USDA Forest Service · New Mexico
La Junta Canyon
USDA Forest Service · New Mexico, United States
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 8,671 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
- LA JUNTA (NFSR 76) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
- Nearest town
- 4 miles north east of Tres Ritos along Forest Road 76, off of State Highway 518.
About
US Forest Service campground. Fishing access. Also popular with motorcylists Facilities: 8 family units, toilets, drinking water, trailer mobility - under 36' Attractions: Adjacent to Rito la Presa Fishing Trailhead to La Cueva Lake Trail #8 and Duran/Policarpio Trail #13. A family unit consists of parking for at least 1 vehicle, a picnic table and a grill. Not reservable through Recreation.gov, so plan on first-come, first-served; check with the ranger district for current conditions and fees.
Fees
Overnight Use:
Single Site: $20.00 per night (includes parking for one vehicle)
Additional Vehicle Fee: $10.00 per vehicle per night
Day Use: $10.00 per vehicle per day
Senior/Access Pass Discount (1 vehicle per night): $10.00
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38° | 19° | -7° | 53° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 40° | 20° | -3° | 57° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 46° | 25° | 8° | 69° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 56° | 33° | 16° | 68° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 65° | 40° | 30° | 76° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 76° | 50° | 42° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 79° | 54° | 48° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 76° | 53° | 47° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 71° | 49° | 34° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 61° | 38° | 29° | 70° | 3 of 10 |
| November | 51° | 31° | -2° | 64° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 43° | 24° | 4° | 55° | 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
- Duran · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Agua Piedra Cg · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
- Agua Piedra Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 46 sites
- Upper La Junta Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
- Comales · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi
All public campgrounds in New Mexico · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-06. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.