New Mexico Tips?

[VanFan]

Greetings! We are making plans for our annual month-long trek. Parts of New Mexico I've never seen are calling. Would love to hear from 'dwellers about routes, camping, hazards, spots to dally, etc.

Areas new to us include:
Lincoln Nat'l Forest (Ruidoso area)
TorC to Silver City area
Gila Nat'l Forest

We are considering heading to Moab, Utah and are wondering what a good way to go might be from northwestern New Mexico (through the Navajo Nation via Shiprock, through Arizona, etc.)

When we're "done," I think we'll visit some of our favorite spots in Colorado and north central New Mexico before returning to Texas.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!

Vickie

 

[compassrose]

I suugest that you start in Carlsbad (Caverns - do the natural entrance walking tour one day - TAKE YOUR TIME & ride the elevators back to the top - do a guided tour the next day). Up to Roswell (get fuel before leaving Roswell... cheapest place is Sam's Club or Murphy fuel station on North end of town) take US 380 west thru Lincoln (one day stop) stop at the Valley of Fires campground (lava flow) continue on to I-25. You can take the interstate down to TorC to Silver City & Gila. OR run up to ABQ and go to the Cliff Dwellings at Bandelier Nat Mon (campground there). We did Bandelier which is much cooler than the surrounding area.

 

[Suanne]

I visited NM in 2010, 2012 and earlier this year. For the last 2 visits, I drove Hwy 152 over Emory Pass and through the southern tip of Gila NF and loved it. The windy roads leading to the Gila Cliff Dwellings are wonderful too, as are the dwellings and near-by dispersed camping. I would second the Carlsbad Caverns recommendation. I also enjoyed exploring other National Park Sites including White Sands and Chaco Canyon. This year I stayed at City of Rocks State Park and loved it. Here are some blog posts with pictures that you might find helpful ...

Gila Cliff Dwellings & White Sands NM: http://suanneonline.blogspot.com/2010/04/bit-of-new-mexico-april-26-28.html
Carlsbad, Roswell, Bottomless Lakes SP: http://suanneonline.blogspot.com/2010/05/more-from-new-mexico-april-2-4.html
Chaco Canyon: http://suanneonline.blogspot.com/2010/05/ancestral-puebloans-may-9-11.html
Emory Pass to TorC: http://suanneonline.blogspot.com/2012/02/from-q-to-la-to-torc-jan-30-feb-2.html
City of Rocks State Park: http://suanneonline.blogspot.com/2014/02/city-of-rocks.html

Suanne

 

[Van-Tramp]

Been there a few times in recent years. Feel free to read up on my adventures and pick any you want to have

http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/category/by-state/new-mexico-by-state/

 

[David]

New Mexico is the only state in the country that offers a annual "camping" pass to their state parks. For a non resident it's about $200 and allows you to camp at state parks with campground for 14 days in a row. You can then move to another park and repeat the process.

 

[akrvbob]

Assuming you haven't seen these places before, I'd take 191 in AZ up through Canyon de Chelly, jump over to Monument Valley, then cut back across to Mesa Verde NP, then take 160 to Durango CO, take 550 (the Million Dollar Highway) up to Ridegeway (probably the single most beautiful drive in the Continental 48 states), then cut over to Moab from there.

If you've already seen the AZ sites, then just go to Mesa Verde NP and the take 550 to Ridgeway then over to Moab.

Those would be my priorities, but you can also go a little further east on 160 in CO and see Great Sand Dunes NP. It's pretty cool! That will put you through the small town of Pagosa Springs which is fantastically beautiful.

Bob

 

[cyndi]

Don't miss Chloride! It's a really cool little ghost town that has full hook ups for $10.00 (I think) a night. It's on the edge of the Gila NFS.

http://rvlyeverafter.blogspot.com/2013/03/just-one-more-new-mexican-love-story.html

Do give the Edmunds my warmest regards. They are AWESOME folks who have spent their retirement protecting and rebuilding this town.

 

[VanFan]

Thanks you each of you for sharing your ideas and experiences.

Compassrose: We are taking another look at the idea of visiting Carlsbad after initially thinking we'd pass on it. The area is closed to dispersed camping due to flood damage, so we might end up staying at Bottomless Lake SP.

Besides the fact that we've never been in the area, the TorC, Silver City, Gila loop has the added attraction of hot springs, which we quite enjoy.

Suanne: I really enjoyed the blog links! There doesn't seem to be a lot of information about the Gila Nat'l Forest at first glance, but I'm beginning to find more. I'm just a tad nervous about how apparently remote this area is, but then again, that's part of the appeal. One site I really wanted to visit is the Catwalk National Trail. Sadly it suffered heavy damage and only a short segment has been reopened. The sense of place described in your blog entry is something I have experienced in parts of New Mexico before. Fascinating.

Van-Tramp: I always enjoy reading about your travels and looking at the photos. Thanks for the link!

David: You are right, New Mexico State Parks are a sweet deal--even without the annual pass. We have enjoyed several of them at $10 for developed sites and $14 with water/electric.

Bob:

 

[VanFan]

Just want to let you all know how VERY MUCH I love and appreciate you! Trip plans are shaping up nicely, and some of you have opened our eyes to possibilities we hadn't considered. A few spots seem to be impacted by high risk of flooding and/or fires, but I think we've figured out alternate routes if needed. Can't wait!

Vickie

 

[anm]

Before I got my van I went camping in NM, and on the journey I visited the Trinity site, it's only open 2 days a year, once in spring and again autumn. For being a piece of history it's worth the visit, this website is rather bare but has the info needed: http://www.vivanewmexico.com/sw.trinity.html

Another place I visited was The Valley of Fires Recreation Area (BLM) near Carrizozo, NM. It's a dormant volcanic area, but it's wheel chair accessible, with a complete built up trail constructed over the old lava fields. The trail is probably a mile or two long. There are miles of lava fields that people are encouraged to explore, but if you do so make sure you have very sturdy boots, the lava is very rough and razor sharp. I paid for a tent camping site and it was very reasonable since I am an old geezer, it was about $3 a night. I'm not sure if there is any dispersed camping. I thought Valley of Fires was great, and is on my list of places to revisit.

I have also camped at White Sands though the Army makes it difficult. At White Sands there is camping where you must backpack in to a remote tent site, they have no RV or car camping. There are no reservations, it's first come first served and you can only stay 1 nite. If you want to stay more than 1 nite you have to pack everything up, go back to the office, and book a site for the next nite. Due to Army missile testing they can close White Sands whenever they want to, which is why it's one day at a time for camping. You could stay in Lincoln National Forest and visit White Sands during the day. Lincoln NF has tons of dispersed camping (i.e., free), stop at a Ranger station and get a map.

I really like New Mexico, I like the desert, and I like the heat, and it has those in abundance.

 

[bigsallysmom]

I second Lincoln National Forest. I live the desert nearby and spend a lot of time on roads, hiking trails and old logging roads off of Highway 130 south of cooler Cloudcroft. Many of the roads are in excellent shape and could be navigated by smaller to midsized rvs and tt. However, in the last couple of days they have gotten some good rains. Not sure what that does to those roads. Be sure and get groceries and gas in Alamogordo because there are no groceries in CC other than a single very, very busy convenience store. Be sure and check with the forest service (1 mile in on 130) since they are doing prescribed burns.

 

[anm]

...
Another place I visited was The Valley of Fires Recreation Area (BLM) near Carrizozo, NM. It's a dormant volcanic area, but it's wheel chair accessible, with a complete built up trail constructed over the old lava fields. The trail is probably a mile or two long. There are miles of lava fields that people are encouraged to explore, but if you do so make sure you have very sturdy boots, the lava is very rough and razor sharp. I paid for a tent camping site and it was very reasonable since I am an old geezer, it was about $3 a night. I'm not sure if there is any dispersed camping. I thought Valley of Fires was great, and is on my list of places to revisit.
...

While you're there see if you can find the number "2", I talked to some of the Ranger personnel there and even they hadn't found it!

 

[anm]

I just wanted to share a couple of pictures of Valley of Fires Recreation Area (BLM):

This one shows the accessible trail over the lava field:

and this shows number 2: