Carson National Forest
Dispersed camping is generally allowed
On national forest and grassland, camping outside developed campgrounds is generally permitted unless an area is posted closed or a local order says otherwise. Stay on existing surfaces, camp away from water and trailheads, and check the forest's current orders before you go — fire restrictions change through the season.
Rules change with fire season and local order. Checked 2026-08-05. Confirm on the managing office’s official page
- Area
- 2,488 sq mi
- Managed by
- Forest Service
- Campgrounds
- 30
- Longest rig
- 70 ft
Where the land is, and what fits
The official Forest Service boundary with every campground we hold inside it. Tell it how long your rig is and the map keeps only what takes it — public land rarely matches the shape people picture, and neither does what you can actually get into.
Official unit boundary · USDA Forest Service · 30 campgrounds shown
- Agua Piedra Campground and Group SheltersReservations accepted
- Cabresto Lake CampgroundGenerally May – November (weather dependent; call ahead)
- Canjilon Lakes CampgroundSpring – Fall (Specific dates are weather dependent)
- Capulin CampgroundSeason not published
- Cebolla MesaSeason not published
- Cimarron Campgroundto 70 ft · 36 sites · Pull-throughReservations accepted
- Columbine CampgroundReservations accepted
- Comales CampgroundNot reservable
- Cuchilla CampgroundGenerally April – December (weather dependent; call ahead) · First-come, first-served
- Cuchillo Del Medio CampgroundGenerally April – December (weather dependent; call ahead) · First-come, first-served
- Duran Canyon CampgroundSeason not published
- Echo CampgroundSeason not published
- El Rito CampgroundSpring – Fall (Specific dates are weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Elephant Rock Campgroundto 44 ft · 21 sitesReservations accepted
- Fawn Lakes Campgroundto 45 ft · 19 sitesReservations accepted
- Goat Hill CampgroundSeason not published
- Hopewell Lake Campgroundto 45 ft · 33 sites · Pull-throughReservations accepted
- Junebug CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- La Bobita CampgroundSeason not published
- La Junta CanyonSeason not published
- La Sombra CampgroundSeason not published
- Las Petacas CampgroundSeason not published
- Lower Hondo CampgroundGenerally April – December (weather dependent; call ahead) · First-come, first-served
- McCrystal CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Rio de Los Pinos CampgroundSeason not published
- Santa Barbara Campgroundto 65 ft · 21 sites · Pull-throughReservations accepted
- Trout Lakes CampgroundSpring – Fall (Specific dates are weather dependent)
- Twining CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Upper La Junta CampgroundSeason not published
- Upper Lagunitas / Lower Lagunitas CampgroundsSpring – Fall (Specific dates are weather dependent)
Carson National Forest
Carson National Forest is a national forest in northern New Mexico, United States. It encompasses 6,070 square kilometers and is administered by the United States Forest Service. The Forest Service's "mixed use" policy allows for its use for recreation, grazing, and resource extraction.
Extract from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA. Agency description not published.
No vehicles past these lines
Designated wilderness is closed to every wheeled vehicle, including bicycles. You can walk in and camp; you cannot drive or park a rig inside one.
- Columbine-Hondo Wilderness44,517 acres
- Latir Peak Wilderness20,420 acres
- Wheeler Peak Wilderness19,161 acres
- Cruces Basin Wilderness18,881 acres
Byways through this country
Places worth pulling over
Drive to Carson the long way
Byway plans the road in, not just the destination — real places along the way, weighted to what you like, with nothing invented.