New Mexico Spring time Hot Spots?

[captainkettel]

Has anyone done any spring time camping in New Mexico? Thought I might give that state a tour. I have never been their...Yet...! Just started checking out BLM land and state parks. Thanks for any info...

 

[DirtyDog]

No.... but good to see you again BTW, even though you are a Sportsmobiler, you are certainly welcome at our Death Valley trip next month!

 

[captainkettel]

DD, thanks for the offer! Looks like I am going to have to pass. I can't really get any time off till March. We have to put in for vacation at least 30 days in advance. We are short handed right now. But I have scheduled time off in March. All most the entire month. I looking at going Anza Borrego for the spring bloom. Maybe Baja or New Mexico if the wildflowers don't pan out. For me Death Valley is about 1200 mile away! So maybe next year. Even though I own a Sportsmobile, I am a true "Wander the West" member. It is the journey...

 

[4llamas]

Land of Enchantment

captainkettle,

I found some non-sulfur hot springs in a gorge on the Rio Grande river many, many moons ago. It was in the northern part of the state, out of Arroyo Hondo I believe. Beautiful area. Worth looking for. That'll be a great trip. New Mexico really is enchanting, all the way from Raton to Silver City and Farmington to Carlsbad Cavern. Usually lot's of snow in the Cloudcroft area.

 

[Rockjok]

One of my favorite areas is the Gila Cliff dwellings region north of Silver City. Great camping and vistas. I've only spent time there in the winter so I'm not sure when spring flood season is.

Be sure and do a search for backcountry byways in New Mexico.

A great drive west across the AZ border is US 191, miles and miles of cool country and corners.

Rob

 

[CJ8Rockcrawler]

The various Pueblos can be of interest as is Chaco Canyon.

 

[DLN]

Hey cap,

Like DD I don't have any experience in the area but it's nice to hear from you and I'll look forward to your trip report. Enjoy.

 

[mtn-high]

A small overview of designated NM campspots here:

http://www.explorenm.com/camping/

I'd wager that you will still see quite a bit of snow in many higher areas in March, especially (in the Northern part of the state) if this Winter season continues to provide ample snowfall as it has "so far". Camping is kinda sparse in certain areas of the state due to the massive ground covered by the various Indian Reservations in the area, however, there are certainly some sweet spots to be had if you look around a bit.

happy trails

mtn

 

[Barko1]

What are you looking to see? The explore NM is a good list but neglected Lake Roberts in the Gila, I was up from Hillsboro this weekend, all sorts of spots right off the road or further in. March will require watching the weather, the North could still be snow filled. Also in the very SW into AZ are the Chiricuahuas, some territory.nice

 

[highz]

I second the Gila NF/Wilderness and Chiricahuas. I enjoy camping around tiny Snow Lake in the Gila. It's stocked with rainbows and less crowded than Roberts Lake. If you are a birder, the Chiricahuas are a must-see. Four habitat zones overlap there. It's the only place in the U.S. to see the Elegant Trogon.

In my neck of the woods, there are several campsites in the Lincoln NF plus dispersed camping. On weekdays it's possible to go for a long hike and not see anyone else. The Lincoln is a recreation area mostly visited by west Texans and hasn't really been discovered by others, yet. The area around Ruidoso is nice, and there's some fishing in that area as well.

The north part of the state has gotten a lot of winter precip, so it's likely that there will be a good wildflower show there this spring. There's a lot of territory to explore in the Santa Fe NF, but I have less knowledge of that area. Mainly, I know it's very beautiful and I want to spend more time there.

 

[georgem]

did some hiking and camping at a place outside Cloudcroft called Bluff Springs, ages ago when I was a Boy Scout...wound up being stationed at Holloman next to White Sands years later...if you've never been there definately worth the visit

would like to suggest the area around Chymayo, up north between Sante Fe and Taos, pretty touristy probably but interesting area to poke around...great restaurant with fantastic Sangria!

wife and i will most likely be around the Cimmarron area for a few days this summer...son is spending his summer working the scout camp there

ditto on the Gila, cliff dwellings, City of Rocks, Silver City

Highz, when i saw your location of Cloudcroft, brought back fond memories...grew up in El Paso

 

[highz]

George,

Small world. The flow from Bluff Springs may be lower than you remember, after several years of drought, but it's still a pretty place.

Holloman has grown. It's now the home of the F-22 Raptors. I'm afraid that to me, it's mainly a source of sonic booms and light pollution. In fact our telescope has "Holloman light baffles" to keep out the scattered light from the base. Without Holloman, though, Alamogordo would dry up and blow away. How long were you stationed there?

One place I haven't explored is the Franklin mountains near El Paso. Any recommendations for that area?

 

[georgem]

haven't seen Holloman since 1979...many moons ago...but spent my last year in the Air Force there...used to get to patrol all the way out to White Sands at night....pretty neat exploring....seems to me used to be able to see the solar observatory on the top of the mountains from the desert floor during the day, or is that my imagination?

wish i could be of help regarding the Franklin Mtns....remember a place called Hueco Tanks east of El Paso on the highway to Carlsbad...would like to see the the area around Old Masilla near Las Cruces again...just takes to long to get there from here...

i got a kick out of reading Buzzman's post about how far it was between places once you get out in the southwest....i remember!!

 

[highz]

I went online to find a pic of the Dunn solar telescope from White Sands, and danged if I couldn't find one. Maybe you did imagine it. However, if you did, it's a mass hallucination. And speaking of White Sands, that's another interesting spot to visit on a New Mexico tour!

Hueco Tanks - I'm embarrassed to say I live so close and haven't been there. I'll have to fix that.

You mentioned Chimayo in the north - yeah! Worth visiting. Also, up near the Colorado border is the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. You board it in Chama. If you can get a ticket, it's a beautiful ride. http://www.cumbrestoltec.com/

So much to see...

 

[highz]

Apologies for the wasted bandwidth. A visit in March couldn't include the Cumbres & Toltec - Too early and too much snow. They don't open until May. Sure you can't get away again then, Captain? May is when there are more spring wildflowers, too.

 

[georgem]

highz,

View attachment 4317

think i found it

 

[captainkettel]

Wow!

Thanks for all the great tips! Looks like New Mexico will be a great place to explore. I have starting to juggle my work schedule lately. I might just take a few months off and see if I really want to retire. There are just so many things to see and do. I'll keep you all posted if I decide to become a semi-full time traveler.

 

[Mark W. Ingalls]

I have starting to juggle my work schedule lately. I might just take a few months off and see if I really want to retire. There are just so many things to see and do. I'll keep you all posted if I decide to become a semi-full time traveler.

Why not just change your career enough to where you can do it from home? Home can be on the road nowadays.

 

[captainkettel]

Mark, I've been in the Fire Service for a little over 35 years. I have been a career Firefighter and then Captain for the last 21 years. I love my job dearly! If and when I retire it is not going to be to go to work somewhere else. Right now we only work 8-9 days a month. But when the time seems right I am just going to travel, do volunteer work, and collect my check. Doesn't sound too bad, does it? Then I will be traveling to all those places we all dream about.

 

[Barko1]

HighZ, been to your work location! Great motorcycle ride and there is good camping when a bit warmer. I work at NMSU, at least for 3 more weeks, then retire.

To stay thread relevant: BLM has a great little campground on the East side of the Organ Moutains over looking the Tularosa/White Sands Basin!