Joe Skeens - El Malpais NCA (free) | Established Campground

United States

Details

Verified:
about 1 month ago
Altitude:
2102.0 masl
Phone:
None
Contributor:
silverstarontour

Amenities

Electricity:
No
Wifi:
No
Kitchen:
No
Restaurant:
No
Showers:
No
Water:
No
Toilets:
Pit Toilets
Big Rig Friendly:
Yes
Tent Friendly:
Yes
Pet Friendly:
Yes
Sanitation Dump Station:
No

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Description

High desert campground set back from the highway. A loop of 10 free campsites (no reservation system/first-come-first-served basis), each with a covered picnic table, fire grill, and tent space. There are 2 vault toilets. Some of the sites have pull through parking ideal for total lengths up to 50 feet. There is a steep arroyo at the entrance, so long vehicle drivers should inspect it firsthand before entering. Maximum persons per campsite is 8 and maximum vehicles are 2 per campsite parked only on gravel without blocking the road. The road is graveled and passable in most conditions. Wait for water in the arroyo to dissipate before attempting any crossing. Stay is limited to 7 total days per month and the total stay in this NCA (National Conservation Area) is limited to 14 days each month.

Quiet hours are from 10PM to 6 AM and prohibit music, parties, or generators. ATV vehicles are forbidden unless secured on a trailer. No horses, livestock, or animal carcass are permitted in the campground. Pets must be leashed. Firewood and any other collecting is prohibited. Check with local authorities for open fires regulations for each day. No fireworks or firearms can be discharged in the campground.

You MAY be able to get up to 5 gallons water daily by driving north 1 miles to the Ranger Station (ONLY when the ranger is open). The closest town is Grants, Mexico. Plan accordingly

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Latest Check-Ins

Came in on Presidents Day, a Monday, at 9 am and found several empty spots. By 11 am, it had pretty much cleared out completely.

We have a 36’ toy hauler (GD 328M) with an DRW F350 4-door extended cab. We had no issues crossing the arroyo as we came in. Came within ~12” bottoming out in the back of the trailer.

Beautiful place!

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What a gem and Free! I would be very hesitant bringing a trailer of large RV here due to the entrance Deep V drainage. Great night sky. Close to El Morro National Monument which also has a free 9 site campground but no water in winter months.

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Camping spot 10 nice and quiet. Pretty clean. It’s sort of a busy place towards the evenings with people hoping to find a spot for the night.

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We are going to NY, we found this Nice camping ground

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Il y a une grande pente avec un RV de 32 pieds, on a pas pu passer... On a donc fait une longue marche arrière pour ressortir. je déconseille donc au long véhicule!

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Beautiful, can't believe it's free!
Good warning about the arroyo early on, not as steep as I expected from the description but certainly a big rig could get stuck.

Sites are not very level.

In parts of the campground closer to the main road I got 5G service on t mobile, but in most spots I had little to no service.

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Designated camp sites with trash cans and picnic tables, hiking and 4x4 trails.

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Second time visiting this gem of a free campground. Lovely pavilion at each of 10 sites, with picnic benches, fire rings, and a large concrete patio. Trash receptacles, 2 pit privies. ATT has somewhat slow 5Ge, and 1 bar. Sites are nicely spaced. Campers next to us had tv outside playing loud enough to hear it by 0630. Dog friendly, but watch for goats heads and other aggressive thorny vegetation.

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loop with multiple spots, covered picnic areas, fire pits, and grills! great spot and easy to find.

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Awesome free spot. Trash, pit toilets, covered picnic tables and grills at every site.

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very nice sites with fire rings and grills. tables on covered slab. water is available On Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the ranger station (1 mile away)

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Dynamite free camping with picnic tables and covered gazebos.

Most of the gazebos will work well for hammocking.

Verizon was solid enough to stream video.

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As described. Super popular and pretty quiet. Good amount of space between sites.

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Beautiful desert views. We wanted to campground that was off the grid. Vault toilets. No electricity. This is perfect for us. We have been on the road or over four weeks and it’s nice to have a primitive campground again. The road is paved most of the way in. The small gravel section is easy. The tent sites are nice. The toilets are clean. There is a son sheltered each campsite. Free!

