Dipping Vat Campground

Nice clean and quiet campground. Caught many trout walking the shoreline. We stayed on a Tuesday and wed and was only 3 other people in camp. I also unloaded the atv for a 20 mile round trip ride on dirt road from campground. Dirt road coming in from the east 52/59 from Elephant Butte is a rough one. Took me almost 5hrs from Elephant Butte. I have a truck camper. West route is much smoother. I wouldn't drive specifically to stay at the campground but I was cutting through so it was worth it.

Gorgeous and deserted as hunting season ended the day before! There was only 1 other party in the whole camp! We took site 10 overlooking the lake, beautiful and reasonably level. Most sites are not very level but probably OK with leveling blocks. Bathrooms functional and reasonably clean although some toilet paper strewn about; bear safe garbage receptacles abound, and there are several potable water spigots. No dump station or other services. No cell service. It’s a beautiful drive through the mountains from Reserve, but lots of potholes on the paved portion, and washboard on the gravel stretches. It took as 2.5 hrs from Reserve. We went out via road to Mogollon; very difficult! Dirt, rocky, grooved, very narrow; took 2 hrs to go less than 20 miles. Not sure what we would have done meeting someone going in the other direction. We had a high clearance 19 ft camper van and did ok, but would not do it again…if you like off reading in 4 WD high clearance pick up have at it!

One of the most beautiful sites overlooking a mountain lake. We were the only ones there in May 2018. But there are consequences for your vehicle. The only realistic route to this or any nearby campground is 50 miles from the northern town of Reserve, involving 25 miles of horrible washboard gravel that will shake your vehicle to death at any speed. I really liked this place, but I wouldn't do it again with my vehicle. And although GPS may show an east-west route from Hwy 180 via the ghost town of Mogollon, don't even consider it, as it is single lane, steep, blind hairpin turns, and gravel and large rocks and ruts, and not fit for anything but short high jeeps and OHV's. I rode my dirt bike several miles past the sign in the picture and it was challenging even with that. There was no cell reception in this area.