Camping at Bluewater Lookout Tower
Access to the tower itself is by foot only. The public cannot enter the tower, except by appointment.
There are about five previously-used campsites along Forest Road 85. The best site is Site #3 on the map above. This is a large area on the top of a hill big enough for 3 or 4 RVs. The elevation at Site #3 is 7,269 feet, making it for a decent temperature during the height of Summer.
The road up is hard packed dirt and gravel, suitable for any vehicle. If you’re pulling a heavy trailer, you want to have a 4WD to get up there. The grade is not really that steep, maybe 6 to 8% at worst. You just want to make sure you have good trailer brakes coming down hill if you have a heavy trailer pushing down on you.
![photo of the tower at Bluewater Lookout Tower in Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico](https://www.boondockersbible.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bluewater-lookout-tower-lincoln-national-forest-nm-visitor-center.webp)
![photo of the plaque at Bluewater Lookout Tower in Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico](https://www.boondockersbible.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bluewater-lookout-tower-lincoln-national-forest-nm-plaque.webp)
![photo of a campfire at Bluewater Lookout Tower in Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico](https://www.boondockersbible.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bluewater-lookout-tower-lincoln-national-forest-nm-campfire.webp)