U.S. Forest Service · Lincoln National Forest · Cloudcroft, NM

Black Bear Group Area

Black Bear is perched atop the scenic Sacramento Mountains of south-central New Mexico, near Alamogordo and Cloudcroft. The site is surrounded by the aromatic pine trees and aspen groves of Lincoln National Forest. The group area is conveniently connected to a network of hiking and biking trails. Bring your camera and binoculars for the chance to spot elk, deers, birds, and even black bear. The black bears are arguably the most celebrated wildlife in the area due to the fact that the original Smokey Bear was found here. While battling a fire in 1950, firefighters rescued a burned bear cub clinging to a scorched tree in Lincoln National Forest.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov1 siteFrom $123 per night35 ft maxNo hookupsPets okFires ok

More like this: reservable in New Mexico · pets allowed in New Mexico · group sites in New Mexico

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Black Bear Group AreaBlack Bear Group ramada for group site.Black Bear Group AreaBlack Bear Group Area
Photos courtesy of Conservation Legacy, Recreation Resource Management · Recreation.gov
1fire
active
D1 Programmatic Piles Rx (prescribed burn) · 27 mi away
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-16
Incident details ↓

Site mix

group standard area nonelectric1
This site is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfacePeople / vehiclesFires
001Back-in35Gravel70 / 15Yes

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

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length35 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesGroup Standard Area Non-Electric: 1 to 30 people $123/night 31 to 70 people $154/night

Whether for a family reunion or a large social event, Black Bear is a convenient location for groups up to 70. No water is provided at this site, but it is available at Sleepy Grass Campground from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonMay 15 to September 8
ForestLincoln National Forest
Bookingwww.recreation.gov or 877-444-6777
Fees1-30 people: $123 per night 31-70 people: $154 per night

Lincoln National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Black Bear Group Area30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.59 inches of precipitation, 13.1 inches of snowFebruary: 1.69 inches of precipitation, 13.3 inches of snowMarch: 1.45 inches of precipitation, 9.8 inches of snowApril: 0.85 inches of precipitation, 3.7 inches of snowMay: 1.22 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowJune: 2.22 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 5.53 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 5.01 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.23 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 2.13 inches of precipitation, 3.2 inches of snowNovember: 1.38 inches of precipitation, 7.3 inches of snowDecember: 2.15 inches of precipitation, 16.3 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 30.7°F averageFebruary: 33.2°F averageMarch: 38.2°F averageApril: 44.6°F averageMay: 52.0°F averageJune: 59.6°F averageJuly: 60.1°F averageAugust: 59.1°F averageSeptember: 54.8°F averageOctober: 47.1°F averageNovember: 38.0°F averageDecember: 31.1°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Cloudcroft, 2 miles from the campground at 8,679 feet, station USC00291931 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 28 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 67 inches a year on the same inches scale. The shaded span is the published season, May 15 to September 8.

Getting there

In southeast New Mexico, approximately 20 miles east of Alamagordo. From Alamagordo take US 82 east. Go 16 miles. Just before Cloudcroft, turn right (south) on NM 130. Go 1.4 miles. Turn left (east) on Forest Road 24B. Go.5 miles. Black Bear Group area is on right (south) side of road across from Aspen Group Area.

Nearest townCloudcroft, New Mexico
Coordinates32.9208° N, 105.7417° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    D1 Programmatic Piles Rx

    27 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 stationDump station ↗3.9 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Camping at Black Bear Campground at Lake James

Worth a stop

The campground is a mile from Cloudcroft, a quaint tourist village with New Mexico's only standing railroad trestle. It's also a quarter mile from the Rim Trail, which is popular for mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding. Other nearby trails are open to ATV enthusiasts.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 1.3 mi
    Chippeway
    3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.4 mi
    La Pasada Encantada ↗
    0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.7 mi
    Rim ↗
    31.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more · national_recreation_or_other
  • 1.9 mi
    Sleepygrass
    1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.2 mi
    Nelson Cyn
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.3 mi
    Toboggan Cyn
    1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Lincoln National Forest.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Set 9,000 feet above sea level in the Sacramento Mountains, Black Bear is in a pine forest area overlooking the desert valley of the Tularosa Basin. The basin stretches 6,500 square miles between the Sacramentos and the San Andres Mountains.

Recreation

Evening skies are often clear of clouds - bring a telescope for stargazing. The campground is surrounded by a series of hiking trails. A popular hike is the Osha Trail, which is a 2.5-mile loop.

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 Black Bear Group Area?

Sites at Black Bear Group Area are reservable on Recreation.gov. www.recreation.gov or 877-444-6777 Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Black Bear Group Area?

Group Standard Area Non-Electric: 1 to 30 people $123/night 31 to 70 people $154/night

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Black Bear Group Area?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Black Bear Group Area open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 15 to September 8.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Black Bear Group Area have?

1 site, including 1 group standard area nonelectric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Black Bear Group Area?

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 Black Bear Group Area?

Yes, pets are allowed at Black Bear Group Area. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Black Bear Group Area?

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.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Black Bear Group Area?

Evening skies are often clear of clouds - bring a telescope for stargazing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Black Bear Group Area?

Cloudcroft, New Mexico. The campground is a mile from Cloudcroft, a quaint tourist village with New Mexico's only standing railroad trestle.

Source: Getting there

What if Black Bear Group Area is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Slide Group Campground (1.3 mi), Aspen Group Campground (1.5 mi), and Sleepy Grass (1.5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby