Dispersed Camping in Mckinley County, New Mexico
Showing 52 locations in Mckinley County.
BLM Land near Black Rock, NM
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Bluewater Lake State Park (West)
This west-side section of the state park is accessed via Route 612 and features basic camping spots with picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. Dispersed beach camping is available along the shoreline, though many spots are sloped.
Bluewater Lake State Park Campground
A scenic state park campground nestled among juniper trees along the shores of Bluewater Lake. The park features a mix of primitive lakeside sites and developed loops with electrical hookups. Wild horses and cattle frequently roam the area, and campers can enjoy beautiful lakefront or canyon views, hiking trails, a playground, and an on-site dump station.
Bowl Canyon Lake Recreation Area
Bowl Canyon Lake, also known as Asaayi Lake, is a quiet recreation area located in the Chuska Mountains within the Navajo Nation. The area features a beautiful lake surrounded by pine forests, offering scenic lakeside campsites and picnic areas. Access is via a dirt and gravel road that is generally passable for most vehicles but can become muddy during wet weather. Camping here requires a Navajo Nation permit, and visitors should be prepared for free-roaming livestock in the area.
Cibola Forest Spur (0ee12ed0)
Located in the Cibola National Forest, this quiet forest road offers dispersed camping along its corridor. It features a native material dirt road that remains open year-round for campers.
Cibola Forest Spur (ea558ecf)
This dirt forest spur provides quiet, dispersed camping opportunities within Cibola National Forest. The native material road surface is accessible for most vehicle types in dry conditions.
Cibola Forest Spur
A quiet dirt spur located within the Cibola National Forest, offering dispersed camping opportunities amongst the pines. The native-surface road is accessible to most vehicles during dry conditions.
Cibola Forest Spur
A quiet dirt forest spur offering remote dispersed camping opportunities within the Cibola National Forest near Thoreau, New Mexico.
Cibola Forest Spur
A dirt forest spur road located within the Cibola National Forest, offering primitive dispersed camping options. The road is generally accessible to most vehicles during its open season from early spring to mid-December.
Cibola National Forest - Thoreau Spurs
Quiet forest service spurs providing rustic dispersed camping opportunities in the Cibola National Forest near Salitre Mesa. These native material roads offer a tranquil pine-wooded setting with standard national forest stay limits.
Cibola National Forest Spur
A quiet Forest Service corridor located within the Cibola National Forest near Thoreau, offering dispersed camping opportunities along a dirt spur road. The area provides basic pull-off spots suitable for those seeking a peaceful forest setting.
Cibola National Forest Spur
A remote forest spur road located in the Cibola National Forest near Thoreau, New Mexico. This area offers quiet, dispersed camping along a native dirt road with several pull-offs suitable for self-contained rigs looking for a peaceful nature retreat near Barometer Mountain.
Continental Divide Road Dispersed
This dispersed camping corridor along the Continental Divide road offers rustic camping opportunities in the Cibola National Forest near Thoreau, New Mexico. Access is via a dirt road with native material surface, suitable for standard vehicles in dry conditions.
Cottonwood Road Dispersed Camping
Cottonwood Road runs through the Cibola National Forest, offering dispersed camping opportunities along a native dirt road. The route provides quiet, forested sites and is generally accessible to standard vehicles during dry weather.
County Road 162 Forest Corridor
A scenic corridor of dispersed camping areas winding through a ponderosa pine forest in the Cibola National Forest. The route offers several hilltop pullouts with panoramic valley views. Access roads consist of native dirt and gravel that can become highly challenging near the ridge line and during wet weather. A strict seasonal closure is enforced here during the winter and early spring months.
Diener Canyon Dispersed Camping
Located within the Cibola National Forest near Thoreau, this road corridor offers scenic dispersed camping opportunities in a pine forest canyon setting.
El Morro Campground
A small, scenic nine-site developed campground located within El Morro National Monument. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis and feature graveled tent pads, picnic tables, and ground grills. Potable water is available centrally during warmer months but is turned off seasonally for the winter. The campground accommodates tents and smaller RVs up to 27 feet in total length. No hookups are available.
El Morro National Monument
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Fire Rock Navajo Casino
This spacious, paved casino parking lot provides a reliable overnight option with regular security patrols. Expect frequent highway and train noise due to its close proximity to Interstate 40 and nearby active rail lines.
Forest Road 50 Dispersed
Quiet dispersed camping options along Forest Road 50 in the Cibola National Forest. The area is dotted with pine trees and offers multiple pull-offs and spur tracks for camping in a peaceful wooded setting.
Forest Spur - Cibola National Forest Dispersed
A quiet dispersed camping corridor situated in a scenic pine forest area off Forest Road 569 in the Cibola National Forest. The main entrance area near Forest Road 612 features a gate that is subject to seasonal closure, with several dirt spur roads branching off to provide secluded sites further in. Campers will find established fire rings and plenty of space to spread out, though the native material roads can become muddy when wet.
Forest Spur - Cibola National Forest
A scenic forest corridor located just inside the Cibola National Forest boundary near Church Rock. It features dispersed campsites set among piñon pines with pull-offs branching from the main road and a nearby trailhead parking area. It offers a peaceful retreat close to the highway, but the dirt spurs can become muddy and difficult to navigate when wet.
Forest Spur (FR 588C)
This scenic dirt road corridor in the Cibola National Forest offers dispersed camping opportunities near the McGaffey area. Accessible by standard vehicles during dry conditions, the road provides access to quiet wooded sites.
Forest Spur (South)
A secondary native-material spur road branching deeper into the Cibola National Forest woodland.
Forest Spur Dispersed (Cibola National Forest)
This dispersed camping corridor along a dirt Forest Service spur road in Cibola National Forest offers peaceful boondocking opportunities near Thoreau, New Mexico. The native material road is open to all vehicles, though caution is advised during wet conditions.
Forest Spur Dispersed
A quiet dispersed camping corridor situated along Forest Spur within the Cibola National Forest, offering primitive roadside spots.
Forest Spur
This forest spur road in the Cibola National Forest near Church Rock offers dispersed camping opportunities. The corridor features a native-material dirt surface that is accessible during dry weather, providing a quiet, rustic forested retreat.
Fort Wingate Road Dispersed
A dispersed camping corridor located along the National Forest road near Fort Wingate on Cibola National Forest land. The area features multiple rocky dirt pull-offs shaded by pine trees, located just off Highway 400. While the natural surroundings are pleasant, several sites suffer from persistent litter, discarded household items, and broken glass. The road can become extremely soft and muddy during wet weather, and high clearance is recommended to navigate the steep entrances to some of the pull-offs.
Four Mile Canyon
This dispersed camping corridor along Four Mile Canyon in Cibola National Forest offers scenic forest views with seasonal access. The native-surface road is suitable for most vehicles under dry conditions.
Gallo Campground
A rugged developed campground nestled against the towering cliffs of Gallo Wash in Chaco Culture National Historical Park. This remote destination is surrounded by ancient petroglyphs, inscriptions, and historic ruins, providing an immersive high-desert experience. Access requires traversing long stretches of unpaved road that become exceptionally slick and muddy during wet weather.
Gallo Campground
An official developed National Park Service campground nestled against rugged canyon cliffs inside Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The campground offers designated sites with easy access to ancestral Puebloan ruins and petroglyphs directly from the camps. Access is via a lengthy, rough dirt road with washboard sections and minor wash crossings that require slow driving and caution.
Love's Travel Stop - Gallup
A busy commercial travel plaza off I-40 offering overnight parking, fuel, convenience shopping, and basic amenities. Overnight stays are generally tolerated in the side rows, though space is limited and active truck traffic and nearby train horns are prominent throughout the night.
McGaffey Campground
This campground is situated in what was once the historic railroad logging and sawmill town of McGaffey, located west of the Continental Divide in the Zuni Mountains. Mature ponderosa pine trees provide scenic settings and shade, while small hills provide some privacy.
McGaffey Lookout Road Dispersed
A dispersed camping corridor winding through the scenic Cibola National Forest along McGaffey Lookout Road. The area offers numerous primitive pullouts situated under a mature canopy of Ponderosa pines, providing a quiet mountain getaway near local trailheads.
Mentmore Trailhead & Climbing Area
Located just west of Gallup along Mentmore Road, this recreation area offers flat gravel parking lots serving local hiking, biking, and rock climbing routes. It provides a quiet alternative to the nearby highway truck stops, though visitors should expect occasional passing trains, industrial truck traffic from nearby facilities, and potential late-night local activity.
Mujeres Valley Dispersed Area
A secluded high-desert dispersed camping area situated along dirt roads near Black Rock. The area offers rustic, undeveloped sites with minimal facilities, suitable for self-contained rigs seeking quiet surroundings.
Narbona Pass Parking
Paved parking area located adjacent to the Narbona Pass Picnic Area along NM-134, suitable for staging or day-use stops.
Ojo Hallado BLM Road Corridor
A scenic corridor on Bureau of Land Management land in McKinley County. Graded gravel surfaces provide access to dispersed camping opportunities within a tranquil high-desert landscape near Aragon Springs.
Ojo Redondo Dispersed Corridor
A scenic ponderosa forest corridor along the Ojo Redondo road system in Cibola National Forest. The area offers tranquil dispersed camping opportunities along the main gravel route and its native dirt spurs.
Quaking Aspen Campground
A quiet and well-maintained Forest Service campground set in a dense pine forest, offering 19 spacious, flat gravel sites equipped with concrete picnic tables and fire rings. Vault toilets and trash collection are available on-site, though there is no potable water.
Red Rock Park Campground
Situated beneath striking red sandstone cliffs, this developed campground offers quick access to scenic trails including the Church Rock loop. Campsites are equipped with water and electrical hookups, and a dump station is available on-site. The layout is somewhat irregular with uneven sites, making site selection important for larger trailers. Train horns are audible from nearby tracks, but the dramatic canyon scenery and affordable rates make it an excellent stopover.
Sawmill Road Dispersed Camping
A scenic ponderosa pine forest corridor along Sawmill Road just past the Hilso Trailhead. It offers dispersed flat turnouts with pre-existing stone fire rings, providing immediate access to local trail networks.
Sawmill Road Dispersed
Dispersed camping corridor located along Sawmill Road within the Cibola National Forest. This dirt road offers quiet, rustic campsites near the Hilso Trailhead, open seasonally from spring through late fall.
Shuster Spring Road Dispersed
A scenic forest corridor along the native dirt access road to Shuster Spring in the Cibola National Forest. The road winds through wooded terrain, offering peaceful, primitive dispersed camping options during the spring, summer, and autumn months.
Six Mile Canyon Dispersed Camping
This dispersed camping corridor runs along Six Mile Canyon Road (Forest Road 430) and its adjacent Forest Service spur roads inside the Cibola National Forest. The area features scenic red sandstone canyon views and quiet pine-woodland sites. The lower county-managed sections of the road offer basic pullouts, while the upper section past the Forest Service boundary gate provides deeper, more secluded camping. Multiple low-water drainage washes cross the road; these are rough to cross when dry and become extremely muddy and hazardous when wet.
Stinking Springs Forest Road Dispersed
Dispersed camping corridor nested along Stinking Springs Forest Road and its adjacent spurs in the Cibola National Forest. The area is surrounded by pinon-juniper woodlands and ponderosa pines, offering a quiet, rustic camping experience near natural springs.
TA / Gallup Travel Center
A full-service commercial travel center offering fuel, showers, laundry, and dining options. Overnight parking is available, but the parking lot directly borders active train tracks, resulting in significant noise and occasional ground vibration throughout the night.
Tampico Springs Road Dispersed
A quiet dispersed camping corridor along Tampico Springs within the Mt. Taylor Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest. The road winds through a ponderosa pine forest, offering several flat, rustic pull-outs near the seasonal McGaffey Lake recreation area.
The Notches Dispersed
The Notches offers year-round dispersed camping along a native dirt forest road winding through the Cibola National Forest.
Three Culverts & Forest Spur Dispersed
Located in the Cibola National Forest near Church Rock, these forest spurs provide access to peaceful dispersed camping. The surrounding terrain features scenic ponderosa pines and pinon-juniper woodlands.
Tusas Mesa
A scenic dispersed camping corridor along Tusas Mesa in the Cibola National Forest, offering roadside pullouts on a gravel road. Access is seasonal.
USA RV Park
A clean, well-managed commercial RV park in Gallup, featuring spacious gravel pull-through sites, full hookups, and hot showers. Located near Interstate 40 and a municipal airport, it offers convenient highway access but experiences periodic traffic, train, and low-flying aircraft noise.