USDA Forest Service · New Mexico
Cimarron Campground
USDA Forest Service · New Mexico, United States
- Sites
- 36
- Hookups
- 36 no hookups
- Season
- May 22 to September 20
- Max RV length
- 180 ft
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 9,508 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- NFSR CIMARRON · native material · high clearance vehicles
- Lake
- Carson National Forest
- Nearest town
- Shuree
- Phone
- 575-586-0520
- Activities
- Biking, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Wildlife Viewing
36 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
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. Viewing wildlife and simply relaxing in the mountain air are popular activities.
Recreation
Anglers can fish for Rio Grande cutthroat trout in Comanche Creek and the Rio Pueblo. Nearby Shuree Ponds offers excellent fishing. The smaller pond is a fishing hole for kids 12 and under. The main pond is stocked with rainbow trout and is also popular for float tubing.
The area around the campground is open to horseback riding, and there are few maintained trails. Elk and deer hunting is excellent.
Facilities
The campground contains 36 overnight campsites, which includes eleven horse sites and one double site. Vault toilets are provided.
Sites are equipped with picnic tables and campfire rings with grills. Horse corrals and water troughs are available in the campground. A host is on-site.
Natural Features
Some of the finest mountain scenery in the Southwest is found in the 1.5 million acres within the Carson National Forest. Elevations range from 6,000 feet to 13,161 feet at Wheeler Peak, the highest in New Mexico.
Big game animals roam the Carson, including mule deer, elk, antelope, black bear, mountain lion and bighorn sheep. Many species of smaller animals and songbirds can also been found in the forest.
Cimarron Campground is located within the beautiful Valle Vidal, a Spanish term meaning "Valley of Life," of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Shuree Ponds, Comanche Creek and the Rio Pueblo are all near the campground, offering excellent fishing.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (928) 537-8888.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32° | 12° | -20° | 50° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 35° | 13° | -11° | 52° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 43° | 22° | 0° | 67° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 51° | 27° | 10° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 62° | 36° | 18° | 74° | 7 of 11 |
| June | 74° | 47° | 35° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 77° | 50° | 44° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 74° | 49° | 44° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 68° | 45° | 22° | 80° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 58° | 34° | 15° | 69° | 8 of 10 |
| November | 47° | 26° | -7° | 61° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 37° | 14° | -4° | 50° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- McCrystal Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
- Junebug Campground · USDA Forest Service · 13 mi
- Elephant Rock Campground · USDA Forest Service · 14 mi · 21 sites
- Fawn Lakes Campground · USDA Forest Service · 14 mi · 19 sites
- La Bobita Campground · USDA Forest Service · 16 mi
All public campgrounds in New Mexico · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.