seen and/or heard around the campground can include Canyon towhees, turkey vultures, white-winged doves, common ravens, chipping sparrows, Says phoebes, common poorwills, and phainopeplas depending on the season. Night sky visibility is excellent and nearly pristine directly overhead, to the south, and the southwest. Nearby high ridges and peaks are situated to the west and north.
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 Whites City, via Dark Canyon Road to NM SR 137 through Queen (also the way to the national parks 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.
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, you must do so through Recreation.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.
$20 - $60 / night
Dispersed camp sites are located along most secondary roads and may not be marked. Popular locations can be recognized by the telltale flat disturbed area that has been used as a camp site before. Not all flat spots are sites. If possible, please use existing sites to avoid creating new disturbances. To further protect your public lands, campers must not dispose of any refuse, hazardous materials, sewage, or in any manner pollute the surrounding area.
States may have additional requirements or restrictions for dispersed camping. Please see Regional Information before planning your trip.
Camping at its Best
We do all of our bookings through our Site at More Travel Less Talk. Look us up and click the reserve button for all sites and availability. Thanks.
Hello and welcome to More Travel Less Talk. We are a small family owned "campground" that serves the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Salt Basin Dunes, and Dell City area. We cater to families and individuals looking for a true desert experience. We strive to provide a quiet, secluded, safe, friendly place for people looking for a unique experience in this amazing area.
We offer the following services:
Camper top and class B camper drive in primitive sites
Yurt rentals.
Primitive tent camping sites.
Don't settle for a paved parking lot spot at the Guadalupe national park where you will be packed in like sardines for 20 dollars a night. We have 20 acres of land you can explore and plenty of room between you and our other guests.
We are conveniently located just 6 miles off of HWY 62/180 on FM 1576. 27 miles from Quadalupe National Park. Home of El Capitan and the highest peak in Texas.
Just a quick 15 minutes from Dell City where you can stock up on supplies. Dell City is a beautiful and quaint farming community that offers two grocery stores, a NAPA, fueling stations, two restaurants, a post office, and a wonderful Hardware store owned and run by the Perry's.
14 miles to the Salt Basin Dunes.
70 miles (1 hour) from Carlsbad Caverns National Park
If the idea of seeing a sky full of stars at night, being surrounded by all sorts of desert wildlife, being minutes away from some of the most amazing mountains and hikes you will ever experience, or just looking for a nice overnight experience while traveling….This is the place for you.
$20 - $75 / night
This site is designed for stock use. If your party does not need access to a horse campsite, please consider selecting a campsite at the Pine Springs Campground located one mile west of Frijole Horse Corral Campground. Frijole Horse Corral Campground is located one mile east of Pine Springs Visitor Center, just off U.S. 62/180 and at an elevation of 5,400 feet. This campground has a large gravel parking area that is used as trailhead parking to access the Foothills and Frijole trails. It provides additional parking for horse trailers. The Frijole Horse Corral campground is located 1 mile from the Pine Springs area and Visitor Center. It is 100 miles or a 2 hour drive from the Dog Canyon horse corrals by road. The campground is open year-round and is busiest, March-May and September-November. High winds with over 50 mph gusts are common, especially during winter and spring The Frijole Horse Corral Campsite is approximately 100 yards from the very busy U.S. 62/180 highway, expect traffic noise, including large trucks, 24 hours a day.
