Lower Hondo
Its sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), and camping is free. Lower Hondo is a National Forest campground near Taos, New Mexico.
First-come, first-served
- National Forest
- Managed by
Lower Hondo sits inside Carson National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com. It sits right at the edge of Wheeler Peak Wilderness; its permit and camping rules and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com. It sits 0.1 miles outside the boundary of Columbine-Hondo Wilderness; its permit and camping rules and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.
Getting a site
- Managed by
- National Forest
- Reservations
- None, first-come
- Fee
- Free
Source: apps.fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-30
What's there
- ✓ Toilets
On site: Toilets.
Access and cell service
- Elevation
- 7,807 ft
36.5482, -105.5494 in Taos. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Common questions
Do you need a reservation at Lower Hondo?
No. Lower Hondo is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.
How much does it cost to camp at Lower Hondo?
Camping at Lower Hondo is free.
Who manages Lower Hondo?
Lower Hondo is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Around Lower Hondo
Eagle Nest Lake's mapped center point is 18 miles from Lower Hondo in a straight line. Current water level: Eagle Nest Lake water level on reservoirfinder.com.
Hot springs nearby
Nearest to Lower Hondo, in straight-line miles: Stagecoach Hot Springs (hot spring, 12 miles), and Black Rock Hot Springs (hot spring, 19 miles). Each has its own page on swimholesmap.com.
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Free
- Sites
- 3
- Season
- May to September
- Fee
- Free
- Sites
- 4
- Season
- May to October
- Fee
- Free
Columbine - Sites
- 27
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $30.00 per night (includes parking for one vehicle)
More campgrounds: camping near Taos and campgrounds in Taos.
Sources
- apps.fs.usda.gov (all fields), accessed 2026-09-30
- epqs.nationalmap.gov (elevationFt), accessed 2026-10-01