If you’re looking for more than just a hike in the forest, and want to spend time getting up close and personal with nature, you might want to check out some of the national forest campgrounds. Here are a few of the options:
JUNEBUG
Junebug is an attractive campground right on the edge of Red River that fills up most weekends. It gets a few RVs, but there’s great tent camping here. Pick a riverside campsite and pitch the tent close to the river. It has undergone recent innovations and improvements.
FAWN LAKES
Fawn Lakes is just 3.5 miles from Red River and, like nearby Junebug Campground, fills quickly most weekends. Fawn Lakes will attract RVs, but it is ideal for tent camping. If you select a riverside campsite, you can pitch your tent close to the river for more privacy. The river can be heard throughout the campground. There are 19 individual sites.
ELEPHANT ROCK
Elephant Rock Campground is across NM 38 from Fawn Lakes on the north side of the road, and is an easy walk to Fawn Lakes. Set up on a hillside, this campground is beautifully terraced, with large campsites. Elephant Rock offers the privacy that Junebug or Fawn Lakes campgrounds do not provide. It is often overlooked by those who prefer riverside camping and is the last campground very near to the town of Red River to fill up on the weekends. It has 21 individual sites. This campground provides the best seclusion of all of the Red River campgrounds.
COLUMBINE
Columbine Campground is about 7 miles west of Red River and is composed of two loops. One very small loop has all open sites and is nice for large gatherings. The other is a large long loop among pine, spruce and some aspen that follows Columbine Creek. The sound of the creek can be heard throughout the campground. This is bear country so store your food safely.