Stock users may access trails in the Pine Springs area after obtaining a free stock use permit at the Pine Springs Visitor Center (8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) the day of their trip or up to 24 hours in advance. Trails that allow stock use are indicated on the park map and on maps for sale at the park bookstore. Riders must start their trip from the Frijole corral using the Foothills trail or Frijole trail. The use of horses or pack animals is allowed on the following trails, routes or areas: Trails designated for stock use are as follows: El Capitan Trail, Salt Basin Overlook Trail, Foothills Trail, Frijole Trail, Tejas Trail, Bush Mountain Trail from Tejas Junction at Pine Top to hitching racks at Bush Mountain, Bush Mountain Trail from Dog Canyon to Marcus Junction and the Marcus Trail, Blue Ridge Trail from Marcus Junction to Tejas Trail, McKittrick Canyon Trail from Tejas Trail to McKittrick Ridge Campground hitching racks Roads designated for stock use are as follows: Dog Canyon Road & designated old roads in the west side escarpment area. Note that not all the old roads within the park are open for stock use. These roads are open to stock use to allow access to designated trails and because there are no alternative trails or routes. Hikers will find many opportunities as well: The nearby Pine Springs Trailhead includes access to many different types of hikes. Hikes to Guadalupe Peak or the Bowl are strenuous, 8-9 miles, and have 2500-3000 feet of elevation gain. Another strenuous hike is the Devil’s Hall Trail (4.2 miles round-trip, 500 feet elevation gain, ½ of the trail in a rocky, uneven wash which includes route-finding and boldering skills). For a more moderate hike consider the the Frijole/Foothills Trail. The El Capitan Trail is a strenuous trail that offers excellent open views of the surrounding desert and close approaches to the cliff face of El Capitan. Because of its distance, lack of shade, some primitive route travel, and numerous elevation changes, this trail is best saved for cooler times of year and for people with experience in route-finding. The ruins of a Butterfield stage station, called the Pinery are next to the highway, and a short, paved nature trail connects the visitor center and the historic site. The Frijole Ranch & History Museum is .25 miles away. The grounds are always open, but the museum is staffed intermittently. Six miles to the east on Hwy 62/180 is McKittrick Canyon. This area offers three trails, the McKittrick Canyon Nature Trail (0.9 miles loop), McKittrick Canyon Trail (4.8 miles round-trip to Pratt Cabin or 6.8 miles round-trip to the Grotto) and the Permian Reef Trail (8.4 miles round-trip, for serious geology buffs).
The Frijole Corral Campground is in an area with small, scattered trees, shrubs, and grasses. Trees include gray oaks and redberry junipers. Higher elevations include Douglas fir and hop-hornbeam. Shrubs include whitethorn acacia, Mexican orange, Apache plume, sumacs, and algerita. Desert-adapted plants also occur in this area, and include prickly pear cactus, New Mexico agave, sotols, and soaptree yuccas. Hunter Peak, El Capitan and Guadalupe Peak are visible from the campground. Riding up either side of Pine Springs canyon offers excellent views of the surrounding desert. Birds commonly seen and/or heard around the campground can include Canyon towhees, turkey vultures, white-winged doves, common ravens, chipping sparrows, Say’s phoebes, common poorwills, and Woodhouse’s scrub jays depending on the season. Night sky visibility is excellent and nearly pristine. Nearby high ridges and peaks are situated to north.
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.
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. If you need to cancel or modify your reservation you must do so through Recreation.gov.
$20 / night
Pitch your tent or roll up in your Camper or Van to your own private campsite! Campsites come with a fire pit & the best views around! Our off-grid home is just up the road if there is any need, however you have your own area to enjoy the Chihuahuan sunrises & sunsets! We can offer tours of the area, and some basic essentials will be available for purchase as well!
There is amazing local wildlife here with everything from prong-horn to mule deer, desert hares, havelinas, bobcats, coyotes, eagles, hawks, and of course, the local ranchers free range cattle!
We recommend all-terrain tires on whatever vehicle you plan to bring in, as we are about 10 miles off the pavement in ranch roads. There is a Mexican restaurant in town, and 2 gast stations with basic foods & toiletries as well!
$40 / night
Late December
Stayed 1 night in camper van. Tent sites were full so stayed in RV parking lot. Sites were painted lines on the concrete but big enough to have some space to yourself if you park correctly. Had a couple more secluded sites tucked in the corner. Free water pump, no electric. Bathrooms and dish station conveniently located. Trailheads in parking lot. Great location and $15. Would stay again
The tent sites are clustered together near the vault toilet (smelly) and they are all walk in sites. Only tents are allowed in this area. The RV parking lot is by flush toilets and sink area. No tents are allowed. The flies were terrible! It is really hot right now and shade is limited.
Like all NP campgrounds, no fires are allowed which is disappointing. There are pit toilets which are incredibly clean however, the walk up to the flushing RV toilets isn't too far. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of privacy at the sites because they seem pretty tightly packed at first. Each site has a nice tent pad and picnic table. The parking isn't very adequate and at most of the sites you will need to carry your gear from your car a little way to the campsites. Sites are first come first serve. We got there in the late morning during busy season and had several sites to pick from but the camp ground did fill every day. The views are decent from the campground. Location is ideal. It's pretty central in GMNP and only 30 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns NP(where they only have back country sites). Overall, not a bad campground and probably the best option around while visiting GMNP and CCNP if you're a tent camper(their RV parking lot looked terrible).
Decent level sites for the tents off one loop with the RV off to another loop (i like that you're not surrounded by an RV when in your tent). The tent sites are much nicer than the parking lot for the RVs. Sites are decently spaced out with your normal table and fire ring, you then also have nice clean restrooms and potable water. You're right up against the Guadalupe Mountains which are a wonderful sight.
GUMO has tent camping with more typical sites. Water and pits toilets. RV camping sites are in a medium sized parking lot. Sites 21-25 have picnic tables. No fires
Guadalupe Peak trail was an awesome hike to the highest point in the state of Texas.
Camping at the base, next to the trail head was not as awesome. It was super windy, completely exposed to the sun, no privacy, and I got stuck with an RV spot despite being a tent camper since that was the only thing available. I had to shift around all of my gear and sleep in my trunk.
The redeeming factor was the nice, clear night and incredible stargazing.
The place is amazing. Awesome views.
The sign says only camping in designated spots, so no side camps.
There's 6 RV spots and 6 tent sites.
The road getting in is really rough. I did fine with my 32ft fifth wheel. I came in at 8mph. It's rough with embedded rocks.
Just like others have said, the RV camping is a parking lot. But when we were there in mid September, there only maybe 6 or 7 "RVs" camping. Most of the traffic was people parking for the trail head. Speaking of trails, the hiking from this campground is spectacular! Guadalupe peak was the trail everyone came to do, but there are multiple others that are just as beautiful. On those trails we were the only people our hiking. There is a nice restroom facility and potable water. You cannot hook your RV up to the water pump so bring a large jug to help fill up your water tank if needed. There is also a water bottle filler in the restroom building. The tent camping area is nice, with defined sites, not a parking lot 😉 You can run your generator until 8pm, although not many did. It cools down in the evening in mid September which was good for sleeping. There is no dump station. The views from the campground are great and the sunrise and sunset light is phenomenal.
If you're a tent camper, this is a gorgeous campground. Again indivdual walk-in sites, gorgeous views and amazing hiking opportunities.
Bathrooms were clean.
RV "camping" is more a paved parking lot where they allow you to stay over night. Is also shared with trailhead parking. There are a couple of nice single sites along the edge, luckily we were able to snatch one of these.
I found it to be fantastic, it was close to trail and well maintained. Please note this is a boon-docking site, and limit on generator use. It is right next where trail starts for Guadalupe Peek. When I visited the winds were exceptionally high. One day gusts got to near 75mph. Winds were coming out of NW and that is the direction the rv spots faced. I did bring my slide in for peace of mind. Be sure to look at wind forecast before you travel
The campground currently does not have any signage but if you turn down the road for the cottonwood day use area and make a right on the dirt road, you will find it. Each tent site has a covered table on a cement slab, charcoal grill, and fire ring. There are also pull through spaces for RVs. There is a bathroom that was clean except for all of the flies from the toilet seat and door being left open. A great space in the middle of the desert!
This campsite is very remote, but it is gorgeous. It’s quite small, with only 4 RV spots and several tent spots. There is no cell phone service, but there is free Wi-Fi available. There are bathrooms, but no showers. It’s about 1.5 hours from the closest gas station so make sure to fill up before heading in. Dogs are allowed at the campsite, but not on any of the trails. I definitely recommend this site if you are going to be hiking around the national parks (Guadalupe Mountain and Carlsbad Caverns). It was also very windy when we were there in December, so bring warm clothes!
Visiting Guadalupe national park was very surprising, after finding out that no reservations are required to camp I was a little worried that the location was going to packed but going in the middle of February it was just right. The tent camping side has a total of 19 tent sites which have benches as well as a prepared area for your tent which was nice the site had a bathroom nearby and trash cans very close to every site. The rv side had multiple spots for rvs (didn't count the spaces) but outside of the parking lot were flush toilets and a dish washing station, the trail heads were right by the parking lot so very convenient.
The trail the main trail guadalupe peak was breath taking (literally) the climb up takes about a 2 and half hours but the view up top is amazing! My only complaint of this place is that the amount of trails is lacking (only about 5) and after a day or two your pretty much done but if your in the are the hike up top is unbeatable.
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Stayed here while seeing the Carlsbad caverns. Great free spot close to whites city with laundry and showers as well as the national park. Close enough to highway where you can see headlights in the distance but you can’t hear the noise at all. Level site, and some spots big enough for big rigs. We stayed in early Feb, and the weather was chilly at night but 50’s during the day. Great spot.
Dog Canyon RV area: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)
Overall Rating: 3.5
Price 2024: $ 10 winteragency pass
Security: No
Usage during visit: 50 to 100%, however there are more no shows than usually experienced elsewhere.
Site Privacy: No
Site Spacing: Close
Pad surface: Gravel
Reservations: Yes
Campground Noise: Quiet
Outside Road Noise: This campground is the end of the road.
Through Traffic in campground: Hiker parking area across from the RV sites
Electric Hookup: No
Sewer Hookup: No
Dump Station: No
Potable Water Available: Yes. I didn’t notice the hand pump to the left of the trailhead the first couple days here.
Generators: Allowed
Bathroom: Flush toilets are a short walk, located in the tent camping area. There is also a heated bathroom at the visitor center which is a short distance further.
Showers: No
Pull Throughs: All 4 sites are back in
Cell Service (AT&T): No bars. There is WiFi at the visitor center. We were able to periodically pick up WiFi at our campsite, RV- D.
Setting: Surrounded by ridges.
Recent Weather: Very windy and cold nights.
Solar: Excellent.
Insects: None
Host: Not filled.
Rig Size: i cannot imagine that these sites will accommodate rigs over 25’.
Sites: RV-A, and RV-D are on the ends. These are the best sites. RV-A door faces horse trailer parking area. No horse there trailers during our stay. RV- D is the best site if you can park your RV nose first. This makes sitting area more private . In RV- D and RV-A sites the occupant can spread out more.
We stumbled upon Camp Washington Ranch when looking for someplace to stay near Carlsbad Caverns. It is an interesting property. While it was originally a ranch, it was purchased in the 1980s by a non-profit that serves adults with disabilities. There are group homes on a corner of the property but they also rent the property as a wedding venue and have four RV camping sites. We were surprised by the ponds and creeks running through the property (since its in the middle of a desert) but figured out that it receives excess water from the springs that service Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
You can walk from Camp Washington to Rattlesnake Springs Picnic Area (part of the National Park), which was a neat adventure. The picnic area was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and you can visit the springs and see the irrigation system developed by the CCC. Rattlesnake Springs provides all of the water to the National Park and, we figured out, also explains the ponds and creeks in Camp Washington Ranch!
It seemed like we had the whole property to ourself during our stay. We made our reservation and paid over the phone, and didn't see any staff or residents while we were on the property. Would definitely recommend to anyone needing a place to stay before heading to the national park for a cavern tour.
General: There is a tent section and an RV section; RVs of any kind (including our van) are not allowed in the tent sites. We pulled into what we thought was an overflow parking lot to discover it WAS the campground!
Site Quality: Diagonal paved parking spaces along the perimeter - each large enough to fit a camper and additional vehicle; these have picnic tables but no hookups or other amenities. The sites in the middle are suitable for larger RVs (Class A) but they don’t have picnic tables. On the upside, the sites are level and there is a gorgeous view of the mountains.
Bathhouse: Decent bathhouse with flush toilets and sinks. Soap dispensers and air dryers but no paper towels. No showers.
Activities: Lot of hiking trails, many of them strenuous; the most popular one is the Peak trail. We opted for McKittrick Canyon; the trailhead for this hike requires a drive.
Other: This is the FIRST place in all of Texas (and we’ve been in the state for over a week) where we have seen recycling receptacles! There is also a dishwashing sink, a nice bonus. Be aware that your smartphone/watch may not give you the correct time (my Apple watch and my husband’s Garmin displayed different times!) The park is on mountain time although it is close to the border of central time so expect confusion.) Quiet hours are 8 pm– 8 am, longer than usual but not a problem for us. Limited cell service with Verizon. This was not what we expected for a campground, and we were dismayed that it was paved; with the views, it could have been a much nicer campground if more natural.
There are only a few sites with water and electric hookups. The dump location is directly in front of a site so you may need to dump elsewhere (we did because it was blocked by another camper at the time).
There’s a nice lake and walking paths. The place is dated but, the folks are friendly and nice stop for a couple of days.
We camped here on our way to Carlsbad Caverns.
This is a good campsite but pretty much just a parking lot. Rv sites are easy to access (some are pull through, some are back in. There are bathrooms but no hookups. No generator use either so be prepared to dry camp. Great access to trails - we woke up and immediately did Guadalupe trail! Sites fill up on the weekends
Only 20 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns NP and about 30 minutes from Carlsbad NM! Slaughter canyon trail is 20 minutes down the same road the campsite is on. This is a great spot off the highway. You can hear some noise throughout the night. Also, it can be noisy if neighbors are loud.
The area is a fenced-in level gravel lot with pit toilets, trash, picnic table sites, and tent sites. Each site has a grill and campfire area with a covered picnic table. Sites fill up quickly, but there are plenty of spots to park next to the fence. Easy to get here with any kind of camper (RV, trailer, ect). Views are great, and the area is maintained well.
The campground allows five consecutive nights of camping. Verizon service was good!
Easy access off of the highway. 6 designated RV sites. All were taken. We pulled up to the west edge and had fantastic views from Guadeloupe Peak to Carlsbad Caverns. 15 RVs spent the night while we were there.
Great small (free) campground very close to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Surprised at how well-kept it was and the restroom is very clean. There are about 5/6 RV/campervan spots and equal tent spots, each with a picnic table under a canopy, a BBQ and fire ring. There were 3 cars parked at the wooden fence as well. Max 5 nights stay. Great spot for a visit to Carlsbad Caverns and if you don’t need water/hookups. Great views, can barely hear the Highway.
This is the best place to be when hiking/touring Guadalupe Mts National Park, especially if you plan to hike Guadalupe Peak (the trailhead is in the parking lot). The sites are nice - some are a short walk-in, some are right next to your parking spot.
We don't RV, but the RV sites were underwhelming - it's just a parking lot with no hookups.
The restrooms were nice and clean, but no showers. This wasn't fun when you're sweaty and stinky from hiking all day. There was also a dish washing station. There's one bathroom with flush toilets, and another at the other end of the campground with vault toilets. The closest hotel, store, and restaurant are all ~30 minutes away in White's City so bring everything you need.
There's no campfires allowed (ever), plus they had a slightly increased burn ban when we were there so we couldn't use camp fuel products but I understand that you normally can use them. Good thing we had a backup butane stove.
