Black Canyon Campground - Upper
Open and available for overnight camping. Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect across the Gila National Forest through September 30, 2026; campfires are permitted in designated fire rings. No potable water available on site.
Cannabis Possession Prohibited
Order 03-00-00-21-002 prohibits possessing, storing, or transporting a cannabis plant, any part of a cannabis plant, or any substance derived from a cannabis plant within the Southwestern Region National Forests in the State of New Mexico and the National Grasslands in the states of Texas and…
Sacaton Fire Closure
An area closure goes into effect at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 1 for all National Forest System lands within the Gila Wilderness around Sacaton Mountain (see map below).
Black Range Ranger District network and phones down June 24, 2026
Computer network and phones are out of service at the Black Range Ranger District since about 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 23. The office is open for visitors, but without access to the network and point-of-sale system, we are unable to make any sales until the outage is resolved.
About
Upper Black Canyon Campground provides a remote and rugged camping experience deep within the Gila National Forest. Located along Forest Road 150 (North Star Road), the campground sits approximately 30 miles from the Wilderness Ranger District office and about 40 miles from Mimbres, NM. The upper campground is the first camping area encountered when arriving and is visible from the entrance road. This primitive, no-fee campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations available. Facilities include a vault toilet and picnic tables with fire rings. Campers must bring their own water as no potable water is available, and must pack out all trash. The 14-day stay limit applies. Access requires careful vehicle selection. Forest Road 150 passes through Rocky Canyon with very rough sections, and a high-clearance 4WD vehicle is strongly recommended. RVs will find it very difficult to reach the campground. OHV/ATV use, hunting, shooting, and stock animals are prohibited within the campground. The area experienced flooding following the 2022 Black Fire.
Directions
From Mimbres, take Highway 35 to Forest Road 150 at milepost 15. Turn north (right) and travel approximately 26 miles on an improved dirt and rock road. Turn left into the upper campground. La Tienda in Mimbres is the last place to get gas before the campground. High-clearance 4WD vehicle recommended.
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (575) 536-2250 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Photos
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