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Got lucky and got a spot after people eating lunch at a spot left as we were driving through. Many others drove through after us, some opting to camp in the overflow lot by the entrance. Nice free camping in el maipais. Seems very popular, so arriving early is recommended to secure a spot. 1 bar Verizon service. No water.

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9 free sites. Each with covered picnic table, gill and fire pit. Pit toilets that are clean. garbage cans. Lots of hiking and exploring nearby. Stayed two nights. 1-2 bars AT&T, enough to do a little work.

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absoluty perfect for overlander also in wintertime, nothing here, a quite, dark, safe place, bring all your staff for a few days

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Wonderful free campsites. Great views, breezy, quiet, and well spaced. Pavilions at each site with grill and large fire ring. The folks next to us we’re running a noisy generator, around 5 pm, but that only went on for about a half hour. Thereafter, it was peaceful and quiet. Wonderful, free facility. There is an overflow area if all sites are full.

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Slept here on 8/26. Very nice site but only one spot left when I got there at 7:30.

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Arrived at dark during the week and there were still spots. The sky is so clear out here it’s amazing. I’ve never been able to see all the rings around Saturn

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Spent a few days here. Rangers were there everyday taking care of trash receptacles and bathrooms. Very well taken care of.

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Wonderful views. Very large sites with covered picnic tables on a concrete pad.

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Awesome spot! We love
BLM land. Quiet and beautiful views.
Fire ring and covered table,
garbage cans. Verizon cell service. Excellent spot about 15 minutes down the road from 40. And free! Keep your dog on leash though. Ours got a face full of cactus.

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I can not believe this place is free. Bathrooms, great level spots for our camper van, beautiful views, super easy to get to. 10/10 for a free spot. Highly recommend. Take care of it please so we can keep it this way!

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Beautiful place to stay, not difficult to get to, even in the dark.

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easy and pretty drive off highway. We got here around 4 and the place was almost full, but spaces are spaced out and v casual feel. Others came in later and did the slow roll but no more spots. Nice place.

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It’s open now. Very pleasant campground - only 10 spaces so get there early.

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closed for covid. restrooms closed too. if you are just sleeping in a car there is a turnaround area there to park.

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Currently closed due to COVID, but the sign says dispersed is allowed in most of the area.

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Really great place. Beautiful, comfortable, and clean. Thank you.

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Nice free campground with pretty private sites. No amenities other than pit toilets, trash and BBQ/table per site. Interesting nearby 4x4 and hikes to the petroglyphs at Cebolla Canyon, lava falls trail, la ventana arch and scenic by way to the ice caves. wWater nearby at the ranger station (2 miles north of the campground).

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Great FREE spot to camp. Picnic tables and sun shades and grills at every spot.

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Nice high desert camp. Pit toilets. Mostly quiet with one car came through at 3:30 am with loud music. Only one other camper. Beautiful views.

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really nice campground in a pretty setting. 1 bars of 4G TMOBILE. we were the only ones here and it got down to 12 F overnight. Quiet place this time of year. still well stocked and clean toilets.

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Great place. Been here multiple times. Very dusty and dry. If you're a true overlander, this place should be luxurious to you. Otherwise no electric, water or any other amenities. Every campsite have a shelter on concrete pad. Fire pit, BBQ grill and picnic table. Great view!!!!

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Nice and quiet campground with very clean pit toilets. We recommend this place and it’s free!

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We spend 3 nights here, really neet. Malpais is big. It was nice to have thoses accomodations.

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We had a wonderful time here. Very well place to spend some days for free.

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Yes, nice place. Free. You can give something if you want.

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BLM campground, several sites, all with shelters and picnic tables.
Nice spot.

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free for up to 14 days,10 spaces with shelter,fire pit and bbq.
2 pit toilets.water from ranger station 2 miles away (if open).
clean and quiet.

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10 Plätze mit Grill, Feuerstelle und überdachten Sitzplätzen
sehr schöne Plätze

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