Bureau of Land Management
Learn about camping and boondocking on BLM land
Dispersed Camping Near Carlsbad, NM
Completely surrounded by public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Forest Service (USFS), and the National Park Service (NPS), there are numerous places around the City of Carlsbad, NM where campers can set up for a couple of weeks while visiting Carlsbad Caverns, Sitting Bull Falls, or just visiting friends and relatives.
Dalton Wash Road Dispersed Camping Map, Virgin, UT
Dalton Wash Road runs north from Virgin, UT into BLM Land, placing campers right up close to the border of Zion National Park. This is a popular destination due to "Guacamole Trail" which starts here. We put together a Dalton Wash Road dispersed camping map depicting the three most popular camping areas along Dalton Wash Road.
Dark Canyon Road, Carlsbad, NM
Also known as County Road 408, this road runs through patches of BLM land and private land. There are a few previously-used campsites along this road and one spur road that are frequently used by visitors to Carlsbad Caverns and the City of Carlsbad. Dark Canyon Road itself is paved.
Goat Corral Canyon, Carlsbad, NM
Goat Corral Canyon is the name of the small canyon that runs just above the dirt road winding through BLM Land. The road itself has no name. There is a previously-used campsite right where this road intersects with US-62, then there are further sites as the road ascends elevation from there.
Sunset Reef Campground, Carlsbad, NM
This is a free developed campground managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Comes with covered picnic tables, fire rings, cooking grills, and trash cans, all on level, gravel ground. There are six spaces in the middle for larger RVs, six tent sites along one side, and some space along the fence for vans and small RVs.
Hackberry Lake Campground North
This is a developed campground intended for OHV riders, but is also used by RVers visiting Carlsbad Caverns and the town of Carlsbad. There are 12 campsites here, each with a covered picnic table. Some of the sites have cooking grills, and a few have a trash can. There is also a vault toilet here.
Hackberry Lake Campground South
This is a developed campground offered by the Bureau of Land Management for free. The BLM officially designates this for "Overnight Use", but most people here stay here over a weekend. There are about 8 to 9 campsites here with picnic tables, fire rings, and a vault toilet.
Chosa Campground, Carlsbad, NM
This is a large open space created by the Bureau of Land Management specifically for RV camping. It's located about 30 minutes south of Carlsbad, NM, and about 20 minutes south of Carlsbad Caverns National Park Visitors Center. The only amenity is a trash dumpster.
Aden Hills OHV Area
This is a large, desert flat set aside by the Bureau of Land Management specifically for OHV use. Most of the camping is set up at a staging area close to the County Road. There is an old shade structure there with an information kiosk. You can also camp in other areas, but you'll be subject to OHV riders speeding by your camp.
Spring-on-the-Bluff, Gila Lower Box Canyon
This is a single campsite located at the top of a tall cliff, overlooking the Gila River, accessed by a dirt road. This one of three camping areas and river access sites identified by the Bureau of Land Management at Gila Lower Box Canyon. This campsite offers some of the best views of the Gila River and the surrounding riparian area.
