Springtime Campground

I camped here on Friday June 20th. There are 6 sites total, only two were occupied when I arrived on a Friday afternoon. One of them seems like it's been flooded or something similar, as the picnic table is half submerged in rock and dirt. They sites are very small, and would have a hard time accommodating anything larger than a small camper trailer. The road coming in wasn't treacherous by any me... I camped here on Friday June 20th. There are 6 sites total, only two were occupied when I arrived on a Friday afternoon. One of them seems like it's been flooded or something similar, as the picnic table is half submerged in rock and dirt. They sites are very small, and would have a hard time accommodating anything larger than a small camper trailer. The road coming in wasn't treacherous by any means, but if you don't have something with a moderate amount of clearance, you won't make it past the first site. There's no fee for any of the sites, and there's plenty of wood nearby for fires. I was able to get a sliver of cell phone service hiking up the Apache Kid trail about half a mile. There is no access to electricity or water, so make sure you bring whatever you will need with you. Overall I was happy, and I'd camp here again.

Very hard to drive to get here, you need a high clearance vehicle. I got there in my honda cr-v so nothing too crazy but don't drive a prius to here and think that you will make it to the campsite. Extremely quiet, lots of deer and cows occasionally. Nice trail goes to San Mateo peak and this place is free so its really nice. Places to cook food but no bathrooms which is normal for places like thi... Very hard to drive to get here, you need a high clearance vehicle. I got there in my honda cr-v so nothing too crazy but don't drive a prius to here and think that you will make it to the campsite. Extremely quiet, lots of deer and cows occasionally. Nice trail goes to San Mateo peak and this place is free so its really nice. Places to cook food but no bathrooms which is normal for places like this.

We stayed here overnight to get an early head start on San Mateo Peak first thing in the morning. They have fire pits for each site, picnic table, and even a hut to retreat under with level gravel layed ground. They have out house style latrines which are well kept. I was also thoroughly impressed with the poop stalagmite that has been formed at the bottom of the one I used. Well done campers. The... We stayed here overnight to get an early head start on San Mateo Peak first thing in the morning. They have fire pits for each site, picnic table, and even a hut to retreat under with level gravel layed ground. They have out house style latrines which are well kept. I was also thoroughly impressed with the poop stalagmite that has been formed at the bottom of the one I used. Well done campers. The Apache Kid Wilderness Trail is very easily access here and the drive to the camp is also visually stimulating. Def recommend! Keep it clean, pack food away as wildlife is certainly a thing out here, and stay wild!

A lovely little campground with good access to the southern end of Apache Kid trail. Definitely the best access to the Apache Kid Wilderness. Probably the only access that anything short of a decent Subaru or similar can even make it through. Still, take it easy on this road, especially if you don't have a vehicle more suited to a road this rough. Given my experience with this wilderness, I expect... A lovely little campground with good access to the southern end of Apache Kid trail. Definitely the best access to the Apache Kid Wilderness. Probably the only access that anything short of a decent Subaru or similar can even make it through. Still, take it easy on this road, especially if you don't have a vehicle more suited to a road this rough. Given my experience with this wilderness, I expected it to be in poor condition, but they have actually maintained this campground quite nicely. It's in a lovely little wooded canyon of mixed ponderosa and old gamble oak. Some alligator junipers around as well. And while there are burn scars around it, the campground itself was spared. The corrale is in good shape, but the water spout for stock appears dry, as does the adjacent wildlife watering station. A quick note: if coming from Albuquerque, Google maps will try to shortcut you though a private ranch with a closed gate. I don't doubt it would technically be shorter. But that isn't a public road. You need to stay on NM 1 until you hit FR 225.