Pinon Campground (Quemado Lake)
Gila National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Quemado, NM, NM
Price: From $15 per night
Price range: $15–$125 per night
Rating: 4 out of 5 (4 reviews)
Season: May through October
Pinon Campground is a mix of first come, first served campsites and reservable group sites. The campground is located across from Juniper Campground and is less than 2 miles from Quemado Lake. For more information, you can visit our website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gila/recarea/?recid=1964 For facility specific information, please call (575) 773-4678.Tent Camping/ Trailer/RV Camping / Picnic Tables / Vault Toilets / Grills / Campfire Rings Forested / Unrestricted Night Sky Views -El Caso
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, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/pinon-campground-quemado-lake to be notified when sites open up.
Well-maintained federal campground with lake views and diverse recreational opportunities including fishing, boating, and hiking. Google reviewers consistently praise the clean facilities and natural setting, with wildlife sightings like elk and ospreys.
Wildlife alert: Mexican Wolf, Wapiti (Elk), Bald Eagle, Coyote, and Cliff Chipmunk present in the area. Ospreys observed fishing on the lake.
Insider tips for Pinon Campground (Quemado Lake): Book early — this is a popular federal campground with limited first-come, first-served availability Bring self-contained RV setup; no hookups available Plan for vault toilets only; no shower or water hookup facilities
Skip Pinon Campground (Quemado Lake) if: You need RV hookups (water, electric, sewer). You prefer year-round access (seasonal May-October only). You want guaranteed reservations (mix of first-come and group sites).
Best time to visit Pinon Campground (Quemado Lake): May-October — Official operating season per verified data.
Nearby campgrounds: Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake) (Quemado, NM), Luna Lake (Alpine, AZ), Benny Creek Group Area (Greer, AZ), Rainbow (Az) (Pinetop, AZ).
Cell Phone Coverage at Pinon Campground (Quemado Lake)
Cell signal at Pinon Campground (Quemado Lake) (Quemado, 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.
Pinon Campground is a mix of first come, first served campsites and reservable group sites. The campground is located across from Juniper Campground and is less than 2 miles from Quemado Lake. For more information, you can visit our website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gila/recarea/?recid=1964 For facility specific information, please call (575) 773-4678.Tent Camping/ Trailer/RV Camping / Picnic Tables / Vault Toilets / Grills / Campfire Rings Forested / Unrestricted Night Sky Views -El Caso I-3 Campgrounds -El Caso 4 & 5 Campgrounds -Juniper Campground -Quemado Lake and Day Use Area -Boat Ramp at Quemado Lake Recreational opportunities include fishing and boating on Quemado Lake, hiking forest and lakeside trails, and RV and tent camping.
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 popular federal campground with limited first-come, first-served availability
Bring self-contained RV setup; no hookups available
Plan for vault toilets only; no shower or water hookup facilities
Official operating season per verified data
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 →
The campground is located 14.2 miles south of Quemado. Take NM 32 south to Quemado Lake/NM 103 sign. Turn left onto NM 103 and drive 4 miles to Quemado Lake/Forest Road 13. NM103 ends when the paved road turns to gravel. The gravel road is an indication that you are now driving on Forest Road 13. Continue driving on Forest Road 13 for 1.4 miles to reach the Pinon Campground. Turn left into the campground. Latitude : 34.138103 Longitude : -108.483553 Elevation : 7,899 Feet
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 — Gila National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Gila National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Pinon Campground (Quemado Lake) cost per night?+
What season is Pinon Campground (Quemado Lake) open?+
Does Pinon Campground (Quemado Lake) have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Pinon Campground (Quemado Lake)?+
How do I make reservations at Pinon Campground (Quemado Lake)?+
What is the cell service like at Pinon Campground (Quemado Lake)?+
What season is Pinon Campground (Quemado Lake) 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.