Campground Camping

Campground Camping Areas

• Black Kettle NG RD

  The Black Kettle and McClellan Creek National Grasslands contains over 31,000 acres in both Texas and Oklahoma.

• Black Kettle Campground
• East Bluff #1 Campground - Lake McClellan
• Lake Marvin Campground
• Lake McClellan Campground
• McDowell Campground
• Skipout Campground
• Spring Creek Campground
• Kiowa/Rita Blanca NG RD

  The Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands are administered for range, wildlife and watershed managment, and recreation purposes.  The Ranger Station is located in Clayton, NM.

• Mills Canyon Campground
• Mills Canyon Rim Campground
• Magdalena RD

  Tracing its roots from 1899 with the creation of the Gila Forest Reserve and its name from 1906, the Magdalena Ranger District has been a part of Magdalena's economic life for nearly a century. This long history makes the U.S. Forest Service the oldest continuous business in Magdalena. At approximately 800,000 acres (320,000hectares)the Magdalena Ranger District is the largest of four mountain Districts and four grasslands administered by the Cibola National Forest.

  The District itself is composed of four separate and distinct mountain ranges in southwest New Mexico covering the three counties of Socorro, Catron, and Sierra. The ranges include the Datils, Bears, San Mateos and Magdalena Mountains. From the peak of South Baldy at 10,700 feet dropping in elevation to under 6,000 feet in the southern portion of the San Mateos, varied topography and ecosystems can be found on the district.

  Recreation and Wilderness

  Recreational activities include hiking, camping, horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, hunting, and four-wheeling to name a few. To host these activities, the district has five small-developed campgrounds including Water Canyon, Springtime, Luna Park, Beartrap and Hughes Mill. With limited use of the campgrounds primary recreational values are the many dispersed, primitive, and unconfined acres.

  Created in 1980, the Apache Kid and Withington Wilderness' are located in the San Mateo Mountains. Some 190 miles of trails are located throughout the district centered primarily in the Magdalena and San Mateo Mountains. Maintained roads total about 500 miles with another 600 miles of unimproved roads. Thompson Canyon is a noted popular rock climbing area with the challenging Enchanted Tower.

• Bear Trap Campground
• Hughes Mill Campground
• Luna Park Campground
• Springtime Campground
• Water Canyon Campground
• Mount Taylor RD

  Each season on the Mt. Taylor Ranger District provides different opportunities for the forest visitor.  In late spring, summer and early fall, hikers and backpackers can enjoy the beautiful vistas along Gooseberry Spring Trail as they approach the summit of Mt. Taylor or Strawberry Canyon Trail on the way to McGaffey Lookout Tower in the Zuni Mountains. Fall offers warm, clear days and crisp, cool nights and brings with it abundant hunting opportunities in the Zuni Mountains and on Mt. Taylor.  Stands of aspen across the district provide beautiful gold and red foliage.  Winter sports include snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.  The well-known Mt. Taylor Winter Quadrathlon offers the adventuresome a challenging endurance race every February. In summer, skies often display single and double rainbows after seasonal monsoons. 

  Developed recreation sites include Quaking Aspen, McGaffey, and Ojo Redondo in the Zuni Mountains and Coal Mine and Lobo Canyon on Mt. Taylor.  Photographers and history buffs alike can find many areas to explore and capture memories. The sunsets are truly beautiful to watch as dusk approaches. 

• Coal Mine Campground & Picnic Area
• Lobo Canyon Picnic ground
• McGaffey Campground
• Ojo Redondo Campground
• Quaking Aspen Campground
• Mountainair RD

  The Mountainair Ranger District is located southeast of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The District is comprised of two divisions: The Gallinas and the Manzanos.

  The District has many recreational opportunities, including camping, hiking, picnicking. It also is home to the Manzano Wilderness Area.

• Bosque Campground
• Capilla Peak Campground
• Fourth of July Campground
• New Canyon Campground
• Red Canyon Campground
• Red Cloud Campground
• Tajique Campground
• Manzanita Mountains Recreation Zone

  All recreation areas and trailheads south of Interstate 40 within the Sandia Ranger District.

  • Please refer to the Manzanita Mountains Trail System map to plan your course.
  • Cell phone coverage is not guaranteed
  • It is the recreationist’s responsibility to know which trails are designated for motorized vehicles and to follow the guidelines.
  • This is a multi-use area.
  • Trail(s) open for the following uses: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding and OHV use.

  Area Trailheads:

  • Lower Pine Trailhead (area is unavailable)
  • Chamisoso Trailhead
  • Coyote Trailhead
  • Tunnel Canyon Trailhead
  • Otero Canyon Trailhead
  • Pine Flat Trailhead
  • Cedro Trailhead
  • Oak Flat Trailhead

  Area Picnicking:

  • Pine Flat Group Picnic Area
  • Oak, Yucca and Locust Picnic Group Areas

  Area Camping:

  • Cedro Peak Camping Area