Nine Mile Picnic Site
Cibola National Forest and Grasslands — hiking
Location: TIJERAS, NM, NM
Price: From $20 per night
Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)
Season: May through October
Situated along the Sandia Crest Scenic Byway 536, at a cool 9,200 ft of elevation, is the large and often shaded Nine Mile Picnic Ground. Newly renovated to address maintenance needs, the picnic area now offers a combination of single, double, and group picnic sites, vault toilets, hardened walkways, grills, serving tables, information boards, and access to near by trails. Surrounded by aspen, spruce, and fir trees, this forested site offers rest and relaxation conveniently along the Byway.
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
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/nine-mile-picnic-site to be notified when sites open up.
Recently renovated picnic area at 9,200 ft elevation along the Sandia Crest Scenic Byway, surrounded by aspen, spruce, and fir trees with access to nearby hiking trails and wildlife viewing opportunities.
Wildlife alert: Abert's Squirrel, Ringtail, Greater Roadrunner, Western Tanager, Brown-capped Rosy-Finch, Greater Short-horned Lizard
Insider tips for Nine Mile Picnic Site: Book early as this is a federal campground with limited availability Only 1 tent site available; verify current gate access status before visiting Cool 9,200 ft elevation provides relief during hot months
Skip Nine Mile Picnic Site if: You need hookups - no hookups available. You prefer developed campgrounds with multiple site options - only 1 tent site.
Best time to visit Nine Mile Picnic Site: May-October — Official seasonal operations period.
Nearby campgrounds: Capulin Spring Picnic Site (TIJERAS, NM), Balsam Glade Picnic Site (TIJERAS, NM), Las Huertas Picnic Site (TIJERAS, NM), Doc Long Picnic Sites - A And B (TIJERAS, NM).
Cell Phone Coverage at Nine Mile Picnic Site
Cell signal at Nine Mile Picnic Site (TIJERAS, NM): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 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.
Situated along the Sandia Crest Scenic Byway 536, at a cool 9,200 ft of elevation, is the large and often shaded Nine Mile Picnic Ground. Newly renovated to address maintenance needs, the picnic area now offers a combination of single, double, and group picnic sites, vault toilets, hardened walkways, grills, serving tables, information boards, and access to near by trails. Surrounded by aspen, spruce, and fir trees, this forested site offers rest and relaxation conveniently along the Byway.
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 federal campground with limited availability
Only 1 tent site available; verify current gate access status before visiting
Cool 9,200 ft elevation provides relief during hot months
Official seasonal operations period
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 State Highway N-14 about 7 miles to State Road 536. Turn left or west, onto 536 and drive about 9 miles up to the picnic site and look for signage on your left. It is easy to miss, as the gate is set back from the road. A land mark to help you is, Capulin Picnic Site. Nine Mile Picnic Site is approximately a mile past Capulin, on the left.
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 Nine Mile Picnic Site cost per night?+
What season is Nine Mile Picnic Site open?+
Does Nine Mile Picnic Site have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Nine Mile Picnic Site?+
How do I make reservations at Nine Mile Picnic Site?+
What is the cell service like at Nine Mile Picnic Site?+
What season is Nine Mile Picnic Site open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
Nearby Campgrounds
Own a campground nearby?
List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.