- Carson National Forest
The best camping in Carson National Forest, NM
91% (41)
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Andrea
1 week ago
30 ft travel trailer
With pets
We stayed in spot 2 with our 30 ft and had plenty of room! Gorgeous views and impeccably clean spaces and the cleanest Porta potty I've ever seen. We had a blast and the hosts were so incredibly kind and knowledgeable. We will absolutely be back and recommend to anyone that will listen!
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Pauline
2 weeks ago
28 ft Class A
With pets
This was a GREAT location and easy to get around anywhere we wanted to go! Kelly and her husband were excellent hosts. Kelly shared places to go, she was extremely responsive and they had an adapter for the electric! I hope to visit here again and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone!
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Ariana
3 weeks ago
2 nights at Taos Goji Farm & Eco Lodge
I loved this space so much. Super beautiful and peaceful and I loved the animals! It was the perfect little retreat for myself and I love the history of the property.
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Natalya
3 weeks ago
Weekend Trip to Big Little Hideaway
Adorable peaceful respite just 15 minutes from Taos. Ideal for 2 people needing a home base to run, hike, and explore. Hosts very proactive and responsive with instructions and communication. Would definitely go back!
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Will
3 weeks ago
Weekend Trip to Juniper Mesa Camp
Fantastic site! Fantastic host! Can't wait to stay here again :)
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Hedi
November 2025
24 ft Class B
Anastasia is a welcoming host who shares her farm in its beautiful location, conveniently close to Taos, NM, where there is so much to explore. We were invited to tour and learn about all the various efforts Anastasia and her community are experimenting with sustainable practices. The Mountain view from our site was gorgeous at sunset and sunrise. Also, guests are given access to a beautiful and well-maintained bath house. We would definitely visit again and appreciate the stay.
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Traci
November 2025
19 ft campervan
With pets
Beautiful piece of land, next to water, very cool and clean water and toilet facilities, plus Gary is a wonderful host!
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Nikki
November 2025
16 ft car
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I had a great stay here! The hosts were kind and welcoming, and as a solo traveler, I felt completely safe the whole time. It was peaceful, easy to find, and exactly what I needed for my trip. The porta potty was great for emergencies, but just know it’s a basic setup. Also the sunrises are incredible from this spot! Overall, I’d definitely recommend!
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Katrina
October 2025
15 ft campervan
With pets
Beautiful and peaceful place to stay. Great bathhouse as well!
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Kamber
October 2025
With pets
If I died and came back as a wildflower I would want to be here. Creekside! Very kind people and very accommodating! Magical experience!
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Dustin
October 2025
30 ft fifth wheel
With pets
Outstanding and friendly hosts and the location is close to literally everything you would want to do in the Taos area. See the bridge. See the other bridge. Visit the highest peak in New Mexico. Track the Rio Grande through the Grand Gorge! It’s ALL here!
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Chenoa
October 2025
Weekend Trip to Juniper Mesa Camp
The camper is super cozy and has beautiful views. There is a stovetop, sink, and composting toilet inside the camper – and a great outdoor seating area outside. It was chilly in late October, so Kate set me up with lots of thick blankets and I stayed very warm! Kate is open and welcoming but also gave me my privacy. Great stay!
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Chloe
October 2025
Weekend Trip to Javali River Glamping
Beautiful spot! We had a wonderful and peaceful stay. Robin was great. Loved the outdoor shower and the cozy touches in the camper🩷
Will be back.
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Tony
October 2025
Tent
Peaceful had electric water Wi-Fi bathroom farm setting they were polite asked if there was anything we needed
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Deborah
October 2025
19 ft campervan
With pets
we arrived late in the evening and was grateful that the host met us to help back in because site 1 is a little tricky. I had a 19ft Sprinter and it was fine. Actually we were able to park both Sprinters parallel on site 1. Try to make sure you get there before sunset, cuz the road is narrow and the hip camp is a little tricky to locate. It is off the main highway but close enough to hear traffic but quiets down in the evening. Grateful for the electric hookup and water spout and trash can. Felt very safe. Very good price for all that is offered.
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Kristin
October 2025
17 ft pop-up camper
This was a wonderful hipcamp in Taos. Close to downtown with a nice view. Quiet, well cared for with a great bath house.
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Gretchen
October 2025
With kids
Loved this tiny getaway home and how close it was to Taos attractions! The home itself is very nice and comfortable. We were 4 adults (including 2 seniors) and a child and it was perfect! Since there are several homes on the property, we will consider coming back next time with friends!
