Quemado Lake - El Caso Cg

Closed — Closed due to harmful algal bloom detected in Quemado Lake. El Caso Campgrounds 1-3 are within the closure area south of Forest Road 13. The closure began November 10, 2025 and will remain in effect until April 1, 2026 or until water quality testing shows the lake is safe for public use.

About

El Caso I-IV Campground offers a primitive camping experience near Quemado Lake in the Gila National Forest. The campground consists of 13 partially developed campsites spread along an intermittent stream valley, surrounded by ponderosa pine and cottonwood trees that provide ample shade. Located at 7,700 feet elevation and approximately 0.25 miles east of Piñon Campground, El Caso is popular with hunters, groups, and horse campers seeking a more rustic setting than the developed campgrounds closer to the lake. This is a pack-it-in/pack-it-out facility with no trash service. Basic amenities include vault toilets and picnic tables at each site, but campers must bring their own water as none is available on-site. Horses are permitted, though no dedicated equestrian facilities are provided. The campground is within the Quemado Lake Recreation Area, where ATV/OHV use is prohibited. A 14-day stay limit applies to all Gila National Forest campgrounds. The area provides access to Quemado Lake, a 130-acre reservoir with a maximum depth of 55 feet, offering opportunities for motorized and non-motorized boating, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, and horseback riding. The campground is accessible year-round, though winter storms can make the area difficult to leave, and the Forest Service recommends evacuating when storms approach.

Directions

From Quemado, NM, go south on New Mexico Highway 32 for approximately 14 miles to the Quemado Lake/New Mexico Highway 103 sign. Turn east on Highway 103 for 4 miles to Forest Road 13. Continue past the lake; the campground is on the right.

Nearby Campgrounds