Cimarron Campground

Carson National Forest — fishing, hiking

Location: Cimarron, NM, NM

Price: From $22 per night

Price range: $22–$40 per night

Rating: 3.9 out of 5 (33 reviews)

Season: May through October

Cimarron Campground is located in the scenic Valle Vidal within Carson National Forest in northern New Mexico, at an elevation of 9,300 feet. The sites are tucked among spruce, aspen and fir trees, and the camp offers an open range feel. Visitors have opportunities to enjoy a variety of recreational activities in a picturesque setting.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Camp Host, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cimarron-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Scenic campground in Valle Vidal at 9,300 feet within Carson National Forest, featuring sites nestled among spruce, aspen, and fir trees with opportunities for fishing Rio Grande cutthroat trout and wildlife viewing. Google reviewers consistently praise the well-maintained facilities, abundant wildlife, and beautiful mountain setting.

Wildlife alert: Elk, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Gunnison's Prairie Dog, American Badger, Red-tailed Hawk, American Dipper, Tree Swallow, and Pinyon Jay documented in area

Insider tips for Cimarron Campground: Book early—this is a federal campground with high demand Bring a self-contained RV as there are no hookups available Hike to Lake Shuree for trout fishing opportunities

Skip Cimarron Campground if: You need RV hookups—none available at most sites. You require year-round access—seasonal May through October only. You prefer private concessions—this is a federal campground.

Best time to visit Cimarron Campground: May-October — Official seasonal operations period for campground. Summer — Peak fishing season for Rio Grande cutthroat trout based on verified activities.

Nearby campgrounds: Fawn Lakes Campground (Red River, NM), Elephant Rock Campground (Red River, NM), Columbine Campground (Nm) (Questa, NM), El Aguaje Group Shelter (Taos, NM).

Cell Phone Coverage at Cimarron Campground

Cell signal at Cimarron Campground (Cimarron, NM): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

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.

CamperWatch
CamperWatch›NM›Cimarron Campground
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Carson National Forest — fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Cimarron Campground

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Cimarron, NM, NM★ 3.9 (33 reviews)From $22/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Cimarron Campground is located in the scenic Valle Vidal within Carson National Forest in northern New Mexico, at an elevation of 9,300 feet. The sites are tucked among spruce, aspen and fir trees, and the camp offers an open range feel. Visitors have opportunities to enjoy a variety of recreational activities in a picturesque setting.

Best for:AnglersHikersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV180 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsCamp Host
Recreation
Picnic TablesFishing
Family & Pets
Vault Toilets

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups—none available at most sites✕ You require year-round access—seasonal May through October only✕ You prefer private concessions—this is a federal campground

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with high demand

Bring a self-contained RV as there are no hookups available

Hike to Lake Shuree for trout fishing opportunities

Best: May-October

Official seasonal operations period for campground

Best: Summer

Peak fishing season for Rio Grande cutthroat trout based on verified activities

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Elk, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Gunnison's Prairie Dog, American Badger, Red-tailed Hawk, American Dipper, Tree Swallow, and Pinyon Jay documented in area

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
575-586-0520· Carson National Forest
Getting there →

Driving Directions: From Costilla, NM, on State Highway 522, travel east on State Highway 196 past Amalia to the intersection of Forest Service Road 1950. Travel on 1950 (a gravel road) east to the unit boundary. Follow Forest Service Road 1950 to the junction with Forest Service Road 1900. Turn right; you will cross Costilla Creek. Continue on Forest Service Road 1950, 10 miles to the junction with Forest Road 1910. Climb 1 mile up the hill to Cimmarron Campground.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#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.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Cimarron Campground cost per night?+
Cimarron Campground costs $22–$40 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Cimarron Campground open?+
Cimarron Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Cimarron Campground have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Cimarron Campground?+
Cimarron Campground can accommodate RVs up to 180 feet.
How do I make reservations at Cimarron Campground?+
Cimarron Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Cimarron Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Cimarron Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Cimarron Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Cimarron Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Recreation Resource Mgmt. of America
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$22 /night★ 3.9 (33)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Cimarron Campground cost per night?+
What season is Cimarron Campground open?+
Does Cimarron Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Fawn Lakes Campground

Red River, NM

From $30/night

Elephant Rock Campground

Red River, NM

From $30/night

Columbine Campground (Nm)

Questa, NM

From $30/night

El Aguaje Group Shelter

Taos, NM

From $40/night

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