It's a very pretty location and is a great campground, especially for being in the middle of nowhere!
A visit to Guadalupe Mountains National Park is not complete without a hike up to Guadalupe Peak which the highest point in Texas at 8,751 feet (2,667 m). This trip was better and brighter because I had the opportunity to test a new light system by HeadSpin Outdoors.
On your way into the park fill up with gas and pick up supplies either in the towns of Fort Stockton, Pecos or Van Horn. The route passing through Pecos is more direct, but the road is often crowded with large trucks traveling to the oil fields. The route that passes through Van Horn is longer, but more relaxing and scenic. I advise taking the route through Van Horn.
Campground Review:
Guadalupe Mountains National Parks operates on a first come first served basis and does not take campsite reservations. If you are driving to the park from one of the major Texas cities such as Houston, Dallas, San Antonio or Austin you must leave early in the morning (4am) to arrive early at the park (1pm) in order to secure a campsite. The drive is typically 8 to 10 hours. We elected for a different plan. We left after work at 6pm on Thursday, drove 5 hours and camped at Monahans Sandhills State Park. Reservations can be made at almost all of the Texas State Parks, so we made a reservation at Monahans Sandhills SP. We knew that we could arrive late and still have a reserved campsite. Then the next day we continued to GMNP at a leisurely pace. We arrive by 1pm and secured one of many available campsites - #12.
Arriving by mid-day allowed us the option to choose between a number of short trails to acquaint ourselves with the park and acclimatize to the higher altitude. We had the options to explore The Devils Hall trail, The Smith Spring trail or The Pratt Cabin trail. We elected to hike the Pratt Cabin trail.
The Pratt Cabin trail was a nice introduction to the park for the first time visitors in our group. The trail is a 4.8 miles long out and back hike, relatively flat and the leaves were just starting to change colors. There was water in the creek. And at the turnaround point of our hike there was a historic stone cabin - Pratt Lodge. We returned to camp and had a nice meal. Campfires are not allowed in GMNP so we brought a propane camp stove.The night was cool, but pleasant.
The next day we woke up early and set off for the hike up to Guadalupe Peak. The hike typically take about 4 hours up and 3 hours down. We left early at 8am so that we could avoid the potential crowds. Our group summited without any problems in about 3:30 hours. We celebrated at the top, took some photos, signed the log book and took in the views. We then descended the trail. On our way down the wind picked up and at one corner the wind was whipping around at what I would estimate 40 mph. We reached our campsite by early afternoon and relaxed. At the Pine Springs campsite the winds picked up speed and for the rest of the day and into the night. Many tents in the campground were collapsing or blowing down. Luckily we had secured our tents with extra cordage and rocks.
Overall, this is an excellent park to car camp or backpack. On previous trips to this park I've backpacked up to Guadalupe Peak as well as Pine Top. There are many good trails with trailheads near the Pine Spring campsites. There are latrine toilets near the tent camping sites and normal toilets near the RV camping sites. There are no showers in the park so be prepared to embrace nature.The true beauty of this park is not really the summit of Guadalupe Peak, but the rustic nature of the high desert trails and views.
Product Review of HeadSpin Light System
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, from time to time I am provided products to test. For this outing I was provided a HeadSpin Light System.
For more info: www.headspinoutdoors.com
I was immediately impressed with the HeadSpin Light System when it arrived in the mail. When I unboxed the product I discovered that it was contained within a sturdy semi-hard case. There were five easily identifiable pieces within the kit - the light head, a handle, a headband, a bicycle mount and a wall charging plug. There was also an instruction manual, sticker and USB cord. The system is very intuitive to use.
The light head is the primary unit that can be combined with the accessories to form multifunctional lights. I'm a fan of good design and I liked the rounded square form of the light head. It has four buttons on top. One button turns on the unit. One button increases or decreases the intensity of the light. One button switches the light pattern from wide to spot. And one button switches the light to a flashing strobe.
