Camping in Taos
Summer 2014 Campground Status Update
The Town of Taos is happily surrounded by wilderness – including numerous camping opportunities of varying types. Taos weather is wonderfully wild at 7,000+ feet in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Taos Valley – but this means campers need to prepare for rapidly changing weather conditions including potential winds in the spring, “monsoon” rains in spring/summer, snow flurries through early June, and other challenging conditions – including lightning and potential lightning strikes. Cell service can also be limited in wilderness areas – if you camp in Taos, prepare for the unexpected and for a true “get-away” experience!
The Taos Field Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) also has wilderness and camping offerings including those in the Pilar area along the Rio Grande (a BLM Rio Grande Visitor Center as also in this area) and north of Taos in the Wild Rivers Area (a Visitor Center is also located within Wild Rivers’ Area).
Carson National Forest: “The minimum season for operations is as follows for each unit. Scenic Canyons Recreational Services (SCRS) (our concessionaire) adjusts season dates each year to coincide with weekends to better serve the public. These minimum dates are subject to weather conditions permitting. Some campgrounds will be kept open beyond the minimum when weather conditions permit and where visitors continue to come. We have proposed some shoulder season dates below, which will be adjusted as needed to accommodate visitors. SCRS will inform the FS each season of any proposed extensions to the minimum season dates listed below.” The minimum season for operations is as follows for each unit. View map of campgrounds.
Carson National Forest Campgound Openings, spring 2013
Site | Operating Season | Proposed Shoulder Season
Questa Ranger District
Columbine Campground | 5/16 to 9/8 | Will be opened as needed to 9/28
Elephant Rock Campground | 5/23 to 9/1 | Will be opened as needed to 9/28
Fawn Lakes Campground | 5/16 to 9/28
Goat Hill Campground | 5/16 to 9/28
June Bug Campground | 5/16 to 9/1
La Bobita Overflow | As needed
Camino Real Ranger District
Agua Piedra Campground and Group Shelters | 5/16 to 9/21
Agua Piedra Day Use Sites | 5/16 to 9/21
Capulin Campground | 5/23 to 9/1
Comales Campground | 5/16 to 9/1
Duran Canyon Campground | 5/16 to 9/21
La Junta Canyon Campsites | 5/16 to 9/21
La Sombra | 5/23 to 9/1
Las Petacas Campground | 5/23 to 9/1
Santa Barbara Campground | 5/17 to 9/22
Upper La Junta Campground | 5/17 to 9/22
Tres Piedras Ranger District
Hopewell Lake CG | 5/16 to 9/28
Hopewell Lake Day Use Area | 5/16 to 9/28
Hopewell Lake Group Area | 5/16 to 9/28
Valle Vidal Unit
Cimmaron CG | 5/1 to 9/28 | 9/30 to 10/30
McCrystal CG | 5/1 to 9/28 | 9/30 to 10/30
Shuree Ponds Fishing Site | 5/1 to 9/28
All day-use sites are open and operational seven days per week, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. including holidays. All campgrounds are open and operational 24 hours per day, seven days per week, including holidays. Where applicable, gates are closed/locked at 10:00p.m & open at 8:00a.m.
- Amy Simms, Assistant Recreation and Lands Staff Officer
asimms@fs.fed.us, Camino Real Ranger District
PO Box 68, Penasco, NM 87553, 575-587-2255
