Does anyone have any suggestions on a good place to go camping? We want to do tent camping not at a KOA or RV park. Preferably near water where we can bring animals. If you have any websites or phone numbers that would be amazing! 

Elephant Butte 

Lincoln National Forest Camping

A lot of these are still closed for about another month or so. The contact numbers for the different ranger districts are on the left side of the page. 

Up in Ruidoso at Bonito Lake is beautiful. If you go into the main camping ground you will have access to the lake as well as running water. You can also take your pets. You can call the city of Alamogordo for more info. Hope that helps. 

I wouldn't count on any of the state's national forests to be open very long this year unless we start getting some rain. Fire danger is extremely high 

We have done camping at Elephante Butte and the riverside of Caballo ... Elephante butte was ok, although we went during a very busy time and there wasn't much elbow room.

The river side of Caballo was nice, there's campsites that have a table and a grill, and its right on the river and we did a lot of fishing and had fun. Although, the current is very strong and swimming was not a good idea. The last time we went was in October and the dam was closed and the river was very low so we actually did swim and have fun. Fishing was slow, but we left with two nice sized catfish. 

OP: If you have a decently capable vehicle (preferably 4wd) you can go camping pretty much anywhere up in the Lincoln National Forest. Even if not there are campgrounds up in Cloudcroft. Email me at nexgen91@gmail.com and I can tell/show you some places. It is to cold for some but there are some at lower elevations as well. My wife, kids, and myself love camping. Only downside is there is not a whole lot of areas with large bodies of water in the local area. 

Please don't take an 4WD vehicle off road when the conditions are as dry as they are right now. A hot catalytic converter can easily spark a brush fire. There were 3 brush fires in New Mexico just yesterday. 

We camp at least once a month in the summer, and without a doubt, the Gila's National Forrest, is wonderful. You can trail ride on 4 wheeler, fish Lake Roberts, Sit in the natural hot springs, climb up to the Cliff Dwelllings. There is primative camping sites and also hook up sites with water and electric. Check it out on the internet 

Tami, when you camp at the National Forest, what campground do you reccomend?