New Mexico has a colorful desert landscape, tall forested mountains and numerous historic and archaeological sites that just beg to be explored. The Santa Fe Trail, outlaw hideouts, ancient pueblos, mud and straw Hispanic churches and Civil War battlefields all combine to give the Land of Enchantment a fascinating and diverse history. Campers can pitch a tent or park a trailer near scores of such places, where they can obtain a healthy dose of the dry mountain air while exploring the "Old West."
Bandelier Campgrounds
Bandelier is an Anasazi archaeological site in the Jemez Mountains of central New Mexico. The main attraction here are the numerous cave dwellings that were inhabited as recently as a thousand years ago. Most of the dwellings were carved out of a soft igneous rock, called tuff. Anyone who wishes to camp in the park can do so by registering for a site at the Juniper Campground or obtaining a backcountry permit for the network of trails that are located within the boundaries of the national monument. Camping in the archaeological ruins is forbidden.
Twining Campground
High in the hills above Taos lies the Taos Ski Valley. Summer and fall visitors might want to camp at the Twining campground, which is located at the Bull-of-the-Woods trail head. This is a great jumping off point for hikes to Wheeler Peak or Williams Lake. Williams Lake is a spectacular body of water surrounded by a towering glacial cirque. The area makes for a great fall hike, when the aspens turn. The forest service allows camping in the area, as long as you are more than 100 yards from the lake.
Canadian River Canyon in the Kiowa National Grassland
The Canadian River is a branch of the Arkansas River that flows through eastern New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. Much of the canyon is private ranch land, but a small section falls under the jurisdiction of the Cibola National Forest and Kiowa National Grassland. Experience a genuine part of the Old West that was home to the Comanches and Kiowas as well as pioneers that came west on the Santa Fe Trail. Access to the canyon is best made by four-wheel drive or hiking from the canyon rim near the town of Mills. Remnants from the pioneers can sometimes be found in the valley.
Camp at the Ghost Ranch
The ranch, where the transplanted New York painter Georgia O'Keefe once lived, is now owned by the Presbyterian Church. The main activity at the scenic ranch are the retreats, but tent campers, pop-up trailers and a few RV rigs can stay at the church's campsite in Abiqui Valley. Hiking trails through the rock cliffs are the prime attraction here, but other activities include visiting Abiquiu Lake or climbing Pedernal Mountain. The Chama River is not too far away where campers can sign up for a white-water raft trip down the river.
Carlsbad Backcountry Camping
Located in southern Mew Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns National Park is known for its vast network of caves, including several that are illuminated and accessible by elevators and carefully maintained walking paths. There are also many wild caves in the park, but these can only be visited after first receiving written permission from the park superintendent. Camping and hiking in the Chihuahuan desert that covers the area is an ideal activity for bona fide desert rats. Just make sure you pick up a free backcountry permit before you head out into the bush.
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