U.S. National Forest Campground Guide

Gila National Forest

New Mexico



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CAMPGROUND NAME: Dipping Vat

VISIT DATE: 05/21/1999

UPDATE DATE: 4/20/2009

STATE: New Mexico

REGION: Southwestern

RANGER DISTRICT: Reserve

NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Reserve

RESERVATIONS: No

DIRECTIONS:
In Reserve, NM, take State Rt. 435 south 5.3 miles to where it
becomes Forest Rt. 141.  Continue straight on Rt. 141 and go 34.9
miles to Forest Rt. 28 (Snow Lake sign).  Turn right onto Rt. 28
and go 9.6 miles to "Y" intersection and Forest Rt. 142 (Snow
Lake sign).  Bear left at intersection onto Rt. 142 and go 8.8
miles to campground sign.  Turn right at sign and go 0.3 miles to
campground.

NOTE: Forest Rt. 141 becomes gravel after 19 miles with the road
surface remaining gravel all the way to campground.

GENERAL COMMENTS:
The elevation is 7,300 ft.

The campground, composed of two loops - upper and lower, is
located along a mountainside nestled among Ponderosa pine and
aspen.  The lower loop overlooks Snow Lake.  The campground is
conveniently located to the Gila Wilderness (the nation's first
designated wilderness - 1924) for hikers and horseback riders. 
Both boat and horse trailers can be parked on the large parking
lot at the boat ramp.  The understory is grass and the sites are
well separated.  Live stock are not permitted in the campground.

SEASONS
Open Seasonal: Yes
Open All Year: Yes

Seasonal Comment:
Services provided May 1 through November 14.  Lower loop remains 
open after November 14 but without water; toilets also remain open.

RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED
Rate: $5 per day, per vehicle.  No charge for lower loop between 
November 15 and April 30.
Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14

CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION
No. RV Sites: 0
No. Tent Sites: 0
No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 40
   
   Total Sites: 40

Tent Pads: No
Group Tent Sites: Yes
Open Sites: Yes
Wooded Sites: Yes

No. Tables on Sites: 40
No. Grilles on Sites: 40

RV INFORMATION
Hookups: None
Group RV Sites: No
No. RV Pull Throughs: 14
Waste Station: No
Average Parking Apron Size: 15' X 41'

Comments:
The parking aprons are gravel and dirt.

FACILITIES
Vaults: Yes
Flush Toilets: No
Hot Showers: No
Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes

Public Phone: No
Playground: No
No. Water Spigots: 4
  No. Threaded: 4

Comments:
Wheelchair friendly toilets located in lower loop.

WATER SPORTS
Lake: Yes
Swimming (provided): No
Sailing: No
Boat Ramp: Yes
Boat Carry Down Access: No
Power Boating: Yes
Boating (no power): Yes
Water Skiing: No
Rafting (whitewater): No
Kayaking (whitewater): No

Comments:
Snow Lake is 100 acres.  Only electric motors are permitted.

HIKING
Snow Canyon Trail #142 (foot & horse) - 0.75 miles.
Provides access to Middle Fork Trail #157 in the Gila Wilderness.

FISHING   
Rainbow Trout (stocked)

