New Mexico / Lincoln County / Fort Stanton-Snowy River National Conservation Area

Rob Jagger's Campground

Open — Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. Some campsites are winterized during winter months and marked with orange flagging. Limited to 14 consecutive nights per 30-day period.

About

Rob Jagger's Campground is a developed BLM campground situated within the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Located along NM 220 at approximately 6,300 feet elevation, the campground sits amid high desert terrain with views of the Capitan Mountains to the north and Sierra Blanca to the southwest. The area features diverse habitat including cedar/juniper hillsides, ponderosa pine stringers, and hardwoods meandering through canyon bottoms. The campground serves as the primary equestrian trailhead for the Fort Stanton NCA trail system, offering 73 miles of sustainable multi-use trails for horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. Trails wind through open meadows and canyons with views of the surrounding mountains. The campground includes facilities specifically for horse camping, including hitching rails, water for animals, and corrals available for an additional fee. Nearby recreation opportunities include the Rio Bonito Petroglyph National Recreation Trail, which features rock art from the Jornada Mogollon people, and Fort Stanton Cave, a 40-mile cave system currently closed for recreational caving due to White Nose Syndrome concerns. Historic Fort Stanton, one of the best-preserved frontier forts in the West, is nearby and features a museum. The towns of Capitan (birthplace of Smokey Bear), Lincoln (site of the Lincoln County Wars and Billy the Kid history), and Ruidoso resort area are all within 10 miles.

Directions

From the intersection of NM 246 and US 380 in Capitan, drive east on US 380 for 4.3 miles to NM 220 on the right. Take NM 220 approximately 1 mile south to Rob Jagger's Campground on the left. From the west end of Lincoln, drive west 7.75 miles on US 380 to NM 220 on the left, then drive south 0.9 miles to the campground.

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