Bird/Wildlife Watching

Sandhill RV Park

from $50/night

Silver Springs RV Park and Trout Pond

38 RV Sites, 7 Tent Sites

Silver Springs RV Park and Trout Pond occupies one of the most elevated and atmospherically dramatic camping positions in New Mexico — perched at nearly 9,000 feet in the Lincoln National Forest, approximately five miles from the mountain village of Cloudcroft and just 34 miles from the resort community of Ruidoso. At this altitude, ponderosa pines tower overhead, the air is genuinely cool even in midsummer, and the Silver Springs RV Park and trout pond experience feels refreshingly removed from the desert heat of the lowlands below. Full-hookup sites with WiFi, water, sewer, and electric serve RV campers, while tent sites share the forested grounds for guests who prefer sleeping under mountain stars. The one-acre trout pond, stocked weekly with rainbow trout throughout the summer, is the resort's most distinctive amenity — all catches are kept (no catch-and-release), with the park staff cleaning and bagging fish for guests. A clubhouse, community fire pit, horseshoe pits, and mountain views from every site complete the on-site experience. Pets are welcome, and the wildlife corridor location ensures elk, mule deer, wild turkey, and hummingbirds are regular visitors throughout the season — with the occasional black bear making a memorable appearance on the property's edge. The Lincoln National Forest surrounding the park offers hiking, mountain biking, and trail riding through high-country terrain that defines the Sacramento Mountains character — limestone ridgelines, mixed conifer forest, and canyon overlooks that differ dramatically from the desert country just an hour downhill. The historic town of Lincoln, about an hour west, was the site of the Lincoln County War and Billy the Kid's famous jailbreak — a fascinating chapter of American frontier history preserved at the Lincoln State Monument. Smokey Bear Historical Park & Museum in Capitan commemorates the beloved fire prevention symbol, featuring exhibits and the actual burial site of the original Smokey Bear. Ruidoso, 34 miles away, offers casino gaming at Inn of the Mountain Gods, horse racing at Ruidoso Downs, and ski slopes at Ski Apache for winter guests. Silver Springs RV Park and Trout Pond is a summer destination at heart, with the season running from late spring through early fall when the pines are green and the trout pond is fully operational. The altitude keeps temperatures comfortable even at the height of summer, making it a popular escape from the Chihuahuan Desert heat for guests from Alamogordo, El Paso, and the Rio Grande valley. Reserve early for summer weekends, when cool mountain air, stocked trout fishing, and Lincoln National Forest access make this one of the most coveted RV spots in southern New Mexico.

Bonito Hollow RV Park & Campground

42 RV Sites, 2 Cabins

Bonito Hollow RV Park & Campground in Alto, New Mexico, offers 41 RV sites and two cabins on 12 acres in the Lincoln National Forest at 6,900 feet, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 58 feet. Six site categories span 30-amp and 30/50-amp back-ins and pull-throughs in both full-hookup and water-and-electric configurations. Forty-one sites run in 30-amp and 30/50-amp back-ins, water-and-electric back-ins, 30/50-amp pull-throughs, and 50-amp water-and-electric pull-throughs, carrying water, sewer, and electric where noted, sized to 58 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Two cabins serve guests without a rig. A general store, laundry, dump station, restrooms, showers, and a library handle the practical side, with WiFi throughout. The forest setting is the draw. Walking trails run the 12 acres along the creek, with fishing, hiking, birding, volleyball, and horseshoes from camp. A community fire pit, pavilion, and dog park fill the grounds. The elevation delivers cool mountain summers that the New Mexico lowland desert cannot match — the main reason guests make the climb. Pets are welcome. Alto sits above the Ruidoso valley in the Sierra Blanca range, surrounded by Smokey Bear and Billy the Kid country. The Ruidoso resort community, the Mescalero Apache Reservation, and Sierra Blanca Peak's ski and summer recreation are all close. Directions from Roswell: Highway 70 to Highway 380, to Capitan, then south on Highway 48 to the Highway 37 junction, then 1.25 miles on Highway 37 — the second RV park on the left. From El Paso: Highway 70 to Highway 48, through Ruidoso to Highway 37. Summer draws desert escapees. Reserve ahead.

from $44/night