Due to a lapse in federal funding, this USDA website will not be actively updated. Once funding has been reestablished, online operations will continue. On-going operational updates will be posted here (https://www.fs.fed.us/shutdown) as we are able to provide them.

Carson National Forest
 

Recreation

Hiking button with an illustration of a hiker. Button with an illustration of a map for maps and publications. Button with an illustration of a pass for the passes and permits page.

Recreation Opportunities
The Carson National Forest offers unlimited recreational opportunities in any season. The magnificent mountain scenery and cool summer temperatures lure vacationers to enjoy the peace and quiet, for fishing, hunting, camping, and hiking. Winter activities include skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.

Wilderness Areas on the Carson National Forest.

Outfitter-Guide Program Analysis
The Carson National Forest is gathering information from interested stakeholders to conduct an Outfitter-Guide Needs Assessment.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Recreation Conditions Report

 Area Name Status Area Conditions
4th of July Canyon Trail Open to Visitor
70 Moto Trail Open to Visitor
Agua Piedra Campground and Group Shelters Closed to Visitor
Agua Piedra Handicap Trail 6 Open to Visitor
Agua Piedra Trail 19A Open to Visitor
Agua Sarca Trail #16 Open to Visitor
Alamitos Creek Fishing Open to Visitor
Amole Canyon Trail 10 Open to Visitor
Angostura Cutoff Trail 19A Open to Visitor
Angostura Fishing Open to Visitor
Angostura Trail 493 Open to Visitor
Apache Trail 70B Open to Visitor
Bear Mountain Trail #28 Open to Visitor
Biscara Trail Open to Visitor
Buena Suerte Trail 170 Open to Visitor
Bull Creek Trail 85 Open to Visitor
Bull Creek Trail 85 Open to Visitor
Burned Mountain Trail Open to Visitor
Burns Lake Trail (F.R. 801) Open to Visitor
Buzzard Park Campground Open to Visitor
Cabresto Lake Open to Visitor
Cabresto Lake Road/Lake Fork Trail Open to Visitor
Camino Real RD Open to Visitor
Camino Real Trail #3 Open to Visitor
Canjilon Lakes Open to Visitor
Canjilon Lakes Fishing Open to Visitor
Canjilon Lakes Picnic Site Open to Visitor
Canjilon RD Open to Visitor
Capulin Campground Closed to Visitor
Capulin Ice Caves Trail 109 Open to Visitor
Capulin Trail 494 Open to Visitor
Capulin/La Sombra Trail Open to Visitor
Cebolla Mesa Open to Visitor
Cedar Springs Campground Open to Visitor
Centennial Trail 100 Open to Visitor
Cerro Vista Trail 124 Open to Visitor
Cimarron Campground Closed to Visitor
Columbine - Twining N.R.T. Trail 64, 69 Open to Visitor
Columbine Campground Closed to Visitor
Columbine Canyon Trail # 71 Open to Visitor
Columbine Creek Fishing Open to Visitor
Comales Campground Open to Visitor
Comales Canyon Trail 22 Open to Visitor
Comales Cutoff Trail Open to Visitor
Continental Divide Trail - Carson National Forest Open to Visitor
Cordova Canyon Trail 17 Open to Visitor
Cortado Trail 162 Open to Visitor
Costilla Creek Fishing Open to Visitor
Cruces Basin Campground Open to Visitor
Cruces Basin Wilderness Trail Open to Visitor
Cuchilla Campground Closed to Visitor
Cuchillo Del Medio Campground Closed to Visitor
Cumbres Trail Open to Visitor
Devisadero Loop Trail 108 Open to Visitor
Diablo Trail Open to Visitor
Ditch Cabin to Sawmill Park Trail Open to Visitor
Divide Trail 36 Open to Visitor
Drake Canyon Loop Trail Open to Visitor
Duran Canyon Open to Visitor
Eagle Rock Lake Fishing Open to Visitor
East Fork Santa Barbara Trail 26 Open to Visitor
East Fork Trail 56 Open to Visitor
Echo Amphitheater Picnic Site Open to Visitor
Echo Amphitheater Trail #46 Open to Visitor
Echo Campground Open to Visitor
El Nogal Trail 181 Open to Visitor
El Rito Campground Open to Visitor
El Rito Creek Fishing Open to Visitor
El Rito RD Open to Visitor
El Valle Largo Trail 70 Open to Visitor
Elephant Rock Campground Closed to Visitor
Elephant Rock Trail Open to Visitor
Elliott Barker Trail Open to Visitor
Enchanted Forest Snowplay Area Open to Visitor
Exploration Trail Open to Visitor
Fawn Lakes Campground Closed to Visitor
Flechado Canyon Trail 7 Open to Visitor
Flechado Picnic Site Open to Visitor
Forest Road 1892 & 1893 Trail Open to Visitor
Forest Road 795 Trail Open to Visitor
Gallegos Canyon Trail 4 Open to Visitor
Gallegos Peak Trail 182 Open to Visitor
Garcia Park Trail Open to Visitor
Gavilan Trail #60 Open to Visitor
Gavilan/Placer Creek Trail Open to Visitor
Goat Hill Campground Closed to Visitor
Goose Creek Trail 65 Open to Visitor
Goose Lake Fishing Open to Visitor
Goose Lake/Gold Hill Trail Open to Visitor
Greenie Peak/Midnight Meadows Trail Open to Visitor
Hart Canyon Trail #293 Open to Visitor
Heart Lake Trail 85 Open to Visitor
Hidden Lake Trail #53 Open to Visitor
Hidden Lakes Fishing Open to Visitor
Hidden Lakes Trail Open to Visitor
Hopewell Lake Campground Closed to Visitor Due to recent snows the Tres Piedras RD is implementing a seasonal closure of the Hopewell Campground and day use facilities
 
Horseshoe Lake Fishing Open to Visitor
Horseshoe Lake/East Fork Trail 56 Open to Visitor
Indian Creek Trail #27 Open to Visitor
Indian Lake Trail 19C Open to Visitor
Italianos Canyon Trail #59 Open to Visitor
Jicarilla RD Open to Visitor
Joaquin Canyon Trail #47 Open to Visitor
Junebug Campground Closed to Visitor
La Bobita Campground Closed to Visitor
La Cueva Canyon Trail #492 Open to Visitor
La Cueva Cutoff Trail Open to Visitor
La Cueva Lake Trail Open to Visitor
La Jara Canyon Trail FR #5 Open to Visitor
La Junta Canyon Open to Visitor
La Sombra Campground Closed to Visitor
Laguna Larga Open to Visitor
Lagunitas Campground Closed to Visitor Campground facilities closed for the season, dispersed camping around area open if desired. Road conditions to the Cruces Basin are not ideal. 4x4 vehicle suggested and make sure you  have winter vehicle supplies (shovel, chains, extra water and food, winter clothing, handheld radio with extra batteries etc. as a precaution).
Lagunitas Creek Fishing Open to Visitor
Lake Fork Trail 82 Open to Visitor
Largo Canyon Trail Open to Visitor
Las Petacas Campground Closed to Visitor
Little Rio Grande Fishing Open to Visitor
Lobo Peak Trail #57 Open to Visitor
Long Canyon Trail 63 Open to Visitor
Los Pinos Open to Visitor
Lost Lake Trail 91 Open to Visitor
Lower Hondo Campground Closed to Visitor
Mallette Canyon Trail Open to Visitor
Manzanita Canyon Trail 58 Open to Visitor
Maquinita Canyon Trail Open to Visitor
Martinez Canyon Trail #49 Open to Visitor
McCrystal Campground Closed to Visitor
Middle Fork Trail 24 Open to Visitor
Middle Fork/West Fork Road Trail 487 Open to Visitor
Middle Ponil Creek Fishing Open to Visitor
Midnight Trail Open to Visitor
Mondragon Canyon Trail 660 Open to Visitor
North Boundary Trail 495 Open to Visitor
OK Canyon Trail Open to Visitor
Ojitos Canyon Trail 166 Open to Visitor
Old Red River Pass Trail Open to Visitor
Osha Canyon Trail #20 Open to Visitor
Picuris Peak Trail #114 Open to Visitor
Pioneer Creek Trail Open to Visitor
Pioneer Motorcycle Loop Trail Open to Visitor
Pioneer Road 485 Trail Open to Visitor
Placer Fork Trail # 72 Open to Visitor
Policarpio Trail #13 Open to Visitor
Pot Creek Interpretive Trail 2 Open to Visitor
Powderhouse-Little Costilla Peak Trail Open to Visitor
Questa RD Open to Visitor
Red River Fishing Open to Visitor
Red River Nature Trail Open to Visitor
Red River Ski Area Open to Visitor
Rim Vista Trail #15 Open to Visitor
Rio Chama Fishing Open to Visitor
Rio Chiquito Fishing Open to Visitor
Rio Chiquito Trail #121 Open to Visitor
Rio Fernando Fishing Open to Visitor
Rio Grande Del Rancho Trail 18 Open to Visitor
Rio Grande Fishing Open to Visitor
Rio Nutritas Fishing Open to Visitor
Rio Pueblo Fishing Open to Visitor
Rio Trampas Fishing Open to Visitor
Rio Tusas Fishing Open to Visitor
Rio Vallecitos Fishing Open to Visitor
Rito De La Olla Fishing Open to Visitor
Rito De La Olla Trail 438 Open to Visitor
Salazar Trail #14 Open to Visitor
San Antonio River Fishing Open to Visitor
San Cristobal Canyon Trail 78 Open to Visitor
San Leonardo Trail #30 Open to Visitor
Santa Barbara Campground Closed to Visitor
Sardinas Canyon Trail #12 Closed to Visitor
Sawmill Park Trail 55 Open to Visitor
Serpent Lake Cutoff Trail 19B Open to Visitor
Serpent Lake Trail 19 Open to Visitor
Shuree Lakes Fishing Closed to Visitor
Sipapu Ski Area Open to Visitor
South Boundry Trail #164 Open to Visitor
Taos Ski Valley Open to Visitor
Telephone Canyon Trail 3 Open to Visitor
Tienditas Trail 70A Open to Visitor
Tio Grande Fishing Open to Visitor
Tio Maes Trail 5 Open to Visitor
Tony Marquez Trail Open to Visitor
Trampas Lakes Fishing Open to Visitor
Trampas Lakes Trail 31 Open to Visitor
Tres Piedras RD Open to Visitor
Trout Lakes Open to Visitor
Twining Campground Open to Visitor
Upper La Junta Campground Closed to Visitor Remain closed for the season
Us Hill Snow Play Area Open to Visitor
Valle De Los Romero Trail 13A Open to Visitor
Valle Vidal Unit Open to Visitor Be sure to check on Seasonal Closures
West Fork Santa Barbara Trail 25 Open to Visitor
Wheeler Peak Summit Trail #67 Open to Visitor
Wheeler Peak Trail 90 Open to Visitor
Williams Lake Trail 62 Open to Visitor
Willow Fork Trail Open to Visitor
Winter Site Ski Area Nordic Open to Visitor
Yerba Canyon Trail #61 Open to Visitor

Quick Links
Areas & Activities

Related Links

Highlights


https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/carson/recreation