Lower Black Canyon
Open year-round, first-come first-served, no reservations. Stage 1 fire restrictions in effect through September 30, 2026, limiting campfires to designated campgrounds with adequate fire rings. FR 150 road construction near Diamond Creek may cause temporary 30-60 minute delays through early May 2026. Potential for flooding during high stream flows due to post-fire damage.
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…
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.
Bear Fire Area/Road Closure
An area closure goes into effect at 6:00 a.m. Saturday, June 13 for all National Forest System lands east of Catron County Road A095 (Mangas Road), as well as all roads and trails within the area closure (see map).
About
Lower Black Canyon Campground sits at 6,734 feet elevation in a remote area of the Gila National Forest, approximately 30 miles from the Wilderness Ranger District office near Silver City. The campground occupies a beautiful meadow alongside a stream, offering a quiet backcountry experience with direct access to the Gila Wilderness via Lower Black Canyon Trail #94. This primitive campground features a newer vault toilet and three picnic tables. No potable water is available, so campers must bring their own supply. Trash service is not provided; all refuse must be packed out. The campground is free with no reservations and operates first-come first-served with a 14-day stay limit. Pets are permitted but must remain leashed. Access is challenging. From Mimbres, take NM Highway 35 to Forest Road 150 at milepost 15, then travel 26 miles north on improved dirt and rock road before turning left for 0.5 mile over a steep stream crossing. Sections of FR 150, particularly through Rocky Canyon, can be very rough, and high-clearance 4WD vehicles are strongly recommended. Long trailers are not recommended due to the stream crossing. The campground experienced flooding damage following the 2022 Black Fire, and potential for flooding exists during high stream flows.
Directions
From Mimbres, take NM Highway 35 to Forest Road 150 at milepost 15. Turn north and travel 26 miles over improved dirt and rock road to Black Canyon Campground, then turn left and travel 0.5 mile over a steep stream crossing to the lower campground. High-clearance 4WD vehicles are recommended, especially through Rocky Canyon.
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 | — |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
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