Forest camping in New Mexico with horseback riding

Explore ancient pueblos, soak in restorative springs, and see Mission-style architecture in this southwestern state.

96% (2552 reviews)
96% (2552 reviews)

Popular camping styles for New Mexico

Dog-friendly getaways

Under $50

12 top forest campgrounds in New Mexico with horseback riding

99%
(1289)

Enchanted Circle Campground (E<<)

13 sites · RVs, Tents161 acres · Angel Fire, NM
The Enchanted Circle Campground sits on the Avalon Ranch. It is 161 owned acres surrounded by a state trust lease. We are very proud to have been voted #1 Campground in NM 4 years in a row. We have 8 RV/tent sites to choose from. Campfires are permitted, and pets are welcome. Potable water is available as well as a portable toilet. Wi-Fi is available at the office and fishing lake. For cooking, you will have a fire pit, with a small grill. With the grill, you will have tongs, a spatula and a grill brush. A fire extinguisher and a shovel. The property was originally homesteaded in 1893. It was also the first potato farm in NM. It has seven ground-fed springs that run year-round. They converge after filling 4 of our ponds in the marshland where the potatoes were grown. A family of 4 lived in the first dwelling built here, not much larger than a shed. Since that time 2 homes, 1 of which still stands, a barn, a smokehouse, and 4 outbuildings were constructed. There are old wagons and farm equipment from the late 1800s and early 1900's still strewn about the ranch. We are home to Huge herds of Elk, mule deer, turkeys, prairie dogs, eagles, black bears, 9 horses, chickens, pigs, goats, our 3 dogs and 3 cats, and the occasional Mountain Lion. We live here year-round. We love our land and want to share it with others. I am a Veteran and our intent is to eventually have a Veterans Retreat facility here. Not a retreat itself, but rather a location for all of the retreats, nationwide, to be able to utilize, so they can use the funds they have to do what they do best. You are helping to make that possible. We do pride ourselves on minimally impacting our land. We strive to keep it clean and as close to nature as we can. We encourage you to leave it better than you found it, as it is only making it that much better. We encourage you to get out and explore. Trailblaze. Be a pioneer. Go wherever you feel lead. And as always, Veterans, LEOs, and Fire Fighters are always free for one night up to 4 guests.
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$67.50
 / night
96%
(237)

Camp Rio

59 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents9 acres · Mayhill, NM
Camp Rio, formerly named Camp @ Cloudcroft is located in beautiful SE New Mexico! The park is surrounded by thousands of acres of the Lincoln National Forest. The forest is laced with small villages, picturesque roads, riding, hiking, golf, and walking trails. Small valleys, surrounding mountains, racing streams, wildlife, birds, mountain glens and outdoor activities are available to Camp Rio guests. The small towns around us are Mayhill, Cloudcroft, Weed, and Pinion. These towns have scheduled activities such as arts and craft fairs, car shows, bluegrass festivals, dog shows, and Lumberjack days. Additional day trips to Alamogordo, Capitan (Smokey the Bear), Carlsbad, Las Cruces, Lincoln (Billy the Kid), Ruidoso (skiing), Sunspot (National Solar Observatory, Truth or Consequences (Hot Springs) and White Sands National Monument! Guests enjoy our upgraded free wifi to have the best of both worlds, surrounded by beautiful nature, while still being able to connect with family/friends/work. Our location is superb to use as a base camp for numerous attractions as a centralized location to have many adventures.
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$35
 / night
100%
(40)

NO. 10 RANCH

5 sites · Lodging40 acres · Estancia, NM
This cabin sits on a ranch that's been in this breathtaking valley for generations. There are six other amazing cabins spread throughout the 40 acres. We are only 14 miles from Manzano Mountains and about 31 miles from Salinas Pueblo Missions National Park. This particular cabin was once a pig barn and this ranch was once a fully operational ranch that served its owners and community so well. Wide open fields with grass that sways in the gentle breeze, pinon a cedar trees that provide cover to the deer that graze and bed down across the property and some of the most stunning views come together to create an experience that will stick with you an entire lifetime. 4WD is recommended to reach the cabin safely. We purchased this ranch in the winter of 2021 and are just so grateful for the chance to love and care for it...and share it with YOU! Provided there are not fire bans, enjoy snugging up to a warm campfire.
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$37
 / night
99%
(54)

Edge of the Rez

2 sites · RVs, Tents4 acres · Mescalero, NM
Learn more about this land:Its dark, try to setup your camp before the sunsets. No light pollution unless there is a full moon. We are a primitive site with safe well water drawn from a sandstone bed. Walking distance to National Forest and 8 miles from Cloudcroft.  Free-roaming horses, elk, mule deer, whitetail, turkey, and all critters in between. Awesome sunsets and perfect for stargazing.  
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$21.60
 / night
95%
(236)

Healing on the Rio Grande !

19 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents1 acre · Albuquerque, NM
Come to New Mexico ! The Land of Enchantment. Sing Chants to the Moon, The Sun, The Rain, The Stars , The Beautiful Land and the Ancestors ! HAPPY 2024, The Year of the Dragon. We won , an award with Hipcamp, Best of 2023 !!!! - out of a list of many great places in NM . 2024 will be yet another great year ! We love hosting, this will be out 7th year . We are so happy to Host . Come enjoy organic . Urban Permaculture . Awesome, thanks for loving on our peaceful garden. It is an honor to serve the traveler, the camper, sweet tourist , wild vacationer , folks visiting friends and family , the many folks who explore and folks on grand adventures. We love to camp as well. BE OUTSIDE ! Heal from Nature . We have a lot to offer. Our place is good for folks who work on the road, Great WIFI ! Easy to manage a job while on the road . Eat flowers and herbs. There is a great herb store , herbal clinic and more . Just down the road, called, RED ROOT , next to the Food Co-op on Rio Grande Blvd. Our Space is in the heart of the Griegos Neighborhood , A very old style , old world area. Safe area. Same Hispanic families have lived here since 1712, no joke, that is real. Rural feel for an urban / suburban setting , space space, off street parking. We are NOT an RV park nor are we a " camp ground " . We Are an Organic Garden ( Urban Permaculture ) that you can stay inside a magical, growing goodness space . This place is very, very private . The parking area is not private . Our road is dead end , very low traffic . The garden wall around the whole tent area has a 6 foot tall , very thick wall , and trees , surrounding every thing. There is a forest and pond for ducks behind the garden . Our place is for Wildlife, to be fed, and given water and safe space to raise young. We are located in an area where the birds of the world fly from the north to the south and then change direction each season. Many lizards . Many wild mammals . There are many farms in the area. With Horses , goats , chickens , ducks , mules, donkeys , other livestock . We have no pets and no livestock. At night this is dark ( we do have solar lights on walk ways ) and it is peaceful. A safe zone for travelers . Serene , gentle and lovely . You get your privacy . New Mexico is so amazing, all year . We have inside space in Fall / Winter . Welcome to Mother Bosque Garden . Started in Corrales NM in 2010 . We are in the North valley of Albuquerque New Mexico 87107. The same families have lived here for 100, 200, 300 plus years . 1000s of years . Native people have lived in this valley for close to 20,000 years more . The Rio Grande is very close by ( 2 miles west of us ) bike or by car . We are close to route 40 and route 25, just 7 mins. away . There is a Food Co-op with in a 5 mins. drive . And a regular store and gas within one mile of our place. Come eat Traditional New Mexican Foods and Heal with Very Living Traditional New Mexican Herbal Medicines . Relax, rest, find repose. Happy travels, happy hiking, happy sleeping under the stars, happy home made food, happy resting. Old Town is close by, so is the Rio Grande River and Nature Center ( 2 miles up the street ) . So many things in our area to see, to do, learn history . Awesome food, music and arts/ crafts, everywhere. So much activity all over. SO MANY CULTURES and Languages , so much diversity !
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$45
 / night
97%
(187)