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Victor
October 2025
Tent
With pets
Kelly was a great host! She was quick to help with step by step directions when Google maps was not working. My stay was short but very pleasant.
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Michelle
October 2025
With pets
My stay at the year on the Mesa top totally exceeded my expectations. Kate was there to greet me and show me around and really has put many magical touches on the place. There was everything I need to cook, do dishes, even take an outdoor shower. I came in late fall, and while it was cold at night, the propane heater was toasty. And the bedding was amazing, so I didn’t even need the heater when I slept. The views and the stars and the location are unparalled. I would definitely come back!
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Malgorzata
October 2025
Weekend Trip to Juniper Mesa Camp
It was an amazing stay! 🌿 The tent was beautiful, cozy, and spotless, and the host was incredibly kind and welcoming. A perfect spot to relax and enjoy nature — highly recommend!
See moreTop public campgrounds in the park
Stay at a public campground in Carson National Forest
Top-rated campgrounds
The best camping in Carson National Forest, NM guide
Overview
About
Come get lost in the wild, enchanted lands of New Mexico! One of five unearthly National Forests in this great state, Carson National Forest is open for business all year round, and never fails to bring the heat with magnificent mountain scenery and some seriously stunning natural features. If solitude is your muse than look no further! Cold mountain streams, ample trout fishing, and out of sight camping is sure to give you your fix. With over 1.5 million acres laden with high ridges, dense vegetation and some of the cleanest air you’re likely to find west of the Mississippi, Carson is simply the epitome of Southwestern frontier!
91%
41 ratings · 21 reviews
Directions were very clear and Heather was onsite when we arrived, super friendly. The best view in Taos.
Brian G.
4 reviews
Recommends
· July 2025
Beautiful place for hiking!
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Esther D.
3 reviews
July 2023
This was the worst experience we have ever had with a Hipcamp property. Our reservation was confirmed to arrive on 7/8/23 by Alexandria the host. The host left GPS coordinates to get to her house in El Rito, NM. When we arrived, there was no sign saying there was a hipcamp at the GPS coordinates she has on her hipcamp site. Only a locked fence and tiny house with no room to get our camper on the property. We called and texted her at least 4 times and did not get an answer from her. It took us over 2 hours to arrive at the property and were very angry and disappointed with what the host put us through. Had to find an alternate place to stay which was difficult with same-day booking. Save yourself a lot of grief and do not stay here!
Audrey R.
17 reviews
Recommends
· October 2020
This is a beautiful and peaceful campground with many solid camp spots. Getting there is VERY challenging unless you have an AWD and high suspension vehicle. Driving up the hill is on a road not suitable for passenger vehicles and is like driving through a very rough empty river bed. We made it in our AWD Mazda CX5 but it was sketchy and we almost turned around for how rough it was. Plan on driving 2-5MPH and being very cautious unless you are in a truck or jeep.
Once you get to the campgrounds there is a decent parking lot, bathroom, and beautiful scenery. Each campsite has a fire pit and some have picnic tables. If you prefer a more secluded spot, hike around the area and you might find some.
Scenery is gorgeous. Well worth it!
Nathan L.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2018
Get chilly starting in early October. This is a very picturesque campsite. Had a blast up here. Bmvery quiet and low traffic.
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Tyler H.
7 years on Hipcamp
May 2018
I did not camp there but I was there because I lieve close by!
I like to tell everybody that it is VERY BEAUTIFUL up there!
Mature Ponderosa pine trees like you do not see them anymore elsewhere (because of logging in the earlier days), I LOVE horse back riding up there, most beautiful area and NO other people! Just got to love that...
Monika M.
7 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2017
Getting up there is a little iffy, but totally worth it!
Sarah E.
8 years on Hipcamp
September 2017
Beautiful campground. We practically had it to ourselves. We visited in late September 2016 just before Labor Day. We were told about this campground by a traveling couple in the Alley Cantina in Taos. Its a bit of a drive off of the scenic High Road. There is a ranger station close o the turn off. We hiked a bit up the stream there and wished wed had more time to explore. Definitely want to go back and continue that trail!
Mia G.
8 years on Hipcamp
June 2017
Do you like to fish? Are you exploring the Enchanted Circle? Stay here! The campground is nice with the expected amenities for a forest service site. There are trails to walk along the lakes and enjoy the views. Many people come for the day to fish and the place is really popular. Expect to have plenty of neighbors. Red River is nearby with places to shop and eat. There are a lot of roads and trails in the area to explore so you'll find plenty to do.
Kate G.
