Deerhead Campground
Deerhead Campground is located in the Lincoln National Forest in Cloudcroft, New Mexico at an elevation of 8700 feet. This is a heavily forested campground with large pine trees which provide plenty of shade. Wildlife viewing is a great opportunity here as this forest is home to a large population of Elk. Roads within the campground are paved.
More like this: reservable in New Mexico · pets allowed in New Mexico
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 19 |
Site guide
19 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | 35 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 2 | A | Back-in | 42 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 3 | A | Back-in | 42 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 4 | A | Back-in | 55 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 5 | A | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 6 | A | Back-in | 28 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 7 | A | Back-in | 52 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 8 | A | Back-in | 33 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 9 | B | 64 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 10 | B | 60 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 25 ft |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
This campground offers standard sites, accommodating both tent and RV camping. Amenities include picnic tables, grills, fire rings, drinking water spigots, vault toilets and paved parking spurs.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | April to October 10 |
| Forest | Lincoln National Forest |
| Booking | No reservations available. Camp sites are rented on a first-come, first serve basis. 30' RV Limit |
| Fees | Campsite: $32 per night for single unit. $10 per night for each additional vehicle Showers $7 (available at near by Silver Overflow Campground) Water: Free if camping or 5 gallons free. |
| Rules | Stay limit 14 days, 20 sites, no RV's >25' |
Weather by month
Getting there
From the West side of Cloudcroft, turn South onto NM310 and travel 1 mile. The campground entrance will be on your right, just past the turnoff for the Ranger Station.
| Nearest town | Cloudcroft, New Mexico |
| Coordinates | 32.9440° N, 105.7440° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedD1 Programmatic Piles Rx
25 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 2.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Deerhead Campground Cloudcroft NM. Lincoln National Forest Drive By tour.
Worth a stop
There is a variety of stores to shop at roughly 20 miles from the campground in Alamogordo, NM.
- 1.8 miSleepy Grass Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miRim ↗31.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more · national_recreation_or_other
- 0.4 miLa Pasada Encantada ↗0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.8 miToboggan Cyn1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
- 0.9 miOld Cloudcroft Hwy2.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
- 0.9 miCloud-Climbing Trestle1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miOverlook South ↗0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Lincoln National Forest.
- inLincoln National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,261,954 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Bridge A 249-Cloudcroft, New MexicoStructure · Cloudcroft · 1.1 mi
- Mexican Canyon TrestleStructure · Cloudcroft · 1.4 mi
- La Luz Pottery FactoryBuilding · La Luz · 9.5 mi
Natural features
This location provides great views of the White Sands National Park salt flats. The Lincoln National Forest offers a variety of trails, including the Osha Trail, the Little Apache Trail, and the Old Cloudcroft Highway Trail.
Recreation
This is a prime location for wildlife viewing due to the large population of Elk in the Lincoln National Forest. This forest spans 1,103,441 acres and is a great place for hiking, caving, picknicking, horseback riding, hunting and sightseeing. The Trestle Recreation area is less than a 2 mile drive from Deerhead campground.
Guidebooks for New Mexico
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Deerhead Campground?
Sites at Deerhead Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. No reservations available. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Deerhead Campground?
Campsite: $32 per night for single unit. $10 per night for each additional vehicle Showers $7 (available at near by Silver Overflow Campground) Water: Free if camping or 5 gallons free.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Deerhead Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Deerhead Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April to October 10.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Deerhead Campground have?
19 sites, including 19 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Deerhead Campground?
The longest site here provides 25 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Deerhead Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Deerhead Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Deerhead Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Stay limit 14 days, 20 sites, no RV's >25'
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Deerhead Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 4G LTE, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Deerhead Campground?
This is a prime location for wildlife viewing due to the large population of Elk in the Lincoln National Forest. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Deerhead Campground?
Cloudcroft, New Mexico. There is a variety of stores to shop at roughly 20 miles from the campground in Alamogordo, NM.
Source: Getting there
What if Deerhead Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Aspen Group Campground (0.3 mi), Sleepy Grass (0.4 mi), and Slide Group Campground (0.7 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby