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Rio De Las Vacas Campground
FSU.S. Forest Service — Cuba · New Mexico · Santa Fe National Forest
| Agency | FSU.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Santa Fe National Forest |
| Location | Cuba · New Mexico · Santa Fe National Forest · 35.99667, -106.80750 · Map |
| Sites | 15 public sites counted from the federal listing — 15 standard nonelectric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 0 of 15 sites Water hookups at 0 of 15 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 15 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 15 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 42 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 9 sites · 30 ft: 8 sites · 35 ft: 6 sites · 40 ft: 2 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 1:00 PM · Out 11:00 AM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 15 sites, as reported |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | 575-289-3264 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-02-25.
From the official listing
Overview Less than two hours from the city of Albuquerque, Rio de las Vacas Campground offers a cool oasis from the New Mexico heat. Visitors delight in the hiking and fishing opportunities available in the shade of the pine covered Jemez Mountains. A few of the campsites have the creek running along them, providing a soothing atmosphere for campers.
Recreation Local streams and the San Gregorio reservoir provide fishing opportunities for anglers, and hikers will delight in the many hiking opportunities in the nearby San Pedro Parks Wilderness. Facilities There are 15 campsites on the campground. Most of the campsites at Rio De Las Vacas come with a paved RV pad, fire rings, picnic table, and tent pads. The campground itself has paved roads, trash bins, vault toilets and a host on site.
Natural Features The campground is located amid stunning ponderosa pines in close proximity to the Rio de las Vacas. The campground has a beautiful open meadow and scenic views of the surrounding Jemez Mountains. Fall brings migrating birds through the campground and the sounds of elk bugling to impress potential mates.
Nearby Attractions The San Pedro Parks Wilderness, just north of the Rio de las Vacas Campground, offers easy and scenic day hikes. The minimal grade increases of the trails into the San Pedro Parks make this wilderness an ideal backpacking destination for beginners and experienced backpackers alike. Three main trailheads, the San Gregorio, Palomas and Los Pinos, are within driving distance of the campground.
Directions, from the listing
From Cuba, New Mexico, travel 11 miles east of Cuba on New Mexico State Highway 126.
The campground is located approximately 11 miles from Cuba where lodging, restaurants, and gas stations are available.
The campground is approximately a one and a half hour drive from Albuquerque.
Nearest federal campgrounds
1 mi straight-line · Cuba New MexicoFSU.S. Forest ServiceClear Creek Group Campground (NM)
1 mi straight-line · Cuba New MexicoFSU.S. Forest ServiceSan Antonio Campground
12 mi straight-line · Jemez Springs New MexicoFSU.S. Forest ServiceJemez Falls (Nm) Picnic Area
17 mi straight-line · JEMEZ SPRINGS New MexicoFSU.S. Forest ServiceJemez Falls Campground
17 mi straight-line · Jemez Springs New Mexico
Trip Card — Rio De Las Vacas Campground
Cuba · New Mexico · Santa Fe National Forest
| Agency | FS · U.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Location | Cuba · New Mexico · Santa Fe National Forest |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Up to 42 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 15 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251437 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.