8 years on Hipcamp
June 2017
This is one of my favorite places to camp. Sites are mostly well separated and there's just the right amount of shade. There's no camping right at the lake but a trail takes you there. Bring all the necessary supplies since it's quite a trip to get back to town.
Kate G.
8 years on Hipcamp
June 2017
Beautiful!!! We showed up on Sunday eve of Labor Day wknd and there were only a handful of people! EVERYONE left on Monday-we stayed until Wednesday with a campground to ourselves. The water had not been tested yet (& was turned off), so the ranger kindly waived our fee (18$ tent site). We had rain 2 eves, lots of sunshine & very cold at night. We stayed in site 7 & thought it was the best in the whole place! A trail behind the site lead to a magical meadow filled with irises. Hike to the ponds-it's lovely! Drive down 1950 to just past McKrystal campground to a parking area. One way you can walk to an old boyscout camp (about 3.2 miles rt) and the other way leads to remnants of a ghost town (about 5 miles rt). See my blog for info
Amber H.
8 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2017
The sites by the creek fill up fast but it is well worth it. Also, going across the road and up the mountain is easier places to get firewood.
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Jamie C.
8 years on Hipcamp
May 2017
This is my favorite campground in this area! The improvements are nice and it's usually not too crowded. There are trails accessible from the campground and more close by.
Kate G.
8 years on Hipcamp
April 2017
It's a bumpy ride to this campground-I wouldn't recommend it for vehicles that are not 4wd. We camped in one of the designated camp sites, although there are apparently hike-in sites here too. It's a popular place for fishing-lots of peeps coming and going. It's a gorgeous lake to wake up to in the morning. There was one single vault toilet in the parking lot and no water other than the lake. We feel like we got the best site-to the left and on a little hill right before the day use parking lot. 4x4 made it a breeze to drive up to. We were glad we picked up a tarp in red River (great little camp store there), because it rained all evening. We took a nice walk around the lake in the morning. Popular and beautiful.
Amber H.
8 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· February 2017
Stayed at this site one night each week from late Sept. thru mid November, 2016.
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Daniel C.
8 years on Hipcamp
August 2016
Great little campsite on a creek. Easily accessible, on the road from Taos up to the Ski area. The best sites (in my opinion) require carefully crossing the creek. This drowns out any road noise and all you can hear is the gentle sound of the water running by. No cell service (a plus!), but close to town, if you need WIFI/service/supplies. Great little trail along the creek going upstream worth checking out - perfect for morning meditation!
Ashlee N.
4 reviews
August 2016
Nice little campground. All sites are either directly on the river or just across the small road that runs through the grounds. Some sites may have some road noise from the highway, but our site was buffered by an rock wall. All we could really hear was the stream running near by. Sites are mostly spread out enough that you have a little privacy. The area is rocky with few areas of grass. So if you are a tent camper bring extra padding. Pit toilets are available and are fairly clean. We paid $16 per night. I think it was extra $5 for an additional vehicle. Nice little campground.
Keely M.
9 years on Hipcamp
July 2016
The drive was not fun in a high clearance vehicle, the "lake" was pretty well dry, and there is no one around for emergencies. The views were only do so at the "lake".
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Jennifer C.
9 years on Hipcamp
December 2015
This spot was way better than I imagined. The camping is sort of dispersed but there were bathrooms where we stayed. We pulled in past some RVs and down a dirt road a little and then this beautiful, grassy oasis nestled between trees and the river and these crazy orange rock formations came into view. There was a picnic table under the tree, a log to cross the river, and stars forever. You can tell by how easy it is to find firewood that it doesn't get a lot of traffic, so it had a nice maintained yet secluded feel to it. It's an easy drive to any of the rock climbing areas and that cobblestone is top notch! The campsite is closest to Little River Wall (beautiful, quiet, and you are practically belaying from a stream).
Maddy M.
8 reviews
September 2015
La Junta is a Forrest Road with nice dispersed sites and a few small campgrounds scattered. Pit toilets and dumpsters are available at the campgrounds.
The road connects Tres Ritos on 518 with Angel fire. The total length of the road is a little over 20 miles. I drove it in a 4Runner and had a great time.
This location is popular with motorcyclists and ATVs. If you don't mind seeing them ride by the site (or have a motorcycle yourself) its a great place to go. If you are not a fan, I would probably find another campsite or drive 10 miles up the road.
Dillon S.
10 years on Hipcamp
August 2015
The GPS Coordinates listed above are incorrect. The correct coordinates are 36.884203, -106.107326
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Daniel B.
10 years on Hipcamp