Agua Piedra Campground
Carson National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Vadito, NM, NM
Price: From $30 per night
Price range: $30–$50 per night
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (100 reviews)
Season: May through October
Agua Piedra, located in the Carson National Forest, is nestled near the Rio Pueblo and Agua Piedra Creek. The campground contains many shaded areas to camp, relax, and enjoy the outdoors.Visitors to the Agua Piedra campground and group shelters can also enjoy fishing in the Rio Pueblo River, which is a tributary of the mighty Rio Grande. The river is stocked with rainbow trout and there is a small pier in the day use area.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Camp Host, Fishing, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/agua-piedra-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Agua Piedra offers shaded camping near the Rio Pueblo River with stocked rainbow trout fishing and a day-use pier. The Carson National Forest location provides access to hiking trails including routes to Serpent Lake and Cordova Canyon.
Wildlife alert: Watch for Long-tailed Weasels. Common birds include Mountain Chickadees, American Dippers, Steller's Jays, and Black-billed Magpies. Garter snakes (Thamnophis elegans) are present in the area.
Insider tips for Agua Piedra Campground: Book early—this is a federal campground with high demand Bring your own firewood or purchase at the campground; firewood is available for sale Rio Pueblo River has a small pier in the day use area for fishing access
Skip Agua Piedra Campground if: You need RV hookups—no hookups available; only suitable for self-contained RVs. You're visiting November through April—seasonal closure.
Best time to visit Agua Piedra Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Santa Barbara Campground (Vadito, NM), Amole Canyon Group Shelter (Penasco, NM), Rio Bravo Group Shelter (Taos, NM), Taos Junction Group Shelter (Taos, NM).
Cell Phone Coverage at Agua Piedra Campground
Cell signal at Agua Piedra Campground (Vadito, NM): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Agua Piedra, located in the Carson National Forest, is nestled near the Rio Pueblo and Agua Piedra Creek. The campground contains many shaded areas to camp, relax, and enjoy the outdoors.Visitors to the Agua Piedra campground and group shelters can also enjoy fishing in the Rio Pueblo River, which is a tributary of the mighty Rio Grande. The river is stocked with rainbow trout and there is a small pier in the day use area.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a federal campground with high demand
Bring your own firewood or purchase at the campground; firewood is available for sale
Rio Pueblo River has a small pier in the day use area for fishing access
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Las Vegas, New Mexico, take State Highway 518 approximately 51 miles to the Agua Piera Campground. From Penasco, New Mexico, travel east on State Route 75 about 5 miles, to an intersection. Turn right, onto State Route 518 (unmarked) and continue about 7 miles to campground entrance. From Taos, head south on NM-68. Turn Left onto NM-518 and stay on it for 23 miles. Agua Piedra Campground will be on your right.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Carson National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Carson National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Agua Piedra Campground cost per night?+
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Does Agua Piedra Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Agua Piedra Campground?+
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What is the cell service like at Agua Piedra Campground?+
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Official resources
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