CAMPGROUND NAME: El Caso VISIT DATE: 05/20/1999 UPDATE DATE: 3/02/07 STATE: New Mexico REGION: Southwestern RANGER DISTRICT: Quemado NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Quemado RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: Just west of Quemado, NM, take State Rt. 32 south 14.2 miles to Quemado Lake/State Rt. 103 sign. At sign turn left onto Rt. 103 and go 4 miles to where Forest Rt. 13 (gravel) begins. Continue straight on Rt. 13 for 1.8 miles to campground sign. Turn right into campground. GENERAL COMMENTS: The elevation is 7,600 ft. The campground, stretching out alongside a stream, is composed of three sections, 1, 2 and 3. All of the sections are shaded by Ponderosa and juniper pines. Section 2, the largest, also has Cottonwoods. Section 3 is the smallest, least shaded and is best for tents and small RVs. The campground is popular for large gatherings. The nearby Snuffy's Steakhouse and Cowboy Saloon, full of local color and character, makes a good place for a "cooks night off." There are also limited groceries and gas available at Snuffys along with information about local events and activities. Birdwatching is a popular activity for campers. Heron are year-round residents. Bald eagles winter in the area along with a variety of other birds. NOTE: Although part of the Apache National Forest, this campground is administered by the Gila National Forest. SEASONS Open Seasonal: No Open All Year: Yes RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: No charge Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14 CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 0 No. Tent Sites: 5 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 17 Total Sites: 22 Tent Pads: No Group Tent Sites: Yes Open Sites: Yes Wooded Sites: Yes No. Tables on Sites: 22 No. Grilles on Sites: 21 RV INFORMATION Hookups: None Group RV Sites: Yes No. RV Pull Throughs: 3 Waste Station: No Average Parking Apron Size: 17' X 48' Comments: The parking aprons are grass and dirt. There is some open field parking. There is a Forest Service waste station with potable water at the entrance to the Pinon campground, about 0.4 miles before the El Caso campground on Forest Rt. 13. FACILITIES Vaults: Yes Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots: 0 Comments: For a $3 fee, showers are available at Snuffy's Steakhouse and Cowboy Saloon, a mile or two west of campground on State Rt. 103. WATER SPORTS Comments: The 130-acre Quemado Lake is nearby. A boat ramp is available; electric motors only. HIKING Largo #14 (foot, horse & mountain bike - interpretive) - 3miles The trail also provides access to a network of trails (foot only). FISHING - No Comments: There are Rainbow trout and Tiger Muskie (catch & release) available at the nearby Quemado Lake.

CAMPGROUND NAME: Juniper VISIT DATE: 05/20/1999 UPDATE DATE:3/02/07 STATE: New Mexico REGION: Southwestern RANGER DISTRICT: Quemado NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Quemado RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: Just west of Quemado, NM, take State Rt. 32 south 14.2 miles to Quemado Lake/State Rt. 103 sign. At sign turn left onto Rt. 103 and go 4 miles to where Forest Rt. 13 (gravel) begins. Continue straight on Rt. 13 for 0.8 miles to campground sign. Turn right into campground. GENERAL COMMENTS: The elevation is 8,000 ft. The campground, composed of two loops - RV Loop (tents not permitted) and Camping Loop, stretches along a bluff above Quemado Lake among Ponderosa and Pinon pine. Some sites overlook the lake. The RV Loop is composed of six clusters with three camping sites in each cluster. Each of the sites has electric and water hookups. While there is privacy between clusters, there is no privacy between sites located in each cluster. The Camping Loop (sites 19 through 36) is composed of single and double sites providing far more privacy between sites than the RV Loop. There are no hookups in the Camping Loop. Birdwatching is a popular activity for campers. Heron are year-round residents. Bald eagles winter in the area along with a variety of other birds. The nearby Snuffy's Steakhouse and Cowboy Saloon, full of local color and character, makes a good place for a "cooks night off." There are also limited groceries available at Snuffys along with information about local events and activities. NOTE: Although part of the Apache National Forest, this campground is administered by the Gila National Forest. SEASONS Open Seasonal: Yes Open All Year: No Seasonal Comment: Open May 1 through September 30. RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: $10 per day - single (without hookups) $15 per day - single (with electric & water hookups - RV Loop only) $16 per day - double (without hookups) - America the Beautiful Pass, formerly known as Golden Age, discounts are not valid. CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 18 No. Tent Sites: 0 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 18 Total Sites: 36 Tent Pads: No Group Tent Sites: Yes Open Sites: Yes Wooded Sites: Yes No. Tables on Sites: 36 No. Grilles on Sites: 36 RV INFORMATION No. Full Hookups (includes waste): 0 No. Water and Electric Only: 18 No. Water Only: 0 No. Electric Only: 0 Group RV Sites: No No. RV Pull Throughs: 0 Waste Station: No Average Parking Apron Size: 14' X 44' Comments: The parking aprons are gravel and dirt. There is a waste station (with potable water) at the entrance to the Pinon campground, about 0.5 miles above the Juniper campground on Forest Rt. 13. FACILITIES Vaults: Yes Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots: 8 No. Threaded: 0 Comments: For a $3 fee, showers are available at Snuffy's Steakhouse and Cowboy Saloon, a mile or two west of campground on State Rt. 103. WATER SPORTS Lake: Yes Swimming (provided): No Sailing: No Boat Ramp: Yes Boat Carry Down Access: No Power Boating: Yes Boating (no power): Yes Water Skiing: No Rafting (whitewater): No Kayaking (whitewater): No Comments: Quemado Lake is 130 acres. Only electric motors are permitted. HIKING Juniper Access (foot) #3.1 - 0.5 miles Cove Access (foot) #3.2 - 0.5 miles FISHING Rainbow trout and Tiger Muskie (catch & release)

CAMPGROUND NAME: Mesa VISIT DATE: 05/17/1999 UPDATE DATE: 3/06/2007 STATE: New Mexico REGION: Southwestern RANGER DISTRICT: Wilderness NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Mimbres RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: From Mimbres, NM, take State Rt. 35 north 18.5 miles to campground sign. Turn left at sign and go 0.3 miles to campground. GENERAL COMMENTS: The elevation is 6,100 ft. The campground is located on a hilltop above Roberts Lake among Ponderosa and juniper trees. Some sites overlook the lake. There is minimal understory and the sites are widely spaced. The pull-throughs will accommodate large RVs. There is a boat ramp 0.3 miles from the campground entrance. SEASONS Open Seasonal: No Open All Year: Yes RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: $7 per day Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14 NOTE: Fee may go up to $10 April 2007; check with Ranger District office. CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 0 No. Tent Sites: 0 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 24 Total Sites: 24 Tent Pads: No Group Tent Sites: Yes Open Sites: Yes Wooded Sites: No No. Tables on Sites: 24 No. Grilles on Sites: 24 RV INFORMATION No. Full Hookups (includes waste): 0 No. Water and Electric Only: 12 No. Water Only: 0 No. Electric Only: 0 Group RV Sites: Yes No. RV Pull Throughs: 11 Waste Station: No Average Parking Apron Size: 13' X 46' Comments: The parking aprons are paved. FACILITIES Vaults: No Flush Toilets: Yes Hot Showers: No Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots: 2 No. Threaded: 0 WATER SPORTS The nearby Roberts Lake is 72 acres. HIKING Connector trail to Purgatory Chasm (foot) - 0.25 miles Purgatory Chasm (loop - foot) - 1 mile FISHING Brown and Rainbow Trout and Catfish are available at the nearby Roberts Lake.

CAMPGROUND NAME: Pinon VISIT DATE: 05/20/1999 UPDATE DATE: 3/02/07 STATE: New Mexico REGION: Southwestern RANGER DISTRICT: Quemado NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Quemado RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: Just west of Quemado, NM, take State Rt. 32 south 14.2 miles to Quemado Lake/State Rt. 103 sign. At sign turn left onto Rt. 103 and go 4 miles to where Forest Rt. 13 (gravel) begins. Continue straight on Rt. 13 for 1.4 miles to campground sign. Turn left into campground. GENERAL COMMENTS: The elevation is 8,000 ft. The campground is comprised of a family camping loop and a group camping loop. Only the family camping loop is described in this Guide. For information about group camping, contact the Quemado Ranger District. The camping sites are nestled among mature Pinon and Alligator juniper trees. It is tranquil and undiscovered with a few sites having a view of Quemado Lake. The nearby Snuffy's Steakhouse and Cowboy Saloon, full of local color and character, makes a good place for a "cooks night off." There are also limited groceries available at Snuffys along with information about local events and activities. Birdwatching is a popular activity for campers. Heron are year-round residents. Bald eagles winter in the area along with a variety of other birds. NOTE: Although part of the Apache National Forest, this campground is administered by the Gila National Forest. SEASONS Open Seasonal: Yes Open All Year: No Seasonal Comment: Open May 1 through September 30. RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: $10 per day Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14 CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 0 No. Tent Sites: 0 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 22 Total Sites: 22 Tent Pads: Yes Group Tent Sites: Yes Open Sites: Yes Wooded Sites: Yes No. Tables on Sites: 22 No. Grilles on Sites: 22 RV INFORMATION Hookups: None Group RV Sites: No No. RV Pull Throughs: 14 Waste Station: Yes Potable Water at Waste Station: Yes Average Parking Apron Size: 12' X 51' Comments: The parking aprons are gravel. FACILITIES Vaults: Yes Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots: 3 No. Threaded: 0 Comments: For a $3 fee, showers are available at Snuffy's Steakhouse and Cowboy Saloon, a mile or two west of campground on State Rt. 103. WATER SPORTS - None Comments: The 130-acre Quemado Lake is nearby. A boat ramp is available; electric motors only. HIKING Pinon Access Trail (foot - next to site 47) - 0.8 miles Provides access to Quemado Lake and a network of area trails (foot). FISHING - No Comments: Rainbow trout and Tiger Muskie (catch & release) are available at the nearby Quemado Lake.

