Texas / Culberson County / Guadalupe Mountains Wilderness / Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Dog Canyon Campground

Open — Open year-round. Reservations available up to six months in advance through Recreation.gov. Busiest March through May and September through November.

About

Dog Canyon Campground lies in a secluded, forested canyon on the north side of Guadalupe Mountains National Park at an elevation of 6,300 feet. Accessed via New Mexico Highway 137, the campground is 70 miles from Carlsbad, New Mexico and 110 miles from the Pine Springs Visitor Center, making it a quiet, remote destination ideal for relaxation, wildlife watching, and hiking. The campground features 13 total sites including 9 walk-in tent sites, 4 RV sites, and 1 group site accommodating 10-20 people. Tent sites require a short hike from parking areas and include a 10x10 foot tent pad and picnic table. RV sites are gravel with picnic tables but offer no hookups or dump station. The campground provides flush toilets and potable water year-round. The area is characterized by wooded drainages, meadows, and grassy hillsides with large alligator junipers, oaks, maples, madrones, piñon and ponderosa pine. Wildlife includes mule deer, western scrub jays, acorn woodpeckers, and various hummingbirds. Trails from Dog Canyon offer relatively easy grades to the high country, including the strenuous 6.4-mile Lost Peak trail with 1,500 feet of elevation gain and the moderate 4.5-mile Marcus Overlook trail. The 0.6-mile Indian Meadow Nature Trail provides an easier option. Horse corrals are available for day use only.

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, turn left onto County Road 408 (Dark Canyon Road) after 25 miles. Travel 23 miles to NM Hwy 137, turn left/south and follow 25 miles to Dog Canyon entrance. Drive time from Pine Springs is 2 hours. Use extreme caution as cattle frequently are on the roadway.

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