South Fork
Open — Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. Forest Road 141 and the campground were closed from May 12 through October 6, 2025 for bridge replacement but have since reopened. Limited to 14 consecutive nights.
Fireworks, Explosives and Sparks Restrictions
To prevent fires and for public safety order 03-00-23-001 prohibits to 1) possess, discharge, or use any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic devices; 2) use explosives; or 3) operate an internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting devic
Motor Vehicle Order Road Restrictions
The purpose of this Order is for the protection of public health and safety and prohibits:
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 s
Small Business Timber Sale 5-year Recomputation
Under provisions of the Small Business Timber Sale Program, Forest Service and Small Business Administration (SBA) policies provide for recomputation of the small business share of National Forest timber sale offerings every five years.
Quemado Lake Closure
Quemado Lake and nearby recreation areas are closed due to harmful algal blooms. See full alert for more information.
Harmful algae detected in Quemado and Snow lakes
The New Mexico Environment Department is warning visitors to use caution at Quemado Lake, Snow Lake, and Hopewell Lake due to the formation of harmful algae blooms.
Gila National Forest to begin prescribed fires
Gila National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations this fall, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to continue through the spring as weather conditions allow.
About
South Fork Campground is located on the south side of Forest Road 141 (Reserve-Beaverhead Road) in the Reserve Ranger District of Gila National Forest at 7,505 feet elevation. This small, rustic campground offers seven campsites with picnic tables and fire pits with grills, plus one designated day-use picnic site. Most sites can accommodate trailers up to 32 feet in length. The campground provides basic amenities including vault toilets, but campers must bring their own water as no potable water is available on-site. The campground operates year-round with no fees and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Standard Forest Service regulations apply: pets must be leashed, OHVs and ATVs are prohibited in the campground, hunting and shooting are not allowed within the campground boundaries, and stock animals are prohibited in the immediate campground area. A 14-day stay limit is enforced. Parking is limited to two vehicles per campsite. Forest Road 141 is an old paved road with many potholes, requiring caution especially on corners with gravel. A road resurfacing project is planned for 2026. The area offers excellent access to OHV road riding on designated forest roads and hunting opportunities throughout the Reserve Ranger District. The campground is located approximately 29 miles from Reserve via State Highway 435 and Forest Road 141.
Directions
From Reserve, turn south onto State Highway 435 and continue approximately 5 miles to its end at Forest Road 141. Continue straight on Forest Road 141 for approximately 24.4 miles to the campground on the south (right) side of the road.
Nearby Campgrounds
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 | 32ft |
| Max Trailer Length | 32ft |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (575) 533-6232 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
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