The best camping near Carson National Forest

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Carson National Forest adventure.

92% (38 reviews)
92% (38 reviews)

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Top-rated campgrounds near Carson National Forest

98%
(152)

HarmonyTaos Regenerative Farm

5 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents4 acres · Taos, NM
Fall is winding down. Temperatures are still mild with nights getting into the forties now. Days are perfect around 75-80 mid day. The campfire has been going during some evenings. I have the calendar turned on for all sites . The glamping site will be down after November 1, if you missed it this year, you can book it starting in April of 2025. The other sites will be available all winter for sprinters and the like for you hearty folks. If I am home mid winter, I may take pity on you and invite you in for a bowl of hearty soup and sit by the fireplace. The glamping site is open til October 31. (Then back open again April 1.) Come stay in the bell tent with or without linens. (extra fee for linens). Harmony Taos is a regenerative farm located on approximately 4 acres, just minutes from the town of Taos. We specialize in Permaculture and teaching. Come enjoy the butterflies, raptors, magpies and hummingbirds fluttering throughout the orchards, ponderosas, vegetable gardens, and flowers on our organic community farm. Join us for camping, weekly yoga classes, monthly soup nights, ceremonies, and cultural events throughout the warmer months. Latest Offerings: I hav decided to open up my intuitive practice to visitors. DM Anastasia if you would like an intuitive reading and clearing. 90 minutes long. We will focus on getting to the underlying beliefs that are holding you back, then clearing them together. RENT THE ENTIRE PROPERTY: DM the host for availability and rates. Pitch your tent at one of our 2 drive-in mountain view campsites, located on the lush grounds of our regenerative agriculture farm and gardens. Or book the overflow site for larger vehicles. Rest and rejuvenate in this quiet haven, nestled below the canyon yet just minutes from town. Sites Uno and Dos has access to a beautifully equipped bathhouse, picnic tables, and an outdoor cold water washing area . (during winter months, the picnic tables and outdoor sink are not available) Overflow Tres has access to the stunning bathhouse as well. Overflow Tres is more primitive with a dirt base and can accommodate larger vehicles. Campsite UNO: Uno fits a small trailer and/ or a RV. If you are pulling 20 plus feet or a large RV, book the overflow site Tres to be safe.. You will need to be proficient at backing it into Campsite Uno. This site can accommodate two vehicles. Campsite DOS: It is large enough for a sprinter or smaller camper van. You can pull right in. You will need to back out to depart. It now accommodates two vehicles (two cars, a sprinter and a car, a car with teardrop and another car.) Overflow TRES: can accommodate almost any fifth wheel and you can turn around. It is a dirt area and primitive. The walk to the bathhouse is about 200 feet.. If you are traveling with another RV or trailer, you can both fit in. FYI: last .25 mi is level but potholed dirt road. Do not plan to pitch tents at overflow as it is dirt only. Glampiing Site : Deluxe bamboo encased memory foam king bed (breaks down to two twin beds). Stellar views of the mountains . BYO bedding or DM host for full sheets and towels set up. It will be taken down starting Nov. 1 2024 until April 2025. There is power in the bathhouse for charging phones. but there are no dedicated electrical hook ups for RVs. However, you can text the owner if you want to use a converter and access a nearby ( For Sites Uno and Dos) outlet with your extension cord for additional fee of $20.00 per day. IF you have more than a small sack of garbage, TAKE IT WITH YOU. We are a small farm and cannot accommodate everyones accumulated garbage from their travels. EVENTS: Harmony Taos Farm is open in 2025 for day long or weekend events. Weddings, family gatherings, teachers. Yoga. There are a number of options including large 12 person tent with heater. The indoor Living room of the main building holds 25-30 for gatherings. There are numerous areas around the farm that lend themselves to ceremony, gathering, etc. Harmony Farm is an excellent wedding venue. There are 4 types of accommodations (hotels, lodges, Inns, rental homes) within 1 mile of the property should you wish to use the site for your wedding and invite guests who require a hotel etc. And of course there are plenty of tent sites available at Harmony. If you rent the entire property, more tent sites can be accommodated than listed here. Harmony host Anastasia can also arrange for catering, flowers, music, party rentals, etc. DM the host with any requests and day use rates. Things to know: This is the hosts homesite and farm. You will be camping near the host's actual home.
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$48
 / night
99%
(794)

Star Dance High Desert Retreat

9 sites · Tents50 acres · Youngsville, NM
Visit the startling beauty of the plateaus above Lake Abiquiu in northern New Mexico. Star Dance provides a secluded experience for travelers, artists, fishermen, birdwatchers, stargazers, and more. Star Dance sits above the upper Rio Chama canyons on 30 acres of trails and undisturbed natural terrain. **ATTENTION POTENTIAL GUESTS** Recently we've had a rash of guests who, either through the difficulties with using the mobile app or just not reading our provided information, have been arriving passed our check in time. We require guests to arrive no later than an hour before sundown (summer 7:30pm - winter 5:00pm) We require this because we are very rural and our sites are not lit to keep our property natural and prevent light pollution for ourselves and our neighbors. In the past we've issued refunds for people who have neglected this rule. We will no longer be doing so in the future.
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$30
 / night
96%
(193)

River Sanctuary by Ojo Hot Springs

4 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents3 acres · La Madera, NM
Learn more about this land: Lush high desert river oasis nestled in a fertile valley in the Carson National Forest right between the fiery expanse of Taos and the rolling colorful formations of Abiquiu. Peaceful and private 3 acres right by the river at the edge of a little quaint town called La Madera (145 people, no shops)- just 6 miles to the healing mineral Hot Springs of Ojo Caliente, a place of emergence or rebirth as known to the local Natives. Right by the river, held by a ridge (that makes for amazing sunset hikes), I have a 16ft Yurt Canvas set up with furnishings (desk, couch, wash stand) and a wooden Queen Bed with down bedding. This site can only be reached by foot across the river via stumps- a car can be parked near by.. approx. 50ft.  I also have a Vintage Camper that can be heated, has a kitchen, electricity and plenty of outdoor furniture with a fire pit and serene mountain views. As well as a monastic and very grounding Ensuite Bedroom, or a simple campsite if you want to bring your own camper or tent. All facilities have access to a guest bathroom inside the main house. I offer dog sitting while you soak at Ojo, healing modalities that you'll find in the Extras section, and my dear neighbor Jackie takes appointments for massages with homemade essential oils. +++ 6 miles to Ojo Caliente Hot Springs. There you will find the best restaurant in the area, with locally/organically farmed produce. The land is naturally and beautifully wild- it is not a manicured campsite. The dirt rd down to the property is best suited for higher clearance vehicles, but is manageable for city cars.  With land by the river comes the mosquitos- June to August only. They are predominantly active during sunrise and sunset; long loose fitting clothes and a repellent work great. Waterhole, Waterfall and climbing sites near by, as well as Plaza Blanca, Abiquiu, Ghost Ranch and the Taos Gorge are 30 mins drive away.  *No cell service in the greater area. WiFi reaches around the house/deck and allows for WiFi Calling: that’s a setting in your phone that enables phone calls & texts beside usual internet access.
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$60
 / night
100%
(92)

Abiquiu Tiny House

1 site · Lodging10 acres · Abiquiu , NM
 Situated at 6300 ft. above sea level the Chama River Valley is surrounded by forested mountains. There is white water rafting on the Rio Chama and Rio Grande Rivers nearby during spring and summer. Within an hour there are ski areas at Taos and Santa Fe during the winter. Ojo Caliente Hot Springs is 17 miles away and has a full spa and restaurant. There are beautiful hiking trails throughout the area and Abiquiu Lake is less than 20 minutes away. The location of the Tiny House is in a quiet, private and beautiful setting. Abiquiu Lake is only 15 minutes away for fun swimming, Ghost Ranch is 20 minutes away and has 3 beautiful hikes. Santa Fe and Taos are 60 minutes away. The tiny house is a healthy house built on the golden mean and has no electrical radiation inside except wi-fi. All material used are nontoxic.Notable aspect. There are no pets allowed on the property. 
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$70
 / night
99%
(1308)

