New Mexico Outdoor Sports Guide Camping

“Land of Enchantment”
Campers, Hikers, Bikers and other outdoor enthusiasts that have visited New
Mexico certainly know why New Mexico is called the “Land of
Enchantment”

Panoramic mountain vistas, pristine mountain streams truly do enchant
visitors, compelling them to return year after year for outdoor recreation and
vacation.

 Federal and state
lands offer an abundance of public hiking trails and campgrounds, and several Indian reservations permit camping, hiking, hunting and
fishing. While regulations differ from one agency or tribe to another, day
hiking is free in many areas, with some facilities charging for vehicle entry.
Campgrounds on tribal lands and on public lands managed by the U.S. Forest
Service, New Mexico State Parks, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park
Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers generally require a fee. Campsite
reservations are not accepted at national parks, but the New Mexico State Parks
Division is beginning a seasonal, pilot reservation program in the summer of
2000. Several U.S. Forest Service recreation sites currently take advance
reservations.

Most backcountry hiking and camping is free, although permits are required.
As in most western states, the U.S. Forest Service and BLM land holdings are
extensive in New Mexico and offer opportunities for isolated camping. Generally,
you can drive on roads and pitch a tent in most areas of national forests and
BLM property. Be sure your campsite is more than one-quarter mile from shores,
streambeds, trails, or roads and you’re bound to be in compliance with the
various agencies’ rules. Campers and hikers should always check for fire
restrictions within each region before their arrival. There are numerous
privately owned campgrounds in New Mexico, and information about those can be
obtained from local chambers of commerce. RV facilities are limited on federally
managed public lands, but nearly all of New Mexico’s state parks can accommodate
them.

Resources

The New Mexico Public Lands Information Center is an all-encompassing source
for current information on the more than 35 million acres of public lands in the
state.

Started in 1996 as a non-profit partnership between the U.S. Bureau of Land
Management and the Public Lands Interpretive Association, the center offers a
myriad of maps, books, informational brochures, videos and even licenses and
permits. The friendly and knowledgeable staff can answer most of your outdoor
recreation questions and get you started on your adventure.

You can call, write, email or visit either of the two New Mexico Public Lands
Information centers, located in Santa Fe and Roswell. Information is also
available online at www.publiclands.org.
This impressive and user-friendly website is the virtual equivalent of the
walk-in centers, offering books, maps, gifts and other items for purchase
online.

For More Information

New Mexico Public Lands Information Center
301 Dinosaur Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87508
Phone: (505) 954-2002
Fax: (505) 438-7582
Open M-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Closed weekends/holidays

Other Valuable Resources

	Bureau of Land Management, (505) 438-7542, www.blm.gov
	National Park Service, (505) 988-6011, www.nps.gov/parklists/nm.html
	Navajo Indian Reservation, (520) 871-6647
	New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, (505) 827-7911, www.gmfsh.state.nm.us
	New Mexico State Parks Division, (505) 827-7173 or 1-888-NMPARKS (667-2757), www.nmparks.com
	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, (505) 342-3100
	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (505) 248-6911, www.fws.gov
	U.S. Forest Service, (505) 842-3292, www.fs.fed.us/r3/forests/nm.html
	Fire Restrictions and Closures for New Mexico, www.publiclands.org/firenews/NM.php