Camping near Cloudcroft

A high-altitude hiking destination with Old Western charm.

95% (510 reviews)
95% (510 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Cloudcroft

Available this weekend

Dog-friendly getaways

12 top campgrounds near Cloudcroft

96%
(247)

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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from 
$35
 / night
88%
(25)

White Sands Culinary Camp

6 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Alamogordo, NM
Just three short miles from Oliver Lee State Park, our primitive camp doesn't yet have all of the amenities of the state park, but we offer amenities the park doesn't! Your Camp Host, Chef Üdø, is onsite most days and evenings, and has 30 years' experience in the catering and private chef biz, and as a camp host. He's happy to coordinate hot meals for you and your companions! No more need to go into town to get a pizza or some icky fast food! We will make you a homemade pizza, dry-aged steak, brined chicken, buffalo burger, or lasagna...all in-house. Vegan, vegetarian, kosher, low-sodium, and most other dietary restrictions are no problem! We'll bake you a birthday cake, brownies, pie, or even Crème brûlée! Contact Chef Üdø for more details and please check out our menu in the “Extras” section of our campsite listing. We can make just about anything in our sanitary kitchen facilities. We cook with a spirit of Love and inclusion in our kitchen, and it shows! ❤️ Chef Üdø maintains current local food handler's certification, as well as HAACP federal certification. Prices are friendly and competitive with local restaurants. Vacuum-sealed frozen meals, aka “sous vide” available for most recipes. (Please check “extras” section for more detail) We offer a 15amp electrical connection, access to clean running water, and access to our 4 acre back pasture. And if you prefer a more luxurious camping experience, we offer a BnB experience in our amazing rooftop tent!! This package includes exclusive use of the entire campsite, as well as a catered meal for two! We feature unparalleled views of the sunrise over the mountains, as well as convenient access to the park and Lincoln National Forest, White Sands National Monument, BLM off-road parklands, and nearby Alamogordo. Firewood available onsite for friendly prices (provided there isn't a current burn ban). **Be among the first to experience the most luxurious tent camping in our SmittyBilt Overlander Gen. 2 XL rooftop tent! Crisp, freshly sanitized linens, soft fleece or cotton blankets available. (Please note rental is *only* for the rooftop tent. Jeep rental is not available). For warmer months, we provide Air Conditioning for the rooftop tent at no extra cost! Additional onsite and backcountry packages are available, including fully-catered backcountry excursions in the Lincoln National Forest, wildlife spotting tours, photo tours, and even backcountry drive-in movies are available! Campfire setup, breakfast and omelette bar also available. ***Please note we do not yet have a handwashing sink but provide a spigot or water hose.
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from 
$35
 / night
95%
(29)

El Mistico

7 sites · Lodging30 acres · Nogal, NM
Unplug from the city to soak up in nature and experience El Mistico Ranch. El Mistico Ranch consist of 30 acres of natural high desert land with natural spring waters, nearby Lincoln National Forest as our next door neighbor, you are actually just a short drive to Capitan for basic services and shopping; Ruidoso for arts, golf, dining, skiing, and more. The climate is mild here and the property is vegetated with pinon pine, juniper, and a variety of cacti. We're delighted to introduce you to Chester, our friendly Saint Bernard. At just a year old, Chester is a gentle giant with a heart of gold, spreading joy to all who visit. Chester not only brings warmth and joy to our guests but also plays an important role in taking care of the property. He roams around the ranch, ensuring that everything is in order and providing a sense of security to our guests. Sometimes, he even accompanies guests to their units to ensure they arrive safely.
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$148.50
 / night
100%
(16)

Cienega Arroyo Ranch

2 sites · RVs, Tents740 acres · Ruidoso Downs, NM
On a working ranch, this campsite is located up a secluded arroyo off of the Hondo Valley and Rio Ruidoso in San Patricio, NM. This ranch is nearly 1400 acres total that is available for exploring and wildlife watching. During wildlife watching, it is possible that you could see roadrunners, squirrels, coyotes, rabbits, hawks, deer, elk, lizards, foxes, and many different types of song birds. A road south of the campsite is available for hiking down.Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs are just over a 20 minute drive from this campsite. Historic Lincoln and Fort Stanton are a quick drive from this area as well. The Hurd Gallery can be visited by driving down the highway a couple miles. A fishing spot open to the public on the Rio Ruidoso is available for fishing just a few miles down the highway as well. It has been reported that this arroyo contained a cienega many years ago which was a marshy area fed by a spring, before groundwater wells ran it dry. Most cienegas are now extinct in the southwest. Sheep and Firewood were the main commodities produced off of this ranch before cattle became dominant. NM State Land is 640 of these acres which requires an annual permit for recreational use. 
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from 
$17.60
 / night

Star Hosts in Cloudcroft

Under $50

Value Prop
Value Prop
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Camping near Cloudcroft guide

Overview

Cloudcroft is a little Old Western town tucked away high in the Sacramento Mountains at nearly 8,700 feet above sea level—it’s actually the highest town in New Mexico. Cloudcroft is a popular summer retreat for Las Cruces and El Paso locals looking to escape the summer heat and enjoy a little greenery. Cloudcroft’s compact downtown is lined with cafes, bakeries, and local art shops, plus you’ll find numerous hiking, mountain biking, and camping opportunities just outside of town. Cloudcroft makes a wonderful basecamp for exploring Lincoln National Forest.    

Where to go

Trestle Recreation Area

On the west end of Cloudcroft, the Trestle Recreation Area offers hiking trails and a cozy picnic area. The highlight is hiking the Mexican Trestle Overlook trail, which takes you right to the base of the Mexican Canyon Trestle, a 323-foot wooden curved railroad trestle constructed in 1899 for the Alamogordo and Sacramento Mountain Railway. You can also view the trestle from Highway 82 just north of town. 

Lincoln National Forest

Lincoln National Forest covers a huge variety of terrain in southcentral New Mexico, including much of the wildlands outside of Cloudcroft. The forest features two wilderness areas, dozens of hiking trails, and several designated campgrounds. Lincoln National Forest was home to real-life Smokey the Bear, a bear cub orphaned by a wildfire in 1950 that spurred an entire forest fire prevention marketing campaign.  

White Sands National Park

Cloudcroft is only 40 miles from White Sands National Park. It’s one of America’s newest national parks and it’s also one of the most unique. White Sands is home to the largest gypsum sand dunes in the world and visitors can climb the dazzling white dunes and sled down them on plastic saucers available for purchase at the visitor center. No overnight camping is available in the park although backcountry camping is allowed with a permit. 

When to go

Cloudcroft’s high elevation makes it a great place to escape the heat of the neighboring lower-lying desert areas. The best time for camping and hiking near Cloudcroft is from April through October. Many camping areas in the Sacramento Mountains are only open from May through September. There’s also a small downhill ski area in Cloudcroft making it a fun place to visit in winter. 

Know before you go

  1. Cloudcroft has restaurants, cafes, a gas station, an outdoor shop, and a small grocery store. 
  2. Reservations are only available for some group campgrounds in Lincoln National Forest. All other campgrounds are first-come, first-served only. 
  3. Campgrounds in Lincoln National Forest have little or no drinking water, so come prepared with lots of water. 
  4. The Osha Trail begins and ends just outside of Cloudcroft and provides fantastic views of the area in just a short distance. 

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