Santa Fe 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
- 2,628 sq mi
- Managed by
- Forest Service
- Campgrounds
- 32
- Longest rig
- 62 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 · 32 campgrounds shown
- Aspen Basin CampgroundSeason not published
- Big Tesuque CampgroundSeason not published
- Black Canyon CampgroundMay – November · Reservations accepted
- Borrego Mesa CampgroundSeason not published
- Clear Creek CampgroundReservations accepted
- Clear Creek Campground Group AreaMay – October · Reservations accepted
- Cowles CampgroundMay – October · First-come, first-served
- Coyote Canyon Camping AreaSeason not published
- E.V. Long CampgroundMay – October
- El Porvenir CampgroundMay – Dec. 31 · First-come, first-served
- Field Tract Campgroundto 62 ft · 15 sites · Pull-throughMay – October · Reservations accepted
- Holy Ghost CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Holy Ghost Group CampgroundMay · Reservations accepted
- Iron Gate CampgroundMay – November, weather permitting · First-come, first-served
- Jacks Creek CampgroundMay – October · First-come, first-served
- Jacks Creek Group CampgroundMay · Reservations accepted
- Jacks Creek Horse CampMay – November, weather permitting · First-come, first-served
- Jemez Falls Campgroundto 47 ft · 51 sites · Pull-throughMay – November · Reservations accepted
- Johnson Mesa CampgroundDec. 31
- Links Tract CampgroundSeason not published
- Paliza Family CampgroundMay – 10/10/24 · First-come, first-served
- Paliza Group Campgroundto 24 ft · 2 sitesMay – November · Reservations accepted
- Panchuela Campground6 sitesMay – End of November · First-come, first-served
- Redondo Campgroundto 45 ft · 62 sitesMay – 11/15/24 · First-come, first-served
- Resumidero Camping AreaReservations accepted
- Rio Chama CampgroundApril – November · First-come, first-served
- Rio Chama Campground, Small Group SitesMay – December
- Rio De Las Vacas Campgroundto 42 ft · 15 sites · Pull-throughMay – November · Reservations accepted
- Rio Puerco CampgroundReservations accepted
- San Antonio Group CampgroundReservations accepted
- Vista Linda Campgroundto 40 ft · 13 sitesFirst-come, first-served
- Winsor Ridge TrailheadSeason not published
Santa Fe National Forest
The Santa Fe National Forest is a protected national forest in northern New Mexico in the Southwestern United States. It was established in 1915 and covers 1,558,452 acres (6,306.83 km2). Elevations range from 5,300 feet (1600 m) to 13,103 feet (4000 m) at the summit of Truchas Peak, located within the Pecos Wilderness. The Jemez, Coyote, and Cuba districts are located in the Jemez Mountains; the Pecos/Las Vegas district is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains; and the Española district is located in both mountain ranges. In descending order of land area the forest lies in parts of Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Mora, and Los Alamos counties. Forest headquarters are located in the city of Santa Fe.
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.
- Pecos Wilderness221,824 acres
- Chama River Canyon Wilderness47,034 acres
- San Pedro Parks Wilderness41,305 acres
- Dome Wilderness5,185 acres
Byways through this country
Places worth pulling over
Drive to Santa Fe 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.