USDA Forest Service · New Mexico

Iron Gate

USDA Forest Service · New Mexico, United States

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Cost
Overnight Use: Single Site: $4 per vehicle per night
Drinking water
No
Restrooms
No
Elevation
9,354 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 223J · native material · high clearance vehicles

About

US Forest Service campground. Located above 9,000 feet, Iron Gate Campgroundis an excellentspot to access the Pecos Wilderness for day hiking and horseback riding. Uses:camping, hiking, horseback riding. Facilities:14 units, vaulted toilets, trash bin, tables, fire pit/grill, 4 horse corrals. NO WATER. Special Instructions: Maximum recommended length for vehicleand horse trailer is 30 feet. Forest Road 223 very rough and not recommended for low clearance vehicles. Users are encouraged to recycle and packout trash. NO ATVs ALLOWED IN CAMPGROUND. Not reservable through Recreation.gov, so plan on first-come, first-served; check with the ranger district for current conditions and fees.

Weather, month by month

MonthTypical highTypical lowColdest nightHottest dayYears with a night below 32°F
January35°17°-14°52°11 of 11
February38°18°-8°53°11 of 11
March43°24°6°67°11 of 11
April53°30°16°65°11 of 11
May62°39°28°74°5 of 11
June73°50°38°82°0 of 11
July76°53°46°85°0 of 11
August73°51°45°80°0 of 11
September68°48°28°78°1 of 11
October59°36°24°69°5 of 10
November48°30°-2°62°10 of 10
December39°20°0°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

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.