Upper Scorpion Campground
Open — Open year-round first-come, first-served. No advance reservations. Highway 15 and Highway 35 are at risk for flash flooding during monsoon season.
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
Upper Scorpion Campground is a partially developed campground within walking distance of the West Fork of the Gila River and less than one mile from Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. Located in Gila National Forest along NM State Highway 15, this free campground offers a convenient base for exploring the cliff dwellings and surrounding wilderness. The campground features 12 total sites, with 10 available on a first-come, first-served basis. While originally designed for tent campers, RVs, trailers, and camper vans up to 25 feet are welcome to use the paved parking lot for camping. Select sites include picnic tables and grills, and one ADA accessible site is available with accessible picnic table, fire pit, and vault toilets. Drinking water and vault toilets are provided year-round. Camping is free with a 14-day stay limit per year. Campfires are allowed only in provided metal grills or fire pits, and quiet hours are enforced from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM. A staff or volunteer host is on-site seasonally. The campground provides access to hiking, fishing on the Gila River, and exploration of the Gila Cliff Dwellings.
Directions
Located less than one mile from Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument on NM State Highway 15 in Gila National Forest.
Nearby Campgrounds
Location
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | No |
| Water Hookups | No |
| Sewer Hookups | No |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | 25ft |
| Max Trailer Length | 25ft |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| gicl_information@nps.gov | |
| Phone | +1 (575) 536-9461 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Photos
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