U.S. Forest Service · Carson National Forest · New Mexico

Hopewell Lake Campground

Hopewell Lake Campground sits next to its scenic namesake lake between Tres Piedras and Tierra Amarilla in northern New Mexico. Visitors enjoy horseback riding, hiking, fishing and canoeing.

Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

More like this: first-come in New Mexico · reservable in New Mexico · big rigs in New Mexico · pets allowed in New Mexico · group sites in New Mexico

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Hopewell Lake CampgroundHOPEWELL LAKE CAMPGROUNDHopewell Lake CampgroundHopewell Lake Campground
Photos courtesy of Carson National Forest, Conservation Legacy · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups29
Equestrian2
Group sites1
group shelter nonelectric1
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served. For the first-come sites, arrive early on a weekday and take what is open. The booking page shows which of the reservable sites are open. The first-come playbook

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

33 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFiresAccessibleRating
001CampgroundStandardBack-in30GravelPartial8 / 1YesStandard
002CampgroundStandardBack-in18GravelPartial8 / 1YesStandard
003CampgroundStandardBack-in18Gravel8 / 1YesStandard
004CampgroundStandardBack-in18GravelPartial8 / 1YesStandard
005CampgroundStandardBack-in21GravelPartial8 / 1YesStandard
006CampgroundStandardBack-in18Gravel8 / 1YesStandard
007CampgroundStandardBack-in18GravelPartial8 / 1YesStandard
008CampgroundStandardBack-in18Gravel8 / 1YesStandard
009CampgroundStandardBack-in19GravelPartial8 / 1YesStandard
010CampgroundStandardBack-in25GravelPartial8 / 1YesStandard

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 length45 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySite GS1 is listed accessible

The campground has 31 camping sites. There is also a group day-use shelter and group overnight campsite, both available by reservation. Horse corrals and water troughs are available at two campsites. Vault toilets are provided.

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.
ForestCarson National Forest
BookingA reservation fee will be added to the price.
FeesCampsite (includes parking for one vehicle) $24/night. Campsite for Senior or Access pass holders $12/night. Extra vehicle $12/night. Group shelter day use (1 to 100 people) $100/day. Group shelter overnight (1 to 100 people) $125/night. Day use parking $8/day. Day use season pass $60
RulesOff-road vehicles are allowed in the area, but must be trailered in and out of the campground

Carson National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Hopewell Lake Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 2.01 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.75 inches of precipitationMarch: 1.92 inches of precipitationApril: 1.48 inches of precipitationMay: 1.79 inches of precipitationJune: 0.82 inches of precipitationJuly: 1.95 inches of precipitationAugust: 2.84 inches of precipitationSeptember: 2.07 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.71 inches of precipitationNovember: 1.67 inches of precipitationDecember: 1.83 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 25.1°F averageFebruary: 28.4°F averageMarch: 34.9°F averageApril: 41.9°F averageMay: 51.3°F averageJune: 61.4°F averageJuly: 66.2°F averageAugust: 64.0°F averageSeptember: 57.1°F averageOctober: 46.4°F averageNovember: 35.2°F averageDecember: 25.8°F average0 in1 in2 in3 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Brazos Lodge, 12 miles from the campground at 8,005 feet, station USC00291180 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 22 inches a year.

Getting there

From Taos, New Mexico, take U.S. 64 about 40 miles west. The campground is on the south side of the road.

Coordinates36.7044° N, 106.2356° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Martinez Fall Rx

    12 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Mesa Juan Domingo Fall Rx

    22 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Stone Angel Fall Rx

    23 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Golondrino Rx

    34 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 ↗23.6 mi
RV sales & serviceSeco Bubble ↗39.1 mi
Outdoor gearTaos Mountain Outfitters ↗42.1 mi

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

Explore

Video

Hopewell Lake, New Mexico Campground Drive Thru

Worth a stop

  • 4.5 mi
    Tony Marquez ↗
    19.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_scenic_or_historic

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 Carson 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

Hopewell Lake is a small, man-made lake, set high in the Carson National Forest at an elevation of 9,500 feet. A forest of conifer and aspen trees covers the area and offers partial shade in the campground.

Recreation

The 14-acre lake is perfect for canoeing and is regularly stocked with rainbow and brook trout. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail goes through the campgound, and is popular with horseback riders and hikers.

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 Hopewell Lake Campground?

For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Hopewell Lake Campground?

Campsite (includes parking for one vehicle) $24/night. Campsite for Senior or Access pass holders $12/night. Extra vehicle $12/night.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Hopewell Lake Campground?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Hopewell Lake Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Hopewell Lake Campground have?

33 sites, including 29 standard sites without power, 2 equestrian sites, 1 group site, and 1 group shelter nonelectric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Hopewell Lake Campground?

The longest site here provides 45 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 Hopewell Lake Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Hopewell Lake Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Hopewell Lake Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Off-road vehicles are allowed in the area, but must be trailered in and out of the campground

Source: Fire nearby

Are there accessible sites at Hopewell Lake Campground?

Site GS1 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Hopewell Lake Campground?

The 14-acre lake is perfect for canoeing and is regularly stocked with rainbow and brook trout. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Hopewell Lake Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Canjilon Lakes Campground (11.6 mi, first-come), Mogote (24.9 mi), and Aspen Glade (25.5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby