New Mexico / Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation / Otero County

Aspen Group Area

Closed — Closed for the season. Opens May 16 and closes September 7. Reservations required through Recreation.gov.

About

Aspen Group Area sits at an elevation of almost 9,000 feet in the Sacramento Mountains of south-central New Mexico, part of Lincoln National Forest. The campground is surrounded by mixed pine, fir, and white-trunked aspen trees, offering cool, crisp mountain breezes and an escape from the scorching desert valley below. The area overlooks Dog Canyon and the Tularosa Basin, providing breathtaking vistas of the region's unspoiled landscapes. This reservation-only group campground can accommodate up to 70 people and features a covered pavilion, vault toilets, campfire pits, grills, and picnic tables. The campground is surrounded by excellent hiking opportunities, including trails to outstanding overlooks from Alamo Peak and Stark Peak. The popular Osha Trail offers a 2.5-mile loop. The famous Rim Trail, a 32-mile path for mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding, is accessible just a quarter mile from the campground. Wildlife in the area includes elk, deer, and bears. The nearby Village of Cloudcroft provides additional services and attractions. Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, located at the foot of the mountains, features a restored 19th century ranch house and the flowering oasis of Dog Canyon. Lincoln National Forest is most notable as the birthplace of the original Smokey Bear.

Directions

From Cloudcroft, turn south onto NM 130. Continue for 1 mile and turn left (east) onto Forest Road 24B (just across the road from the Deerhead Campground entrance). The entrance will be on your left hand side.

Nearby Campgrounds