Southwest Lincoln National Forest

[Squid]

Any one camp around Cloudcroft area or Lincoln N.F.? Hope to go this summer there. Would be coming from Austin Tx. Thanks in advance!
Squid

[Squid]

Just saw's Bob's excellant post..never mind..

[Lumatic]

There is a boondocking campground just west of the town of Lincoln a couple of miles down a dirt road. Not maintained very much, but I like it. The town of Lincoln has many historical buildings. This is the site of the Lincoln County Wars and where Billy the Kid made his famous escape. There is still a bullet hole in one of the walls said to be from Billy.

[Boondocker]

Hmmm now I'm starting to wonder is this corner of the state would be worth poking around in for a couple weeks. Hows the fishin?

[Squid]

Fishin is good. Caught two reds this morning.. Heading to Lake Summerville this weekend. Will be my 1st trip with full hook-ups.

[Don/Dawnita]

There is a campground off hwy 82 At Twinforks. 9 miles east of Cloudcroft. Full hook ups. Been going to Cloudcroft since 1972. Great food in town and don't miss the Lodge, Whitesands, Alamogordo space center. Beautiful pinetrees. 40 miles from Ruidoso.
Don

[Bluto]

I have never been to Cloudcroft or Lincoln Forest but I noticed that some of the campgrounds and rest areas I visited in NM along I-40 are now over run with stickers( little ball like things that grow as a weed and have sharpe barbs that will stick and attach themselves to your shoes, tires and into the poor dogs paws). It makes camping impossible when those things are growing everywhere. Has that stuff spread to the areas that you are talking about? I like NM and usually visit each year but the places like Ute Lake, north of Tucumcari is in bad shape now. I pulled in late in the day after driving 8 hours and thinking we could walk the dogs and get a good nights sleep but was fooled, those stickers were all over the place. So in short order, I got back in the truck and drove about 4 more hours to a rest area along the hyw to sleep. I also notice that Blue Water Lake near Gallup has no stickers but the park has not been maintained properly for the last couple of years and now it is run down. It's too bad, as I liked both of the parks I mentioned. Sounds like everyone likes the Cloudcroft area. I would like to hear more about the area too!

[dogpound]

Cloudcroft - Ruidoso

If you were to go from Roswell to Ruidoso (70 mi.) you would find several RV parks along the Hondo River. The road to Lincoln, NM takes off from HW 70 about half way between. Between Cloudcroft and Ruidoso is 11 miles on a pretty decent state highway. Ruidoso may still show some damages from when the Hondo flooded last year but there will be a lot of activities around ther. As someone said, try the Lodge in Cloudcroft. Fantastic view and there is a pretty nice golf course that has the highest # 1 tee box in the U.S.
Have a good trip.

Bob
4CU/CAC
WBCCI # 10105
AIR # 28748

[ernesto ca]

I dont know Cloudcroft as much as Ruidoso area of LNF for boondoggling...If you do come down off of Cloudcroft towards Alamogordo/Tularosa there is the Petroglyphs in White Mt. that has a thread here at AS or going to Ruidoso/Lincoln/Capitan is similar to Cloudcroft and has sking/casino/horseraces and fishing at Bonita Lake or a free campgound between Capitan/Lincoln towards Baca campsite about 4 miles on dirt/gravel. Make sure you stop at Capitan market for food shopping. If you circle towards Ruidoso Hiway 70 there is a really nice campground called Deer Crossing in San Patricio which is only about 10-12 miles to Ruidoso ..Have fun love that area and I may start up renting my ranch in that area for airstreams only...Ernesto

[Mike Leary]

Unless you love the smell of burning brakes, avoid HW 82 from Cloudcroft to Alamogordo.

[dstalzer]

We camped at Valley of Fires down the mountain west of there a couple of years ago before going up to Lincoln. Was interesting even though the landscape was more like moonscape with all the lava. The big problem there is the noseeums that always come along and bite around your ankles and legs. I was trying to figure out what was making my legs itch when walking around because you really do not seeum.

We have camped around Cloudcroft before and it is really beautiful up in the Lincoln NF. The Guadalupe mountains just in Texas down the road from Carlsbad are really worth going to also. There are two campgrounds one at Pine Springs and one at Dog Canyon. It is basically boondocking at both since there are no hookups. Only restrooms with no showers.

[kingfisher24]

circlecross campgrounds...30 miles south of cloudcroft at timeron...passport america...stocked trout stream...in the woods and secluded...but wifi available

[Squid]

Finally going to boondocks in Lincoln NF, went thru some old posts... Still looking for that secluded beautiful spot....Thoughts, suggestions?....Squid

[ernesto ca]

Captain Squid, If you look at the post I have on 5-12-2009 it outlines some suggestons.
Also, the last time I went to FT. Stanton (between Capitan and Lincoln...there is a camp host at a horse/mt. bike trailhead about a mile in on the left hand side and he might have some ideas on that BLM land to boondock, along with Baca Campsite if you want to be more secluded. Except DO NOT go there in early November because the deer hunt starts in that area and will be 50-60 hunters out there.
The Deer Crossing RV park is very reasonable and offers a full hook-up and easy on and off with a trailer. If you stay there tell Denise and Roy that I referred you..They run a nice operation with many ammenities. ..One other place is Bonito Lake the turn off is between Ruidoso and Capitan going towards Carrizozo some trout and hiking trails up there....the drought really killed us this year. ohhh another place the Three rivers Petroglyphs that is between Carrizozo (eat at Kelli's for real good authentic New Mexican Food..combo plates)and Tularosa beware there is some current road construction along the way but that is real boondocking...hope that helps..Ernesto Fresquez

[Squid]

Thanks!