Red Cloud Campground

The turnoff from US Route 54 to the Red Cloud Campground is at County Road A019 (Forest Service Road 161). The approximate coordinates for the turnoff are 34.142606 N, 105.675842 W. Don’t depend on Google Maps to take you to the correct location to turn off US Route 54 to the campground. From this point, there are signs taking you to the campground.

The applicable USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map relating to this area is the Cibola NF, Mountainair Ranger District, Gallinas Division. See chart on MVUM for dispersed camping locations in this area. There are many spots in the area with firepits and obvious signs of camping outside the dispersed camping areas designated by the USFS, probably used mostly during hunting season.

Internet access at the campground with Verizon is negligible. The best we could get was an occasional 1 bar, not enough to run a speed test. Fortunately, one only has to drive about a mile back towards the highway to get excellent reception.

We got a little sidetracked on a road trip and had to find a quick place to stop for the night. This was a little off the beaten path, but the road was totally doable - Just long and gravel. It was a Saturday and there was actually no one else at the campground. The bathrooms are clean and stocked with toilet paper, the sites have a picnic table and a fire pit. We woke up to the sounds of birds and squirrels, and the sun peeking through the trees. It’s really beautiful and quiet here.

We stayed here the first week of November and as we drove past the BLM sites on the road to the north leading in, almost every place you could park an rv had something in it, but when we got to Red Cloud we were able to find 2 open sites. Keep in mind if you're here at this time of the year, it's going to be very busy. Hunters, trucks, and atvs going by quite a bit. There were hides and bones scattered around the campground.

Besides that, this is a very nice little campground with a vault toilet and trash. No water, but hey, it's free! Careful if you google map directions there. It wanted to send me down a goat path, not the main road. Make sure to check the satellite view of the route.

At&t had 1 bar in places in the campground, and nothing in others. If you have a booster you'll probably be fine.

If you get the chance to go up to galinas peak, it's beautiful. Would highly recommend a high clearance vehicle for that though

Going by the reviews, I was expecting an empty RV park. Instead, tents and RV's everywhere. Everyone in camis, sidearms, bows, and offroad quads. I knew I was off grid for a week with not cell or news. Did I miss the Zombie Apocalypse??? No? It's the first day of Bow Season and their all out here to score a buck. They found me a spot in the trees at the main area.
A recommendation:
DO NOT take a RV past this point without scouting ahead first. After setting up the RV I 4×4 deep into the park. Do not venture past the road to the private property unless you are experienced in 4x4ing in the mountains. There are tight turn, steep climbs, and rare places to turn around. This trails goes on forever down the mountain and up the next. But, a great view from the top for those who dare.

Temporarily closed but there is dispersed camping all along the road. We stayed in a site directly across from the exit to the campground itself. Which has 3 large spots. Larger rigs should not go past the campground as not a lot of places to turn around. We stayed for 11 days it was a nice quiet place. No AT&T service.

Stayed here in a 40 foot-long Fifth Wheel (RV). CYa Around The Corner would stay here again.