The Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial launch of the summer recreation season on the 1.6-million-acre Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF). The SFNF offers a multitude of recreational opportunities to its visitors. Developed sites for camping and picnicking are among the most popular, offering scenic vistas, access to fishing and hiking, and perhaps even a little peace and quiet.
Forest visitors are asked to follow campfire safety guidelines and adhere to the Leave No Trace principles of outdoor ethics. Maps are available at all SFNF offices and online that designate roads and trails that are open to motor vehicle traffic. Unless otherwise noted below, the Santa Fe National Forest’s campgrounds and picnic areas are open. Additional information on each site is available on the SFNF website’s Recreation page. Reservation sites may be booked at Recreation.gov.
Coyote Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest
Campgrounds
- Resumidero – first come/first served; no fee
- Rio Chama – first come/first served; no fee
- Rio Chama Group – first come/first served; no fee
- Rio Puerco – first come/first served; no fee
Cuba Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest
Campgrounds
- Clear Creek – reservation and first come/first served; fee
- Clear Creek Group – reservation and first come/first served; fee
- Rio de Las Vacas – reservation; fee
Picnic Areas
- Clear Creek
Española Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest
Campgrounds
- Aspen Basin – first come/first served; no fee
- Big Tesuque – first come/first served; no fee
- Black Canyon – reservation; fee
- Borrego Mesa – first come/first served; no fee; outhouse is temporarily closed due to vandalism
- Caja Headquarters Well – first come/first served; no fee
- Camp May – (Los Alamos County site next to Forest Service trails) reservations through Los Alamos County; fee
Picnic Areas
- Aspen Basin
- Aspen Vista
- Big Tesuque
- Camp May (Los Alamos County site next to Forest Service trails)
- Little Tesuque
Jemez Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest
Campgrounds
- Jemez Falls – first come/first served; fee
- Paliza Family – first come/first served; fee
- Paliza Group –reservation; fee
- Redondo – first come/first served; fee
- San Antonio – reservation; fee
- Vista Linda – first come/first served; fee
Picnic Areas
- Battleship – fee
- Jemez Falls Group – reservation; fee
- La Cueva
- Las Conchas – fee
- Seven Springs
- Spanish Queen – fee
Pecos/Las Vegas RD, Santa Fe National Forest
Campgrounds
- Cowles – first come/first served; fee
- Dalton Canyon Area – dispersed camping area
- Davis Willow – dispersed camping area
- El Porvenir – first come/first served; fee; no potable water
- E.V. Long Campground – opens May 27; first come/first served; fee; no potable water
- Field Tract – first come/first served; fee
- Holy Ghost – first come/first served; fee; no potable water
- Holy Ghost Group – reservation; fee; no potable water
- Iron Gate – first come/first served; fee
- Jacks Creek – first come/first served; fee
- Jacks Creek Equestrian –first come/first served; fee
- Jacks Creek Group A & B – reservation; fee
- Johnson Mesa – first come/first served; no fee
- Panchuela – first come/first served; fee
Developed Day Use Sites
· Dalton Fishing Site
· Dalton Picnic (opens May 27)
· Windy Bridge Picnic
· Cowles Ponds Fishing Site
· Big Pine Picnic/Fishing
· Oak Flats Picnic/Fishing
· Baker Flats Picnic/Fishing
· Glorieta Picnic
This article was posted by Cheryl Fallstead
