Three Rivers Campground

This is a great location. it's well off the highway so it takes a little time to get there. You pay half price if you carry the senior pass card. We were there in Sept/Oct with only a few others. Plenty of room for RV's or tents. Each space has covered picnic tables, the vault toilets were clean and there is water. The campground host is usually available if needed. While we were there in the late afternoon we could watch the elk up on the ridge of the mountains that back the campground and the views of the sunset were unobstructed and beautiful. We will be back

We are full-timers who stayed in Three Rivers for 5 nights. This campground is not to be confused with the Three Rivers Petroglyph Site! To get to the Three Rivers NF campground, you have to drive a few more miles up the road toward the mountains. The road is dirt and gets a little washboarded. The campground itself is primitive, with no electric or water hookups and NO DUMP STATION. There are water points to refill portable containers, but if you need hook-ups, stay at the petroglyph campground. (Petroglyphs are worth seeing, either way- an easy short hike up a hill from the visitors' center is one of the best collections of petroglyphs in the southwest)

It is also worth noting that Three Rivers is in a remote location, FAR from the nearest grocery stores and gas stations. Carrizozo is a small town with few reliable services (getting diesel here is iffy, as the town's ONE diesel pump often breaks down), but Alamogordo has several grocery stores and large box stores. If you plan to stay at Three Rivers, stock up before you go.

We have a 30' trailer, which is over the suggested maximum length of 25'. Many sites were too small for our trailer, best suited for tents, vans, truck campers, and small Class-C. The camp host told us which sites to try. We ended up in #7, where we fit with plenty of room to spare.

This sites themselves are very comfortable, with shade trees and sheltered picnic tables. We had plenty of space between ourselves and neighbors, and a nice view from our table shelter. This campground offers some spectacular views of the foothills and basin. There is one well-used hiking trail following the river up into the mountains. The night skies are very dark out here and the star-gazing is excellent.

We loved this campground! The road in is long, but well graded gravel. It is open range, so watch for cows. (And flocks of turkeys and herds of deer!) The campground has clean and stocked vault toilets, water spigots throughout, and bear proof trash cans every couple sites.

On satellite view, it seems like the sites would fit more than the advertised maximum of 25 feet, but the issue is that most sites are seriously unlevel. Longer rigs would fit in the spaces, but at a rackish angle, even with lots of jacks. We made site #2 a bit better by backing in through the wooden posts in the back and letting our rear end hang over the tent pad.

The hosts were friendly and attentive to the campground, making multiple rounds each day. The main attraction was Three Rivers Trail, a steep and long trek to seriously amazing views over White Sands and El Malpais. Other trails leave from the same place, and folks in the campground enjoyed riding their horses on them.

The night skies were dark and clear, other campers were quiet, and the sunrises and sunsets over the snow capped mountains were spectacular. This is a very relaxing spot!

Although I did not decide to camp here the pictures of the site are great. If you want a place way away from anyone this would be the one. It is located 13 miles from the main highway with the last 7 or 8 being dirt. There was one low water crossing that could be bad if it ever rained in the area. It had just been cleaned out when we were there because it had rained recently. The dirt road to the place was not to bad but it was a ranch road. There was one sign that we almost missed and I understand that the private property owner of the ranch could be a problem. Anyway there was no one around and I figured that if I had any sort of problem I would be stuck there so decided not to stay. Plus the fact that you are paying $6 for what? so just know it is a long way out there and be prepared for it. I guess it would be as quiet as your neighbor would make it for you. There are sure no road noises out there.