Piñon Campground
Open seasonally mid-May through September 30. Individual sites are first-come, first-served; group sites are reservable via Recreation.gov. Potable water is available during the operating season. 14-day stay limit enforced.
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…
Ben Lilly and Willow Creek Campground Closure
The Gila National Forest is issuing a temporary closure order for the Ben Lilly Campground and the Willow Creek Campground, in effect from 6 a.m. on July 21, 2026 through October 16, 2026 (or until rescinded). This order serves to protect public health and safety as monsoonal flood events have…
Sacaton Fire Closure Amended
The closure order associated with the Sacaton Fire has been lifted. Areas previous closed under the order (see map below) are now open to the public as of July 17, 2026.The evacuation status for the Willow Creek subdivision has changed to "READY" as of July 13, 2026. For more information on…
About
Piñon Campground is a tranquil, lightly-visited campground in the Gila National Forest near Quemado Lake in western New Mexico. The sites are nestled among mature piñon and juniper trees at approximately 7,800 feet elevation, with some sites offering views of Quemado Lake. The campground consists of a family camping loop on the east side and a group camping loop on the west side. The campground offers 23 individual sites available first-come, first-served, plus 2 group sites that can be reserved through Recreation.gov. Amenities include vault toilets, seasonal potable water, picnic tables at each site, and fire rings. A dump station is available on-site. No hookups or showers are available. Quemado Lake, less than 2 miles away, offers fishing for rainbow trout and boating. Several hiking trails wind through the surrounding forest and along the lakeshore. The campground operates seasonally from mid-May through September 30, with a 14-day stay limit enforced.
Directions
From Quemado, NM, take NM 32 south 14.2 miles to the Quemado Lake/NM 103 sign. Turn left onto NM 103 and go 4 miles to where Forest Road 13 (gravel) begins. Continue straight on FR 13 for 1.4 miles to the campground sign and turn left into the campground.
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | Yes |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $15 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | — |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (575) 773-4678 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Photos
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