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Horse-Thief Campground

91%

· San Juan, New Mexico

15 acres hosted by Wayne And Yolanda B.

12 RV/tent sites

From U.S. Highway 550 (north of Nageezi), follow the signs that say Chaco Canyon National Monument Park (County Road 7900). From County Road 7900 and County Road 7950 (turn right on 7950). After 3 miles, at the end of pavement, you will see a sign that says "Dry Camp", with a long dirt driveway. Our campground is 13 miles before the hazardous road to Chaco Canyon. We like to say the we are "The Gateway to Chaco Canyon". Save the wear and tear on your trailers, camp with us! Horse-Thief Campground is an upcoming camp; located on 5 acres of land and more, for campers to enjoy. In a quiet; serene, beautiful landscape area of the Dine Nation. With beautiful sunrise; sunsets and night sky is out of this world. There are trails in which visitors may walk or bike, as well as a Look Out Point. Horse-Thief is currently a Dry Camp with no Electricity or running water however generators are welcome. There is one portable restroom. We look forward to Meeting and Greeting you! We think you will enjoy your stay with us, and hope you give us a great review!Visitors/campers can expect to be in a: quiet; serene area of the Navajo/Dine' Nation, with views of beautiful landscapes. They will also encounter; breathtaking sunrises, gorgeous sunsets, and amazing glittering stars. If they get lucky, views of wild horses will be encountered. Nearby are trails that can be utilized for walking or biking, as well as a look out point. We are a dry camp; so whatever campers haul in they need to haul out. We are pet friendly, but visitors need to clean up after their pets. There is one portable unisex restroom, which is cleaned on a regular basis. We hope that you enjoy your stay and give us a great review! We want our campers to be aware that some other travelers show up unannounced at our campground, sometimes late at night.

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91%

58 ratings · 52 reviews

Dory S.

May 5, 2024

Horse-Thief Campground

Good, but a work in progress

When traveling from Chaco Canyon north to Nageezi, there is no lodging of any kind, so we decided to try the Horse Thief Campground. The camp area has potential, but is a work in progress. There is no actual address, so you have to use the map link through the Hipcamp app. However, there is very little cell service in the area, which means you must start the mapping when you have service, so you can find your way there. We had trouble contacting Wayne, so had to do our best to find the place. Initially, when pulling in to the area near some buildings, it is a bit confusing where you are actually supposed to camp. Fortunately, the owner Wayne pulled up when we arrived and pointed us over to an old juniper tree with a fire pit to camp next to. Wayne was very accommodating and made sure to mention that there are wild horses in the area and we might see them in the morning. Sure enough, the next morning the wild horses were grazing west of us, and eventually made their way in our direction. That was a real treat. It was a pretty place to camp, but keep in mind there are challenges to finding the place.

Jim H.recommends

April 26, 2024

Horse-Thief Campground

Great location, friendly owners

For years we have wanted to visit Chaco Canyon during one of our trips through the Southwest, but hauling our Airstream over the roads in to the campground there was a non-starter after talking to friends who had been there, spending a half day getting to and from Chaco from campgrounds in Farmington wasn't a good option and dispersed camping sites were sketchy. When we found Horsethief Campground this year it offered a solution to our dilemma. Horsethief is located right at the end of the paved road leading into Chaco. It's a dry camping area with a vault toilet, for $40 a night. I've never paid that much for a dry camping site, but in this case it was worth it. Not only were we able to avoid beating up our trailer or spending hours commuting, but the site itself is quiet and secure, so we had the dark sky experience of the area and an enthusiastic welcome from Wayne and Yolanda and learned about their plans for the site. We were able to spend 3 days exploring the wonders of Chaco thanks to their efforts to make this alternative available for visitors to this unique area.

Ann H.recommends

April 23, 2024

Horse-Thief Campground

Perfect for dry camping by Chaco

The directions to get to Horse-Thief Campground were just right. We were warmly greeted by Wayne and Yolanda upon arrival. The campground was exactly as expected. A large dirt lot with plenty of room for lots of RVs. No hook ups and no shade, but lots of sunshine for charging up solar panels. There was a porta potty that was well stocked with TP and hand sanitizer. The campground was at the end of the paved road into Chaco Culture National Historical Park, and we would not have wanted to tow our travel trailer down the bumpy road between the campground and the park. It would be a perfect location for viewing the Milky Way. Definitely dark skies. If I were to return to Chaco Canyon, I would stay here again.

Rex L.recommends

April 22, 2024

Horse-Thief Campground

Excellent location on paved road near entrance to Chaco. The 13 miles to Chaco is unpaved and it was great not to pull camper those last 13 miles on rough road. Met Wayne several times during stay. Great helpful guy. Wayne all the best finishing your Hogan.

Kate W.recommends

April 20, 2024

Horse-Thief Campground

Dog friendly!

Wonderful spot. Calming energy on the land and wonderful hosts. Convenient location. Loved the sunrise and sunset, and the roaming wild horses. Would stay here again!

Paul D.recommends

April 18, 2024

Horse-Thief Campground

Camping away from the crowd

Wayne was very accommodating. The campground is easy to find, provides a quiet and relaxing view of the stars, and has good proximity to Chaco canyon. The Port-o-Pot was clean, had toilet paper and hand sanitizer. The closest gas station is 30 minutes away which is convenient while you're in the backcountry. I preferred this to the crowded campground inside Chaco (at least in April). Also, fires are allowed which is not the case inside Chaco. Recommended

Location

San Juan, New Mexico, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Diné Bikéyah, Pueblos, and Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Hosted by Wayne And Yolanda B.Joined in May 2022

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