U.S. Forest Service · Cibola National Forest and Grasslands · New Mexico

Mcgaffey Campground

This campground is situated in what was once the historic railroad logging and sawmill town of McGaffey. McGaffey Campground was built in 1937 and lies west of the Continental Divide in the Zuni Mountains, at an elevation of approximately 8,000 feet. It is the largest of the Mt. Taylor Ranger District campgrounds and has a volunteer host on site. Mature ponderosa pine trees provide scenic settings and shade, while small hills provide some privacy. Follow the road past the entrance, staying to the right to access the Oso and Page overnight sites. Remember to pay attention to road conditions and your vehicle's abilities before driving off of the main road.

Closed for the seasonFirst-come, first-served

More like this: first-come in New Mexico

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonMay 15 to October 15
ForestCibola National Forest and Grasslands
BookingNo reservations
FeesCamping - $10.00/vehicle; Day use Picnic - $5.00/vehicle Group sites: Wingate $100.00, Torreon $75.00, Tampico $50.00.
RulesThere is a 14-day stay limit for this campground; Trailers limited to less than 22 feet in length.

Cibola National Forest and Grasslands recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Mcgaffey Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.79 inches of precipitation, 9.0 inches of snowFebruary: 1.46 inches of precipitation, 8.7 inches of snowMarch: 1.51 inches of precipitation, 6.6 inches of snowApril: 1.13 inches of precipitation, 2.4 inches of snowMay: 0.98 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowJune: 0.55 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 2.82 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.14 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.64 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.43 inches of precipitation, 2.5 inches of snowNovember: 1.63 inches of precipitation, 2.6 inches of snowDecember: 1.61 inches of precipitation, 10.1 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 27.7°F averageFebruary: 30.6°F averageMarch: 37.2°F averageApril: 43.3°F averageMay: 51.8°F averageJune: 61.7°F averageJuly: 66.6°F averageAugust: 64.8°F averageSeptember: 59.2°F averageOctober: 48.3°F averageNovember: 36.8°F averageDecember: 28.1°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Mcgaffey 5 SE, 5 miles from the campground at 8,000 feet, station USC00295560 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 20 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 42 inches a year on the same inches scale. The shaded span is the published season, May 15 to October 15.

Getting there

Take Exit 33 from I-40 east of Gallup, then drive south through Fort Wingate. Continue 8 more miles on SR 400 to the campground entrance on the southwest side of the road.

Coordinates35.3707° N, 108.5227° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗23.9 mi

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

Limited data for this unit

No site-by-site records, no amenities, no fee schedule or photos in the Recreation.gov record. What is here comes from the agency's own listing. The rest lives there.

Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the record fills in.

Explore

Worth a stop

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.2 mi
    Mikes Rippin'
    2.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.3 mi
    Strawberry Canyon
    2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.4 mi
    Torreon
    2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.6 mi
    Tampico Springs
    3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.9 mi
    Sawmill ↗
    4.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.7 mi
    Plush ↗
    5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

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 Mcgaffey Campground?

No. Mcgaffey Campground is first-come, first-served. No reservations Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Mcgaffey Campground?

Camping - $10.00/vehicle; Day use Picnic - $5.00/vehicle Group sites: Wingate $100.00, Torreon $75.00, Tampico $50.00.

Source: Forest Service

Is Mcgaffey Campground open right now?

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

Source: Forest Service status

What if Mcgaffey Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Quaking Aspen Campground (2.6 mi, first-come), El Morro Campground (25.3 mi, first-come), and Ojo Redondo Campground (27.6 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby