Water Canyon Campground
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.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
The group site has its own page: Water Canyon Group Campground.
More like this: first-come in New Mexico · reservable in New Mexico · pets allowed in New Mexico · group sites in New Mexico
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 13 |
| Group sites | 1 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
14 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camping | Standard | 38 | Gravel | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 2 | Camping | Standard | 37 | Gravel | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 3 | Camping | Standard | 28 | Gravel | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 4 | Camping | Standard | 32 | Gravel | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 5 | Camping | Standard | 18 | Gravel | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 6 | Camping | Standard | 22 | Gravel | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 7 | Camping | Standard | 32 | Gravel | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 8 | Camping | Standard | 42 | Gravel | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 9 | Camping | Standard | 40 | Gravel | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 10 | Camping | Standard | 27 | Gravel | No / No | 6 / 2 | 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 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Pets | Allowed |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
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.
| Coordinates | 34.0255° N, 107.1324° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedCentral Bosque Piles Rx
20 mi from the campground
- PrescribedRanch Supply Rx
33 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Explore
Video
Water Canyon Campground, New Mexico
Worth a stop
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.
- 0.1 mi
- 0.4 miMesa Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.7 miMesa ↗5.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.7 miSouth Canyon4.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.8 miSouth Baldy2.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.2 miDead Horse2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.8 miRyan Hill ↗8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.1 miSix Mile ↗5.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.4 miMesa Trailhead ↗Cibola National Forest and Grasslands
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Clemens RanchhouseBuilding · Magdalena · 6.9 mi
- Gutierrez HouseBuilding · Magdalena · 8.8 mi
- Hilton HouseBuilding · Magdalena · 8.8 mi
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.
Guidebooks for New Mexico
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Water Canyon Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Water Canyon Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Water Canyon Campground have?
15 sites, including 13 standard sites without power and 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Water Canyon Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Water Canyon Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Water Canyon Campground?
Birding, hiking, and biking are popular activities in and around the Water Canyon Recreation Area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Water Canyon Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Water Canyon Group Campground (0.2 mi, first-come), Datil Well Recreation Area Campground (42.5 mi, first-come), and New Canyon Campground (56.9 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby