U.S. Forest Service · Santa Fe National Forest · Santa Fe, NM

Black Canyon Campground

At 8475 feet in elevation, Black Canyon Campground is in a great location to experience some of the finest mountain scenery the Southwest has to offer. The facility is newly renovated and provides access to a variety of outdoor recreational activities. Campers can enjoy warm days and cool weather in the summer months, providing a scenic getaway from the desert heat.

More like this: reservable in New Mexico · big rigs in New Mexico

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
A view of a campsite with pines and restroom in the background.Black Canyon trailhead.Black Canyon CampgroundTrailhead sign.
Photos courtesy of Conservation Legacy, Forest Service, Pete Stewart from Perth, Australia (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups30
Walk-in6
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 61 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

36 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
001Walk-inPavedFull8 / 1YesYes
002Walk-inPavedFull8 / 1YesYes
003Walk-inPavedFull8 / 1YesYes
004Walk-inPavedFull8 / 1YesYes
005Walk-inPavedFull8 / 1YesYes
006Walk-inPavedFull8 / 1YesYes
007StandardBack-in24PavedFull8 / 1YesYes
008StandardBack-in25PavedFull8 / 1YesYes
009StandardBack-in22PavedFull8 / 1YesYes
010StandardBack-in20PavedFull8 / 1YesYes

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 1:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length61 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
Fees$10 per night per site.
AccessibilitySites 001, 002, 003, 004 and 31 more are listed accessible

The campground offers many single and double-family sites, most of which are accessible. Some sites are designated as walk-to sites for tent camping only. A few are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets are provided. The highway to the campground is paved. There is currently no water available on the campground, bring your own water. The campground is adjacent to New Mexico's Hyde State Park, where a dump station is available.

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

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonMay to November
ForestSanta Fe National Forest
BookingCampsites may be reserved, with a minimum of 4 days in advance. Reserve online or call Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777).
Fees$10 per night per site.

Santa Fe National Forest recreation page ↗

Getting there

From downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico, travel north on Washington Avenue to Artist Road (Hyde Park Road/State Route 475) and turn right. Continue for 7 miles to Black Canyon Campground.

Nearest townSanta Fe, New Mexico
Coordinates35.8417° N, 105.8333° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Frijoles

    5 mi from the campground · 15,956 acres · 90% contained

  • Prescribed
    Stone Angel Fall Rx

    44 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearSierra ↗12.2 mi
RV sales & serviceLand of Enchantment RV ↗21.7 mi
Dump stationJuniper Campground Dump Station ↗25.2 mi

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

Explore

Video

Black Canyon Campground, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Worth a stop

The campground is located about seven miles northeast of the town of Santa Fe, New Mexico. This unique town is known for its cultural heritage, art galleries and museums.

  • 1 mi
    Viejo
    2.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.1 mi
    Capulin ↗
    9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.2 mi
    Lower Nambe
    1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 2.4 mi
    Rio Nambe ↗
    8.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.4 mi
    Rio En Medio ↗
    5.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.6 mi
    Aspen Spur
    2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more

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 →

Pecos Wilderness begins about 0.7 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

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.

Natural features

The campground is situated in a forest of pine, aspen and fir trees. A good mix of sun and shade is found throughout the area. Many beautiful views are found in the surrounding forest.

Recreation

Hikers enjoy a pleasant hiking 1.5-mile trail that loops around the campground and into the surrounding forest. Several additional hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails are located nearby. The Pecos Wilderness can be accessed eight miles from the campground, with many trails leading to majestic peaks and through valleys, canyons and forested groves. Many recreation opportunities exist along Highway 475, both above and below Black Canyon Campground, including hiking and biking trails and picnic areas. In the winter, the area offers both Nordic and alpine skiing.

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 Black Canyon Campground?

Sites at Black Canyon Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Campsites may be reserved, with a minimum of 4 days in advance. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Black Canyon Campground?

$10 per night per site.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Black Canyon Campground?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Black Canyon Campground open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May to November.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Black Canyon Campground have?

36 sites, including 30 standard sites without power and 6 walk-in sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Black Canyon Campground?

The longest site here provides 61 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 there showers or a dump station at Black Canyon Campground?

The campground is adjacent to New Mexico's Hyde State Park, where a dump station is available.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Black Canyon Campground?

Sites 001, 002, 003, and 004 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 35 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Black Canyon 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 Black Canyon Campground?

Hikers enjoy a pleasant hiking 1.5-mile trail that loops around the campground and into the surrounding forest. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Black Canyon Campground?

Santa Fe, New Mexico. The campground is located about seven miles northeast of the town of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Source: Getting there

What if Black Canyon Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Aspen Basin Campground (3.6 mi, first-come), Big Tesuque Campground (5.2 mi, first-come), and Holy Ghost Group Area (8.5 mi, partly first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby