Wilderness camping, US history, and mountain adventures await along the Pecos River.
Pueblo and Plains Indians, Spanish missionaries, and Confederate and Union soldiers have all passed through Pecos, a small New Mexican town just a half-hour drive southeast of Sante Fe. The town’s rich history is on display at the Pecos National Historical Park, just south of town along Highway 63, but it’s the region’s many natural wonders that will make you stick around. The vast Santa Fe National Forest stretches to the north, where you can kayak along the Pecos River, hike through the backcountry in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and enjoy wildlife-watching in the Pecos Wilderness. Campers have plenty of options within the national forest, and the Pecos - Las Vegas Ranger District has ten campgrounds, ranging from primitive tent camping with vault toilets to RV camping with picnic tables, fire rings, and grills. For additional facilities, such as full hookups and a dump station, check into a nearby RV park instead.