Pines Campground
Pines 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 · tent only in New Mexico · pets allowed in New Mexico
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 23 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
23 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 | BUTTERFLY | Back-in | 60 | Paved | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 2 | BUTTERFLY | Back-in | 60 | Paved | 16 / 1 | Yes | |
| 3 | BUTTERFLY | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 4 | BUTTERFLY | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 5 | BUTTERFLY | 35 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 6 | BUTTERFLY | 35 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 7 | BUTTERFLY | 75 | Paved | Partial | 32 / 1 | Yes | |
| 8 | BUTTERFLY | Back-in | 54 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 9 | BUTTERFLY | Back-in | 42 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 10 | BUTTERFLY | Back-in | 38 | 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 | 35 ft |
| Equipment | Tents |
| 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 | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | May 12 to Sept 5 |
| Forest | Lincoln National Forest |
| Fees | $32 single, $39 double, $49 triple, $57 quad ($10 per additional vehicle) Showers (available at Silver CG): $7 per person per use RV Dump Station (available at Silver CG): $15 per use Water: Free if camping or $0.30 per gallon after 1st free 5 gallons Trash: Free if camping or $3 per bag per day… |
| Rules | No RV's > 35', 24 sites |
Weather by month
Getting there
Travel east on US82 from Cloudcroft, turn left onto NM244. Less than 1 mile later on your left you will find the entrance to Pines Campground (across the street from the Fir Campgrounds).
| Nearest town | Cloudcroft, New Mexico |
| Coordinates | 32.9675° N, 105.7374° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedD1 Programmatic Piles Rx
24 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 ↗ | 0.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Yosemite LOWER Pines Campsite #1 to #89 Ride Thru Review 2026
Worth a stop
There is a variety of stores to shop at roughly 20 miles from the campground in Alamogordo, NM.
- 1.3 miSleepy Grass Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miPines1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
- 0.3 miPines N. Trail1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.5 miSilver Cross-Country Ski1.2 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 0.5 miApache Nature0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.5 miOsha2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.7 miCloud-Climbing Trestle1.5 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
- Mexican Canyon TrestleStructure · Cloudcroft · 0.6 mi
- Bridge A 249-Cloudcroft, New MexicoStructure · Cloudcroft · 0.9 mi
- La Luz Pottery FactoryBuilding · La Luz · 9.6 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.
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 Pines Campground?
Sites at Pines Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Pines Campground?
$32 single, $39 double, $49 triple, $57 quad ($10 per additional vehicle) Showers (available at Silver CG): $7 per person per use RV Dump Station (available at Silver CG): $15 per use Water: Free if camping or $0.30 per gallon after 1st free 5 gallons Trash: Free if camping or $3 per bag per day…
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Pines Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Pines Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 12 to Sept 5.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Pines Campground have?
24 sites, including 23 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Pines Campground?
The longest site here provides 35 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 Pines Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Pines Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Pines 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. No RV's > 35', 24 sites
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Pines 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 Pines 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 Pines 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 Pines Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Apache (0.5 mi), Upper Fir Group Area (0.7 mi), and Saddle (0.7 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby