The best camping near Fort Union National Monument

You won't spend an enormous amount of time at this national monument, but you get a lot of history packed into your visit. The largest Southwest fort in the 1800s, it was where the U.S. cavalry started. The short film and museum exhibits are excellent and informative. The sheer size of the fort is impressive, too—not surprising, since in its heyday, it supplied 100 wagons a day. Look out for "Fort Union Days," when living history actors show up to bring the fort to life each summer.

Those adobe ruins are quite haunting—not what you typically think of when you hear the word "fort". The walking paths are easy, but they're gravel, so closed-toe shoes are a good idea. Once you've walked them, you can say you hiked part of the Santa Fe Trail. Keep your eyes peeled for the actual wagon ruts made back in the day. You can take your dog on the walk, but keep him leashed (there are rattlesnakes in the area).

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the west of Fort Union provide plenty of unique camping. Hipcamp is the place to go to find them. Whether you're looking to pitch your tent on a mountain ranch or stay in a rustic cabin, Hipcamp has you covered.