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
98%
(30)

Dragonfly Mountain Ranch

7 sites · RVs, Tents300 acres · NM
Enjoy the majestic beauty of the Taos Valley from the verdant fields and cerros of the Dragonfly Mountain Ranch! Whether a seasoned traveler or one's first visit to Taos our goal is to exceed expectations, and we have a variety of campsites to accommodate various needs and tastes. Our motto is, “No Cramped Camping!”, with spacious and private camp sites to ensure that quiet time is just that - quiet. Pure gold for those looking to truly unplug and disconnect from everyday stresses and obligations. While here one can see history come to life by way of our living history ranch and historic home, one of the first homesteads in Des Montes owned by the same family for over 150 years. See firsthand how the unique Acequia system of New Mexico has given life to the surrounding pastoral fields and the agricultural practices of the past still relevant in today’s Taos Valley. For those wanting the best of both worlds, access to in-town activities as well as trail/hiking/river adventures, the Des Montes sites would be the best selection. Close enough to town for groceries/conveniences along with other sought after tourist attractions such as the Taos Pueblo, Taos Plaza and surrounding galleries/shops. In addition, Arroyo Seco and Arroyo Hondo are quaint little villages less than 10 minutes away for for addt'l groceries/market/restaurants options. Please see our friends at Rio Grande Balloons to book your hot air balloon ride while in Taos! https://www.riograndeballoons.com 575-208-1888. We only refer the best - so leave the rest We will provide courtesy rides to their location upon request and Sol will get your group in the air! Taos Pueblo - 15min Taos Business District - 15min Taos Plaza - 15min The Gorge Bridge - 20 min Ojo Caliente Hot Springs - 1hr John Dunn Hot Springs/Day Recreation area - 15min Taos Ski Valley - 30min Rio Grande Del Norte Nat'l Monument - 30min Carson Nat'l Forest - 10 minutes Despite accessibility to endless activities just minutes away there remains a sense of solitude, space and privacy that one would be hard pressed to find elsewhere. The Des Montes campsites provide 20+ acres mix of pasture land, canyon and timber to hike and explore with the pups, family or on solo adventure. Taos Plateau - Two Camp Sites However, if feeling more adventurous and an Overland expedition is calling your name, the Tio Willy's locations on the Taos Plateau (Rio Grande Del Norte Nat'l Monument) would be a perfect choice. Rejuvenate the heart and soul with 300+ spacious acres to roam, hike and explore. Not to mention the breathtaking views of the entire Taos Valley from atop the cerro located on the property. With only TWO campsites at this location there are 360 degree views, solitude and privacy with no comparison. Despite the fact there is plenty of ground to cover within the property boundaries there is no shortage of additional hiking trails on Rio Grande Del Norte Nat'l Monument land which surrounds the property. Cerro Chiflo, Cerro Montoso and the Miner's Trail are within driving/hiking distance. Spend a day down on the banks of Rio Grande and unwind around the campfire and while stars light up the dark skies. Your next adventure awaits...hope to see you soon!
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$25
 / night

The best camping near Carson National Forest guide

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Come get lost in the wild, enchanted lands of New Mexico! One of five unearthly National Forests in this great state, Carson National Forest is open for business all year round, and never fails to bring the heat with magnificent mountain scenery and some seriously stunning natural features. If solitude is your muse than look no further! Cold mountain streams, ample trout fishing, and out of sight camping is sure to give you your fix. With over 1.5 million acres laden with high ridges, dense vegetation and some of the cleanest air you’re likely to find west of the Mississippi, Carson is simply the epitome of Southwestern frontier!

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