Raven's Nest On Route 66

2 sites · RVs4 acres · Church Rock, NM
A beautiful location located within Cibola National Forest boundaries (Mt. Taylor Ranger District West). Direct access to Six Mile Canyon and Mc Gaffey Lake via improved forest road. We are seasoned camping travelers and enjoy meeting other travelers on their journeys.Learn more about this land:18 miles East of Gallup, NM. Exit 39 on I-40, Jamestown, NM.GPS coordinates: N 35.46445  W 108.44220Beautiful red rock views on the Continental Divide. An amazing vibe delivered by The Land Of Enchantment. Peaceful, yet still connected to the pulse of the old Route 66. This campsite is in a second RV driveway next to our home.
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$22
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97%
(151)

Mesa top camping

1 site · RV, Tent20 acres · Madrid, NM
Set above the historic town of Madrid N.M. is Waldo Mesa. The location of past mining operations and stunning Vista's.
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$35
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100%
(6)

Mountain View Camping

3 sites · Lodging30 acres · Estancia, NM
Welcome to our 30 acre Ranch where we train horses including wild mustangs. You can schedule a visit with the horses as well as our resident goats and pot belly pig. One of our unique features is that you can bring your horse and keep in our barn while you camp at our campsite in the wilderness. We provide a tie out area for your horse and you can ride at leisure. The camp site has cushy chairs, a fire, propane grill, outdoor shower and bathroom amenities.
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$39
 / night
89%
(35)

Timberon NM Golf & RV Camping Site

2 sites · RVs, Tents2 acres · Timberon, NM
Timberon New Mexico is considered a small peaceful retirement community. The town is located within the Sacramento Mountains on the southern edge of the Lincoln National Forest. The town has a 9-hole golf course, lodge, pool, church, airstrip and a volunteer fire department. Guests in the area can enjoy many activities such as camping, fishing, swimming, golfing, hiking, biking, ATV/UTV, winter activities, local restaurant and two well equipped stores for groceries and other camping and RVing accessories. Check out Timberon.org for town details.
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$37
 / night
100%
(1)

Little Valley Camp

3 sites · Lodging, Tents2 acres · Chamisal, NM
*Prefer to text because of limited cell service*Semi-remote lush valley surrounded by national forest 8000 ft in the ponderosas.We came here in 1989 with intentions to live off the grid and among nature. Raised our kids here in a school bus and cabin. I put up the teepee in the summers and move the kitchen outside. We hold the land with high respect, plant trees, and enjoy the peace of the forest. Some people have stayed here for a night, others for many months. *Hosting through Hip Camp for the first time in the summer of 2021.* Looking forward to welcoming new visitors and working together to create a great experience for everyone. 
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$27
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99%
(305)

