campgrounds.fyiIndependent · federal campgrounds · no paid placements
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USFSCibola National Forest and Grasslands · New Mexico

Red Cloud Campground

Small (5 sites) quiet and primitive camp in a Ponderosa forest at 7600´elevation.
Sites0all reservable
Elev.7,011ft
Comf.Apr-Nov8 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Albuquerque2h46real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27

At 7,011 ft, Red Cloud 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: 2 peaks, lake or river access.

The campground at a glance

01 · CHARACTER
QuietCoolRoomyShadeRV-fitReserv.

Reads strongest on cool nights and quiet. Softest on quiet.

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
JFMAMJJASOND
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 18
Last spring frost; first fall frost Oct 18.
62°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.

Getting there

03 · ACCESS
01
Albuquerque
114 mi
2h46
02
Santa Fe
122 mi
2h54
By drive time
Albuquerque · 2h46Santa Fe · 2h54Camp

Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 2.3 mi away.

What's within four miles

05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER

Trails & Peaks

Peaks
2

Water & Access

Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
2.3 mi
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 →