Iron Gate

About

Iron Gate Campground occupies a scenic high-elevation setting above 9,000 feet in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains within Santa Fe National Forest. The campground provides the closest vehicle access to panoramic views of the Pecos Wilderness, with the Iron Gate Trailhead located inside the campground connecting to Hamilton Mesa Trail 249. The primitive campground offers 14 individual sites on a first-come, first-served basis at $4 per vehicle per night. Each site has a table and fire pit/grill. Facilities include vault toilets, a trash bin, and four horse corrals for equestrian users. No potable water is available; campers must bring their own water supply. Access requires traveling 23 miles north of Pecos on NM 63 and then onto Forest Road 223. FR 223 is rough and not recommended for low-clearance vehicles. Maximum recommended length for vehicles with horse trailers is 30 feet. A livestock management gate on FR 223 may be closed; visitors should pass through and close the gate behind them. No ATVs are allowed in the campground.

Directions

23 miles north of Pecos on NM 63 and Forest Road 223. FR 223 is rough and not recommended for low-clearance vehicles or RVs. A livestock management gate may be encountered on FR 223; pass through and close the gate behind you.