I received the light system just prior to my trip, so I wasn't able to charge the unit at home. One of the great advantages of this product is that it is a rechargeable light with a lithium ion battery. I took the entire kit in the car and charged it with the included USB cable plugged into the car socket. The USB cable can also be plugged in to any portable power bank. By the time that we reached our destination, the unit was charged. This came in handy as we set up our tents in the middle of the night.
The next day we hung the HeadSpin light in a tree above our camp kitchen and used it like a lantern to cook. The soft wide light provided great lighting for camp chores.
I also used the light for walking on some trails. Typically I used the lowest setting, because this light is bright. I played around with the higher settings but my friends kept asking me to turn it down because it was too bright. Hahaha, too bright. See the demo video.
I only used the light system with the headband accessory. I didn't use the handle nor the bike attachment. I think that the handle would be useful around the house. I think that bike attachment plus the headband attachment would be great for a bike packing trip. One could attach the light to the bike's handlebar when riding. Then disconnect it and spin it onto the headband for other activities.
So who might like this light system? Anyone that likes multi-functional lights. I think that I'll find use for it around the house. It would also be useful to keep within a vehicle. This would be ideal for bikepacking. Hunters might like the intensity of the light, but I'm guessing that they would like a red light added. And of course it would always be useful for camping. If you are in to overloading where you need a reliable, rechargeable bright light this product would be a no brainer. The ability to charge the light from a variety of sources makes this a game changer for me.
Likes:
Super bright light
Super soft light
Multifunctional
Outlet and USB rechargeable
Nice design
Quality construction
Dislikes:
I'd like to see a red and maybe a green light
I'd like the buttons to be a little more tactile
Overall I am very impressed with the HeadSpin Light System. I have the feeling that I am just starting to discover all of the functions, features and uses. If you'd like to find out more about the light system or buy one visit their website at: www.headspinoutdoors.com
General: small campground (four “RV” sites and nine tent sites (plus one group tent site). Access is remote (only one 60-mile paved option and one 30-mile dirt road alternative) so you need to make sure you have filled up with gas in Carlsbad as there are no services within many miles of the campground. No cell reception at all (not unexpected). Be aware that the park is on mountain time but close enough to the central time zone border that your smartphone/watch may not display the correct time!
Site Quality: The “RV” sites are just a gravel parking lot. Each site has a picnic table and while the sites are spaced a decent amount of distance apart, there is no physical separation between the sites. No hookups. The tent sites are walk-in.
Bathhouse: We were expecting a pit toilet in such a remote location but there is one men’s and one women’s bathroom with a flush toilet and sink. They were very clean. Soap dispensers but no paper towels. Although there was no hot water, the restrooms were heated, which was a nice bonus.
Activities: There is a .6-mile nature trail and several more challenging hiking trails. There was a horse corral behind the RV sites, but we did not see any horses while there. About 25 miles away is Sitting Bull Falls, a spring-fed waterfall that is a nice side trip.
We camped here because we were not able to get reservations in the other more popular campground in Guadalupe Mountains NP. Access between the two sides of the park is long (about 60 miles) so while this was a nice, comfortable campground, it is not easy to get to.
Easily accessible to either Carlsbad Caverns NP or Guadalupe MTN NP and FREE and very good 4 bar Verizon service. The .5 mile drive in was a bit bumpy/washboard but level and hard packed so I'd think any vehicle could manage it, as there were many car campers. Very nicely done with 11 sites (5 pull thru RV and 6 car/tent) which we're overfilled by 6 p.m., although several folks parked by the fences without the shelter/table and stayed overnight. Signs notify that there are cameras/s monitoring activity so it was very quiet and felt safe.
This is a great place to be my 36 foot trailer had plenty of room great scenery and for a bonus there’s a store/cafe with awesome home cooked meals!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Salt Flat, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Salt Flat, TX is Pine Springs Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 18 reviews.
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