Sunny Mellow Eco Villa

4 sites · Lodging8 acres · Tijeras, NM
Sunny Mellow Eco Villa is the land with a great history. The QUIET, secret Shangra-La Valley just over the ridge from Route 66 (and I-40) was the camping place for Billy the Kid and his gang! They could quickly saddle up when the posted lookout on the ridge above signaled the passing of the stagecoach! Even more stunning, it was the Tijeras Indian Pueblo Tribe's place of roaming and rest. The land now sports an Organic Vineyard, Orchard and Vegetable Garden that guests my forage from when in bloom. A Large, Clean, Secluded Redwood Yoga Deck, Ping-Pong, Horseshoes, and a Giant Swing Set, along with patios and lounges that are found over the 8 acre land, and all joined by a network of Scenic Pathways and Bridges that connect The Vineyard, The Orchard, The Garden, The Solar Array, The Swing, The Yoga Deck, Ping Pong Terrace, Horse shoe Pit... Perfect Place and Feel The Akashic Records of Where Billy the Kid and his gang camped and the Tijeras Indians Lived! 8 Minutes to Albuquerque. 7 minutes to Cedar Crest, 20 minutes to The Infinite View off the Sandia Crest, 10 minutes to Edgewood. 50 minutes to Santa Fe. Located in THE CENTER of The ZIA of NEW MEXICO! Views of meadows, mountains and the Enchanting New Mexico sky from the Every stopping point on the Eco Villa Trail System. Ride a bike, take a sauna, Read a book... Take a nap. Enjoy the Unique Feel and Romance of the Yoga Yurt, The Awesome Modern Outdoor Kitchen, The delicious KING Bed. Watch 4K TV with 900 download and 35 upload! Enjoy Dining at your Private HipCamp Site! Hike into the Cedro National forest a short walk to the end of the road. If you feel sociable, join in a campfire with the guests at The Chi-Treehouse or Invite guests to the Fire-pit at your own Yoga Yurta! Sit in the Secluded "Starchamber" by day for a sun tan, or by night for moon glow and infinite star gazing. Drive to Sandia Peak, Hike, Ski, Mountain Bike (Even out your back door if you do not want to drive). Albuquerque and The East Mountains has more trails in proximity to a metropolis than an city in the country. Pick sandy, rocky, or meadow, or a forest ascent. Grove at top notch restaurants in ABQ and some local ones just down the street.
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$85.55
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93%
(166)

Taos Goji Farm & Eco Lodge

13 sites · Lodging, Tents40 acres · San Cristobal, NM
Taos Goji Ecolodge, is an historic property with ten renovated cabins and a 4-acre goji berry farm located on 40 acres of pristine land in San Cristobal, New Mexico. The cabins were built at the beginning of last century, originally for sheep herders. Both Alduous Huxley and D.H. Lawrence lived and wrote in this cabins, and later Elizabeth Kubler Ross and Ram Dass stayed here.
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$50
 / night

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Star Hosts in New Mexico

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Forest camping in New Mexico with horseback riding guide

Overview

In the southwestern US, New Mexico offers a distinct vibe not found elsewhere in the country, or even in the region. Here you’ll find Old West mining towns, restorative hot springs, and all sorts of historic sites, including ancient pueblos and protected national monuments, not to mention a distinct cuisine that borrows elements from Tex-Mex and Indigenous culinary traditions. You won’t be disappointed with the camping—the state offers a variety of terrains, from quiet forests to vast expanses of desert, and with five national forests, 30 state parks, and lots of untouched private land, there's no shortage of spots to set up a tent.

Where to go

Central and North Central New Mexico

New Mexico's Central and North-Central regions are home to many of the state's most popular cultural attractions, and both Albuquerque and Santa Fe are here. Area highlights include Bandelier National Monument and Petroglyph National Monument, as well as numerous pueblos. The most famous of these—the Taos Pueblo—is a UNESCO World Heritage site that has been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years.

Northwest New Mexico

Cultural attractions abound in Northwestern New Mexico. Highlights include the Zuni Pueblo and the Acoma Pueblo—both the Jicarilla Apache Nation and the Navajo Nation call this region home. Other points of interest include the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Aztec Ruins National Monument, and El Mapais National Monument.

Northeast New Mexico

Situated where the Rocky Mountains give way to the Southwestern plains, this area is characterized by prairies, ranches, and Western charm. Popular historic and natural attractions include the Fort Union National Monument and the Capulin Volcano National Monument. Conchas Lake State Park and Ute Lake State Park offer ample opportunities for fishing, boating, and lakeside camping.

Southwest New Mexico

For a Wild West experience, head to the southwestern corner of the state. Here you'll find plenty of old ghost towns, historic mission communities, and pristine natural areas. The area is also rich with hot springs, particularly in the low-key spa town of Truth or Consequences.

Southeast New Mexico

Culture, history, and the great outdoors converge in southeastern New Mexico, home to both of the state's national parks (White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns) as well as a host of museums, from the New Mexico Museum of Space History to the Billy the Kid Museum in Fort Sumner. Fans of the paranormal won't want to miss Roswell, the site of the famous Area 51 UFO sightings and a de facto pilgrimage site for all things alien.

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