Lincoln 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
- 1,972 sq mi
- Managed by
- Forest Service
- Campgrounds
- 21
- Longest rig
- 82 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 · 21 campgrounds shown
- Apache CampgroundMid May – Mid Sept · First-come, first-served
- Aspen Group CampgroundMay 15 – September 8 · Reservations accepted
- Baca CampgroundSeason not published
- Black Bear Group CampgroundMay 15 – September 8 · Reservations accepted
- Bluewater LookoutSeason not published
- Deerhead Campgroundto 25 ft · 19 sitesApril – October 10 · First-come, first-served
- James Canyon CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Lower Fir Group CampgroundMay 15 – Sept 30 · Reservations accepted
- Monjeau LookoutSeason not published
- Oak Grove CampgroundSept. 15
- Pines Campgroundto 35 ft · 24 sitesMay 12 – Sept 5
- Saddle CampgroundMay 12 – Sept 5 · First-come, first-served
- Sam Tobias Memorial Group CampgroundSeptember 15 · Reservations accepted
- Silver Campground and AmphitheaterMay 12 – October 10
- Silver Overflow CampgroundApril 14 – October 10 · First-come, first-served
- Skyline CampgroundYear round
- Sleepy Grass Campgroundto 82 ft · 25 sites · Pull-throughMay 12 – Sept 5 · First-come, first-served
- Slide Group CampgroundMid May – Sept 30 · Reservations accepted
- South Fork CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Three Rivers CampgroundSeason not published
- Upper Fir Group CampgroundMay 15 – Sept 30
Lincoln National Forest
Lincoln National Forest is a unit of the U.S. Forest Service located in southern New Mexico. The Lincoln National Forest covers an extensive 1.1 million acres in southeastern New Mexico. Established by Presidential Proclamation in 1902 as the Lincoln Forest Reserve, the 1,103,897 acres (4,467.31 km2) forest begins near the Texas border and contains lands in parts of Chaves, Eddy, Lincoln, and Otero counties. The Lincoln National Forest is home to three major mountain ranges: Sacramento, Guadalupe and Capitan. The three Ranger Districts within the forest contain all or part of a total of four mountain ranges, and include a variety of different environmental areas, from desert to heavily forested mountains and sub-alpine grasslands. Clean air, water, and soil are necessary elements that the National Forests contribute to the environment. Established to balance conservation, resource management, and recreation, the lands of the Lincoln National Forest include important local timber resources, protected wilderness areas, and popular recreation and winter sports areas. The forest headquarters is located in Alamogordo, N.M. with local offices in Carlsbad, Cloudcroft, and Ruidoso.
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.
- White Mountain Wilderness47,267 acres
- Capitan Mountains Wilderness36,074 acres
Byways through this country
Places worth pulling over
National parks close enough to pair
Drive to Lincoln 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.