Camping Near Glenwood and Reserve

Camping near Glenwood and Reserve, NM, offers a remote and scenic experience in the heart of the Gila National Forest. These areas provide access to rugged mountains, lush river valleys, diverse wildlife, and spectacular stargazing making them ideal for outdoor enthusiasts seeking a true backcountry adventure.

None of these sites have drinkable water, if you are able to collect water it is highly recommended to filter, boil or chemically treat the water before drinking

Cell service is limited to nonexistant, ensure all maps are downloaded, and it is recommended to have a paper map as well.

For more campground information and conditions please contact the Gila National Forest (offices are closed on weekends)

Glenwood District: (575) 539-2481
Reserve District: (575) 533-6605

Cosmic Campground

Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary (CCIDSS) is the first International Dark Sky Sanctuary located on National Forest System lands and also in North America. It is also one of only 14 certified IDA Sanctuaries in the world. International Dark Sky Sanctuaries are lands possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights. For more information on dark skies, light pollution, or the International Dark Sky Association.

The CCIDSS offers a 360-degree, unobstructed view of the night sky for exceptional stargazing opportunities. This site is situated where there nearest significant source of artificial light is more than 40 miles away, and across the state line in Arizona.

• No Reservations are necessary. First Come, First Served. All Gila National Forest camping is subjected to a 14-day stay limit
• Courtesy suggestions include arriving and setting up camp prior to dusk and discourages the use of bright lights/campfires when other visitors are enjoying the night sky.
• No parking on the observation/telescope pads
• No camp fires on observation pads
• Use a red filter over your flashlight lens
• Try to arrive before dark so that your headlights won’t distort your night vision
• Quiet times (no generator use) between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
• Camping trailer: Maximum size 36'
• Tent camping: 8 sites
• Parking
• Toilets: Vault
• No drinkable water is available

Big Horn Campground

Convenient campground within walking distance to the town of Glenwood.

The Bighorn Campground is a convenient campground just one-tenth of a mile northwest of the town of Glenwood along US Highway 180. It is a campground that is typically used more for short-term stays (1 or 2 days) than long-term camping (14 days). It is within walking distance to the town of Glenwood and the closest designated campground to the Catwalk National Recreation Area. The landscape is mostly pinon and juniper trees.

• First come, first serve. All Gila National Forest Campgrounds have 14-day stay limit.
• Camping trailer: Self-contained only. Maximum size is 24'
• Picnic tables: Table at each site
• Tent camping: 6 Sites
• Toilets: Vault toilet
• Accessible
• No drinkable water located at the site

Pueblo Park Campground

Pueblo Park Campground is located in a large, cool stand of old growth ponderosa pines adjacent to the northern edge of the Blue Range Wilderness boundary with Dangerous Park Trail #515 on the northern end of the campground, and the WS Mountain Trail #43 immediately south of the campground entrance.

• First come, first serve. All Gila NF campgrounds have a 14 day stay limit.
• Camping trailer: Maximum size is 40' (road to Pueblo park is unpaved/dirt/graval/rocky)
• Tent camping: 10 sites
• Parking
• Toilets: vault toilets
• No drinkable water is located at this site.

Cottonwood Canyon

A small campground designed primarily for tent camping located on the west side of US Highway 180, between mileposts 23 and 24, north of Glenwood and Alma, New Mexico.

• No reservations are necessary. First come, first served. All camping on the Gila National Forest are under a 14 day stay limit.
• Picnic tables
• Tent camping: 4 sites
• Toilets: vault toilet (1) - no showers

Apache Creek

This is a nice quiet undeveloped campground amongst ponderosa pines and abundant wildlife.

Apache Creek Campground is in the northwest region of the forest. There are plenty of trees to provide shade and this is a very clean campground.

• No reservations are necessary. First come, first served. 14 day stay limit.
• Camping trailer: Self contained. Max size is 40'
• Tent camping: Dispersed camping
• Toilets: Vault toilet