Rio Puerco Campground
Rio Puerco is a remote primitive campground. There are no fees and reservations are not accepted. Uses: camping, fishing, and picnicking. Facilities: picnic tables and 1 portable toilet during summer months only. There are no fire rings. Special Instructions: Can accommodate up to 20-foot RV's. No potable water or hookups.
More like this: first-come in New Mexico · free in New Mexico · tent only in New Mexico
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | No Fee |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Santa Fe National Forest |
| Booking | No Reservations |
| Fees | No Fee |
| Rules | Motorized vehicles or mechanized equipment are prohibited in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 36.0999° N, 106.7245° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedPaliza South Rx
28 mi from the campground · 412 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Juniper Campground Dump Station ↗ | 32.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Land of Enchantment RV ↗ | 51.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 11.7 miSeven Springs Picnic Site ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 1.5 miRio Puerco ↗5.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.8 miCorralitos4.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.2 miVega Redonda2.5 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.2 miPinabetal1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.6 miVega Redonda Connector0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.6 miPuerco Canyon ↗5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Santa Fe National Forest.
- inSanta Fe National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,681,851 acres
- 1.2 miSan Pedro Parks Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 41,305 acres
- 11.7 miChama River Canyon Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 47,035 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Guidebooks for New Mexico
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Rio Puerco Campground?
No. Rio Puerco Campground is first-come, first-served. No Reservations Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Rio Puerco Campground?
Nothing. Rio Puerco Campground is listed as free. No Fee
Source: Forest Service
Is Rio Puerco Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Rio Puerco Campground?
Rio Puerco Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Rio Puerco Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Resumidero Camping Area (1.6 mi, first-come), Coyote Canyon Camping Area (5.6 mi, first-come), and Rio De Las Vacas Campground (8.5 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby