Water Canyon Campground
Campground · 14 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
- 14
- Bookable sites
- up to 75
- People per site
Overview
Within the Magdalena Mountains is a beautiful campground with twelve campsites and an additional group campsite tucked away at 6,800 ft elevation. These campsites are a mix of first-come first-served and reservation sites. There are several vault toilets as well as a picnic table, a fire ring, and a grill at each campsite. The group campsite offers an additional shelter structure and large fire pit. The area is great for birding and has access to several trails nearby.
Recreation
Birding, hiking, and biking are popular activities in and around the Water Canyon Recreation Area. The campsites are also great locations for star-gazing.
Nearby Attractions
Forest Road 39, which is the spur that leads to the group campsite, can be followed as the North Fork Trail and hiked. Below the campground is the Water Canyon Picnic Area and access to more trails including the Mesa Trail.
The facts
- 14 bookable sites
- 15 sites in total, including non-bookable
- Up to 75 people per site
- Loops: Camping, S&P
Site types
- 13 Standard Nonelectric
- 1 Group Standard Nonelectric
- 1 Management
Amenities
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Shade
- Pets allowed
- Water hookups — not available
- Sewer hookups — not available
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, campfires allowed.
15 campsites at Water Canyon Campground
Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 11:00 AM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Grade | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camping | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Slight | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 10 | Camping | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Slight | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 11 | Camping | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Slight | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 12 | Camping | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Slight | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 2 | Camping | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Slight | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 3 | Camping | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Slight | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 4 | Camping | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Slight | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 5 | Camping | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Slight | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 6 | Camping | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Slight | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 7 | Camping | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Slight | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 8 | Camping | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Slight | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 9 | Camping | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Slight | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| Group Site | Camping | Group Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | — | 75 | 🐾 |
| Group S&P | S&P | Management | — | Gravel | — | — | 75 | 🐾 |
| Standard S&P | S&P | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Slight | — | 6 | 🐾 |
Getting there
From highway 60, turn onto Water Canyon Road and follow it until it's end. You will pass the picnic area on the left and will continue uphill towards the campground. The group campsite is further along the gravel road after passing the entrance to the campground on the right. The group campsite will also be on the right.
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Water Canyon Campground
- Can you reserve a site at Water Canyon Campground?
- Yes, Water Canyon Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Water Canyon Campground have?
- 15 sites in total, of which 14 can be booked.
- Are pets allowed at Water Canyon Campground?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Water Canyon Campground.
- Does Water Canyon Campground have hookups?
- No hookups are recorded here.
Contact
- Phone 575-854-2281
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-05-05.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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