Cienega Picnic Site
Cibola National Forest and Grasslands — hiking
Location: TIJERAS, NM, NM
Price: From $65 per night
Rating: 4 out of 5 (3 reviews)
Season: May through October
Beautiful, shady, cool and green are just a few words that recreationists have used to describe the Cienega Group Picnic site. It is fairly flat, accessible, semi-private and accommodates up to fifty people. There are grills, bear proof trash containers and vault toilets provided and no shelter other than the surrounding shade trees.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Electric Hookups, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cienega-picnic-site to be notified when sites open up.
Cienega Picnic Site offers an extensive trail network with hikes for all levels and distances, including access to Sandia Mountain Wilderness. Reviewers consistently praise the well-maintained facilities and scenic forest setting with elevation gain trails like Cienega Springs.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Bobcat, Ringtail, and Greater Short-horned Lizard present in area. Birds include Western Tanager, Brown-capped Rosy-Finch, and Greater Roadrunner.
Insider tips for Cienega Picnic Site: Book early as this is a popular federal facility Day-use parking is $5/day; no overnight camping allowed despite picnic site designation Extensive trail network allows connections between Cienega Springs Trail and Faulty Trail into Sandia Mountain Wilderness
Skip Cienega Picnic Site if: Seeking overnight camping - Cienega is day-use only. Needing RV hookups - electric hookups listed but described as unavailable at most sites. Visiting outside May-October seasonal window.
Best time to visit Cienega Picnic Site: May-October — Official operating season for the picnic site.
Nearby campgrounds: Doc Long Picnic Sites - A And B (TIJERAS, NM), Balsam Glade Picnic Site (TIJERAS, NM), Capulin Spring Picnic Site (TIJERAS, NM), Nine Mile Picnic Site (TIJERAS, NM).
Cell Phone Coverage at Cienega Picnic Site
Cell signal at Cienega Picnic Site (TIJERAS, NM): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage · Verizon 5G: 100%
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage · T-Mobile 5G: 100%
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.
Beautiful, shady, cool and green are just a few words that recreationists have used to describe the Cienega Group Picnic site. It is fairly flat, accessible, semi-private and accommodates up to fifty people. There are grills, bear proof trash containers and vault toilets provided and no shelter other than the surrounding shade trees.
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 as this is a popular federal facility
Day-use parking is $5/day; no overnight camping allowed despite picnic site designation
Extensive trail network allows connections between Cienega Springs Trail and Faulty Trail into Sandia Mountain Wilderness
Official operating season for the picnic site
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Albuquerque, drive east on I-40 to Exit 175. Proceed north on Highway 14 about 7 miles to Highway 536. Turn onto Highway 536 and wind your way up. Look for signage for Cienega and Sulphur picnic sites on your left. They share the same entrance. As you turn into the entrance to Cienega and Sulphur Picnic sites, Sulphur is directly to the right as you enter and Cienega entrance is further up and to your left. The road to Cienega Picnic site continues for about a 1/2 mile drive into the woods.
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 — Cibola National Forest and Grasslands fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Cibola National Forest and Grasslands before arrival — seasonal closures common.
- Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Cienega Picnic Site cost per night?+
What season is Cienega Picnic Site open?+
Does Cienega Picnic Site have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Cienega Picnic Site?+
How do I make reservations at Cienega Picnic Site?+
What is the cell service like at Cienega Picnic Site?+
What season is Cienega Picnic Site open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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