USFSGila National Forest · New Mexico

Forks Campground

This campground features beautiful cliffs along the West Fork of the Gila River.

Sites0all reservable

Elev.5,594ft

Comf.Apr-Nov8 months

Max rigtents

Electricnonesites

From Albuquerque5h43real road time

The honest read

Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27

At 5,594 ft, Forks Campground has a 8-month comfortable window (Apr-Nov). Winter nights average around 26°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. Within about 4 miles: 11 named hiking routes, 1 peak, lake or river access.

The campground at a glance

01 · CHARACTER

Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.

When to go

02 · CLIMATE

avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Apr

Apr-Nov

Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.

81%

Of summer weekend-days are dry.

Apr 10

Last spring frost; first fall frost Oct 25.

63°F

Average July low. Bring a fleece.

Getting there

03 · ACCESS

Albuquerque

253 mi

5h43

Santa Fe

315 mi

6h49

By drive time

What's within four miles

05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER

Trails & Peaks

Named hiking routes

Trail segments

Peaks

Water & Access

Lake / river access

yes

Method

We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.

Check availability on Recreation.gov →