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Water Canyon Campground
FSU.S. Forest Service — Cibola National Forest and Grasslands
| Agency | FSU.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Cibola National Forest and Grasslands |
| Location | Cibola National Forest and Grasslands |
| Sites | 14 public sites counted from the federal listing — 13 standard nonelectric; 1 group 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 14 sites Water hookups at 0 of 14 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 14 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 14 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 | Not reported in the federal data |
| 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 2:00 PM · Out 11:00 AM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 15 sites, as reported |
| Amenities, as reported | Vault toilets |
| Phone | 575-854-2281 |
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 2026-05-05.
From the official listing
Overview Within the Magdalena Mountains is a beautiful campground with twelve campsites and an additional group campsite tucked away at 6,800 ft elevation. These campsites are a mix of first-come first-served and reservation sites. There are several vault toilets as well as a picnic table, a fire ring, and a grill at each campsite. The group campsite offers an additional shelter structure and large fire pit. The area is great for birding and has access to several trails nearby.
Recreation Birding, hiking, and biking are popular activities in and around the Water Canyon Recreation Area. The campsites are also great locations for star-gazing.
Nearby Attractions Forest Road 39, which is the spur that leads to the group campsite, can be followed as the North Fork Trail and hiked. Below the campground is the Water Canyon Picnic Area and access to more trails including the Mesa Trail.
Directions, from the listing
From highway 60, turn onto Water Canyon Road and follow it until it's end. You will pass the picnic area on the left and will continue uphill towards the campground. The group campsite is further along the gravel road after passing the entrance to the campground on the right. The group campsite will also be on the right.
Trip Card — Water Canyon Campground
Cibola National Forest and Grasslands
| Agency | FS · U.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Location | Cibola National Forest and Grasslands |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Not reported |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 14 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10344809 · 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.