CAMPGROUND NAME: Scorpion VISIT DATE: 05/17/1999 UPDATE DATE: 8/24/2008 STATE: New Mexico REGION: Southwestern RANGER DISTRICT: Wilderness NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Mimbres RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: From Mimbres, NM, take State Rt. 35 north 22.7 miles to State Rt. 15. Turn right onto Rt. 15 and go 17.1 miles to "Campgrounds - Cliff Dwellings" sign. Turn left at sign and go 1.2 miles to Lower Scorpion and another 0.1 miles to Upper Scorpion. NOTE: Although paved, State Rt. 15 is steep and curvy. GENERAL COMMENTS: The elevation is 5,700 ft. The campground, comprised of two sections (Lower Scorpion and Upper Scorpion), is located on the same road to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, 0.2 miles away. The campground is nestled in a canyon among Ponderosa and juniper (Shaggy Bark and Alligator) and adjacent to the West Fork of the Gila River. Cottonwoods line the river. Although the authors indicate the camping sites are "tent only," RVrs can park their rigs in the parking lots that front each section and walk into the camping sites. The nearby West Fork of the Gila River attracts a variety of birds and wildlife. The campground is located in the middle of the Gila Wilderness, the nation's first designated wilderness (1924). There are corrals nearby which provide access to the wilderness, but horses are not permitted in the campground. Visit the Forest/Park Service visitor center and its interpretive museum of the area and the cliff dwellings. Of course, visiting the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is a must. SEASONS Open Seasonal: No Open All Year: Yes Comments: Because of flood damage to bridge in 2008, campground is closed indefinelty until state repairs. Check with Ranger District Office for status. RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: No charge Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 7 CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 0 No. Tent Sites: 17 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 0 Total Sites: 17 Tent Pads: No Group Tent Sites: Yes Open Sites: Yes Wooded Sites: Yes No. Tables on Sites: 17 No. Grilles on Sites: 17 RV INFORMATION Hookups: None Group RV Sites: No No. RV Pull Throughs: 0 Waste Station: Yes Potable Water at Waste Station: Yes Average Parking Apron Size: 0 Comments: RVrs can park in the paved parking lots that front each section of the campground. There are no designated parking slots. FACILITIES Vaults: No Flush Toilets: Yes Hot Showers: No Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots: 4 No. Threaded: 2 WATER SPORTS - None HIKING Trail to the Past (foot - interpretive) - 1/8th of a mile. There are over 750 miles of trails in the Gila Wilderness. FISHING - No

CAMPGROUND NAME: Upper End VISIT DATE: 05/17/1999 UPDATE DATE: 3/06/2007 STATE: New Mexico REGION: Southwestern RANGER DISTRICT: Wilderness NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Mimbres RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: From Mimbres, NM, take State Rt. 35 north 17.8 miles to campground sign. Turn left at sign into campground. GENERAL COMMENTS: The elevation is 6,000 ft. The campground is located adjacent to Lake Roberts among mature Ponderosa pines. Wildlife, such as elk, bear eagles, wild turkey, etc., are abundant. Most of the sites are nicely terraced with stone. SEASONS Open Seasonal: No Open All Year: Yes RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: $7 per day Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 7 NOTE: Fee may go up to $10 in April 2007; check with Ranger District office. CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 0 No. Tent Sites: 0 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 12 Total Sites: 12 Tent Pads: Yes Group Tent Sites: Yes Open Sites: Yes Wooded Sites: Yes No. Tables on Sites: 12 No. Grilles on Sites: 12 RV INFORMATION Hookups: None Group RV Sites: Yes No. RV Pull Throughs: 1 Waste Station: No Average Parking Apron Size: 26' X 57' Comments: The parking aprons are gravel. FACILITIES Vaults: Yes Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots: 4 No. Threaded: 3 WATER SPORTS Lake: Yes Swimming (provided): No Sailing: No Boat Ramp: Yes Boat Carry Down Access: No Power Boating: Yes Boating (no power): Yes Water Skiing: No Rafting (whitewater): No Kayaking (whitewater): No Comments: Lake Roberts is 72 acres. Power boats are limited to electric. HIKING - No FISHING Rainbow and brown trout and catfish.