US Forest Service
Learn about camping and boondocking in national forests and grasslands.
Forks Campground, Gila Hot Springs, NM
Forks Campground is a free, designated dispersed camping area offered by Gila National Forest. It's actually a combination campground and day-use area, where camping is allowed away from West Fork Gila River, with the day-use area located along the river itself.
Black Canyon Campground – Lower, Mimbres, NM
This is a free, developed campground offered by Gila National Forest. It has three picnic tables, though vehicles with tents could pick out nearby locations if all sites are full. The road up here is rocky and bumpy requiring a high-clearance vehicle, though 4WD is not necessary except during rainy weather.
Black Canyon Campground – Upper, Mimbres, NM
This is a developed campground offered for free by Gila National Forest. There are only two picnic tables here, though that doesn't mean it's limited to just two sets of campers. Still, it's a small campground, though it offers a lot of peace and quiet due to being located far away from town.
Rocky Canyon Campground, Mimbres, NM
This is a developed campground offered for free by Gila National Forest with only a handful of campsites. 4WD with high clearance is required to drive up here, and would not advise towing a trailer unless its has high clearance and is designed for rocky, bumpy roads.
Comfort Well Dispersed Camping Area, Mimbres, NM
This is a boondocking area, not otherwise designated by Gila National Forest officials, but permitted for camping. It's a large enough area to accommodate 12-20 campers, including full-sized RVs. Most of the roads through here are firm-enough for any vehicle. There are no amenities here, it's purely boondocking here.
Sapillo Campground, Mimbres, NM
This is mostly a designated dispersed camping area, though it does have a vault toilet, and there are a few fire rings. Otherwise, there are no designated campsites, it's all dispersed camping. The area is large enough for several full-sized RVs, all on mostly hard-packed ground, and somewhat level.
McMillan Campground, Silver City, NM
This is a free, developed campground offered by Gila National Forest. It's located in a canyon about 14 miles north of Silver City, NM along Highway 15. It's small with only three (3) campsites, and these sites are small, suitable only for cars, vans, pickup trucks, and small trailers.
Cherry Creek Campground, Silver City, NM
This is a free, developed campground offered by Gila National Forest. It lies at the bottom of a canyon along State Highway 15 about 13 miles north of Silver City. The sites here are small, and the road through here is small too, and recommended only for cars, vans, pickup trucks, or small trailers.
Gallinas Campground Upper, Mimbres, NM
This is a small, developed campground with three campsites offered for free by Gila National Forest. It is located on NM State Hwy 152, approximately 17 miles east of Mimbres, NM. The site is easily accessed by most vehicles, in most weather conditions. The parking lot and picnic sites are lined with gravel.
Railroad Canyon Campground, Kingston, NM
This is a small developed campground, offered for free by Gila National Forest. Only three campsites are here, and they are all small in size, but can still accommodate small trailers, no larger than 20 feet, or small Class-C RVs. Otherwise, this is largely a campground for cars and vans with tents.
