Dog Canyon Campground

About

Dog Canyon Campground occupies a quiet, forested canyon on the north side of Guadalupe Mountains National Park at an elevation of 6,300 feet. Located at the end of NM Highway 137 (Queen Highway), this remote campground sits 70 miles from Carlsbad, New Mexico, and a 2-hour drive (110 miles) from the Pine Springs Visitor Center. The setting features large alligator junipers, oaks, maples, madrones, and ponderosa pines, with mule deer and diverse birdlife frequently spotted. The campground offers 9 tent-only sites requiring a short hike from parking (61 to 178 feet), 4 gravel RV sites accommodating vehicles up to 23 feet, and one group site for 10-20 people. Each site includes a picnic table. Facilities include flush toilets and potable water year-round, but there are no hookups, dump station, or showers. Wood and charcoal fires are prohibited throughout the park; only cooking stoves using containerized fuel are permitted. Trails from Dog Canyon provide relatively easy-grade access to the park's high country. Popular hikes include the 4.5-mile round-trip to Marcus Overlook and the 0.6-mile Indian Meadow Nature Trail. Due to its protected location beneath steep cliff walls, Dog Canyon stays cooler in summer and is sheltered from the gusty winds common elsewhere in the park during winter and spring.

Directions

From Carlsbad, NM: Take US Hwy 285 north to NM Hwy 137 and turn south. Travel 62 miles to the Dog Canyon entrance. From Pine Springs Visitor Center: Take US Hwy 62/180 east into New Mexico, travel 25 miles, then turn left onto County Road 408 (Dark Canyon Road). Continue approximately 23 miles to the intersection with NM Hwy 137/Queen Hwy, turn left/south, and follow Queen Hwy 25 miles to the Dog Canyon entrance. Use caution for cattle on the roadway.