Riana Campground

You can’t beat the price $8 per night (with senior NP pass discount). Great value for the amenities that include; electric and water hookup at the site, shower house with flush toilets plus pit toilets throughout the campground, each site has it’s own trash can, sites are paved, level and clean with shade covered picnic table, barbecue and fire pit at each site. Most sites have a view of the lake, although there is no access to the lake from the campground, but there is a day use area with lake access and boat launch. The day use area is far separate from the campground, and there is also a visitor center. Check in is 1pm and checkout is Noon. Restrictions include no alcohol, marijuana, fireworks, drones. Quiet hours are 10pm to 6am and no generators between 10pm and 8am. I did not hear any generators anywhere near the electric loop. Sites are very large and spacious, wide and long with plenty of space and shrubs between for privacy. I was in a handicap site right near the shower house with no other sites on either side of me and the site sits up high with a good view of the lake. There are some nice trails all around the campground, although in the summer you need to go early in the morning because this is desert weather and it is warm, 87-88 high daytime, 58-59 low nights at 6400 ft altitude. Most sites have a view of the lake. The bath/showers are old but functioning and as clean as can be expected for campgrounds (lots of bugs but otherwise clean). This campground is about 1.5 hrs southwest of Taos and about 1 hr northwest of Santa Fe. There is a good cell signal on Verizon without need for booster. You can reserve the handicap sites if no other sites are available when you make your reservation 😉

We stayed at the Riana Campground in late April in the Pedernal Loop at campsite 12. Our nightly rate was $8.00 with our Lifetime Access Pass, otherwise the nighty rate is $16.00. Our site was a paved pad, level, with 30 amp hookup, water hookup, picnic table with shelter, fire ring, grill, trash container, and nice shade trees. The restrooms and free hot showers were clean, however slightly outdated and in need of repair. The dump station was conveniently located and well maintained. We received 2 bars of Verizon service at our campsite. The views of Abiquiu Lake from our campsite were amazing, and there are great trails at the campground leading to the lake. The campground hosts were exceptional people, friendly, and informative, overall our experience was very pleasant. We would definitely stay again at this Army Corps of Engineers campground.

This was a wonderful stay by Abiquiu Lake. The views were exceptional, especially at sunset. There were days and days of activities in the area and the town of Espanola was approximately 28 miles away for any needs you may have.
The camphosts (2 sets) were so friendly and helpful and there were two evenings that the Rangers arranged presentations at sunset.
The showers were okay, the shower heads dribbled out water but at least it was hot.
We had electric and water at our site with the dump in a different loop.
It was super quiet after 10 pm so we enjoyed sitting out, looking at the stars.

A very beautiful & tranquil place. It is definitely a place we will visit again. Lots of hiking trails. Boat ramp makes for easy kayak, paddle board launching. Here is information about the Pedernal Loop sites (Electric/Water loop).
2, 11, 12, 14: Good level site with room for RV and tent
13, 15 Very good level site for RV and tow vehicle
1 Very good level site, private with panoramic view of lake and mountains. Isolated from other campers. Parking the tow vehicle is tight if you have a
30' or greater RV. Longest walk to the bath house.
A1 & A2 have very good level site with great views and access to bath house for physically challenged
3, 5, 7 are the least desirable either due to RV pad or location of picnic table to RV Pad.
9, 10 Are pull off the road, they are not pull throughs, just parked on side of cam ground road. The view is the side of a small hill. Easy access to
vault toilet and bathhouse is close by.
For those with children, sites 11-15 are ideal. They are right near the playground. The playground is recessed below line of sight from the camp sites. Therefore, the view of the lake and mountains are not blocked by playground equipment. This makes them very accessible for the children but out of sight and sound from the sites.

The town of Abiquiu has a farmers’ market on Tuesdays at 4pm in parking lot across from Bode's. You can purchase locally grown and baked goods. Abiquiu Inn has reasonably priced good food.

For an adventurous drive, take the switch back road down the front side of the dam. I think the name of it is Rio Campo. The entrance is directly across the street from the Abiquiu Dam Visitor Center. Once at the bottom there is a dirt road that takes you deep into the canyon so you can experience up close the canyon beauty. Looks like great fishing there.

I had forgotten how magnificent the views are from the Pede Loop (aka Pedernal Mountain in Jemez Range). Only 15 electric sites with water (we were in Pede 3) where all other campers were hidden from our view, felt very private, looked straight out into the sunset across the lake and mountains. Enjoyed tubing and swimming at the Swimming “Beach”. No salt, no sand, no sharks! We found a nice rock ledge where we could step into cool, deep water. Not too busy on lake, some paddle boards, kayaks and jet skis. No alcohol on premises, so maybe this keeps the crowds down. We love Riana Campground- Corps of Engineers rock!