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 device in effective working order.
Motor Vehicle Order Road Restrictions
The purpose of this Order is for the protection of public health and safety and prohibits: Using any type of vehicle that does not comply with an applicable state law.Using a road for commercial hauling without a permit or written authorization.Operating a vehicle in violation of speed, load,…
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…
Hiring for seasonal positions: Feb. 20 - Mar. 3
We are encouraging anyone interested to apply to seasonal positions on the Gila National Forest. These positions will be recreation and visitor services support positions on all districts of the forest. Applicants can view open job announcements and submit applications through USAJOBS.gov.Forestry…
Vandalism on forest defers maintenance, decreases public safety
Resources diverted from recreation improvements and law enforcement to address damage from vandalismRepairing, restoring, and investigating vandalized sites takes Forest Service time and U.S. taxpayer money away from making other improvements on the 3.3 million acres of the Gila National Forest.…
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. Harmful algae blooms, or HABs, occur when certain types of algae grow excessively in water, posing potential health risks to people…
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. We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and…
Gila National Forest Occupancy and Use Prohibitions
PROHIBITIONSPursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) the following is prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands in the Gila National Forest (including those lands identified on the Gila National Forest Map as Apache National Forest, within the State of New Mexico)…
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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