Lincoln National Forest stretches over 1.1 million acres in southern New Mexico. The forest features a mix of terrain types, from deep canyons dotted with oak trees to high sierra lookouts that reach elevations of over 9,000 feet. There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails that cut across the forest’s three ranger districts, with a blend of difficulty levels to suit hikers of all ages and experience levels. You can also hike up to one of the many fire lookout stations throughout the forest for scenic panoramic views of the desert.
The diverse ecosystems found throughout the forest make it a popular area for wildlife viewing and birdwatching. Most of the forest is also open to hunting, with a number of big game species. Many of the trails in the area are well suited to off-roading and mountain biking as well.
There are 15 campgrounds in the forest, most of which can be accessed fairly easily with large RVs. The area is rugged, with steep canyon roads and switchbacks that can be tough going for large rigs. Try one of the lower elevation campgrounds if you have a large campervan that doesn’t do well on dirt roads. Check out more details on three of the featured RV campgrounds below.
Located in southern New Mexico, Lincoln National Forest is within driving distance of most of the major cities in the state, as well as a number of cities in Texas. Divided into three main ranger districts, the forest has some areas that are difficult to access by RV.
If you are coming from Albuquerque, take I-25 south to US-380, and you’ll get to the forest in around three and a half hours. From El Paso, take US-54 east out of the city to arrive in around two hours.
There are around 15 campgrounds in the forest, varying widely in terms of ease of access. Popular campgrounds, such as Saddle Campground and Apache Campground, are fairly easy to get to with an RV without driving on dirt roads. However, much of the forest can only be accessed via narrow forest service roads, including popular sites such as Monjeau Lookout.
Open from May to September, Saddle Campground in the Sacramento Ranger District has 16 RV sites, none of which have hookups of any kind. All of the sites have picnic tables and fire pits, and you’ll have access to vault toilets, showers, and drinking water. The campground is located right on the edge of Little Apache Canyon, giving you a variety of hiking opportunities. All sites are first-come, first-served, so try to arrive early in the day to get a spot. There is a maximum vehicle length of 30 feet in this campground.
Open from May to September, the Apache Campground has 24 sites that sit in the shade beneath large conifer and aspen trees. The sites are all basic, with no hookups of any kind. You will have picnic tables and fire pits, as well as access to vault toilets, drinking water, and showers. The campground is set on the rim of Little Apache Canyon, where you’ll find a number of interpretive trails. Reservations are not accepted for any of the sites. RVs and trailers must be 30 feet in length or less.
This campground has 30 RV sites, open from May to October, none of which have hookups of any kind. All of the sites have a picnic table and fire pit, and are within walking distance of vault toilets and drinking water. The campground has great views of the Sierra Blanca, a volcanic mountain range surrounded by thick oak forests. You’ll have easy access to a number of hiking trails on the edge of the campground.
All of the sites are first-come, first-served. The campground gets quite busy in late spring running through fall, so try to arrive early if you want to get a spot. This campground is suitable only for small RVs, trailers, and campers of up to 18 feet in length.
With three separate ranger districts stretching across a variety of terrain types, hikers will find hundreds of miles of trails in Lincoln National Forest. The Smokey Bear Ranger District has over 50 trails for you to explore, many of them less than three miles. You’ll also find over 50 trails in the Sacramento Ranger District, including the 29-mile long Rim Trail, which takes you along the edge of one of the largest canyons in the forest.
Many of the hundreds of trails in the forest are multi-use and can be used for mountain biking. The Sacramento Ranger District has ten developed RV campgrounds, all of which connect to mountain biking trails. You’ll also find biking trails in the forest’s other ranger districts. Trails range in difficulty, with some of the canyon routes suited only for experienced mountain bikers.
With hundreds of miles of trails cutting across the desert and mountain ranges of the forest, there are plenty of opportunities for off-roading if you are towing an OHV on your trailer. Trails near Little Apache Canyon are some of the most popular in the area, but you can find routes in all three of the forest’s ranger districts.
You can also explore off-trail on your own, although take care not to trespass on private plots of land. You should also take caution if going off trail while riding along the rims of any of the canyons in the forest.
Most of the forest’s 1.1 million acres are open to hunting, with a number of big and small game species populating the area. Elk and deer are the most popular species in the area, and you’ll find a number of small game species as well. Many of the hunting areas are shared with hikers and mountain bikers, so take extra caution when hunting near busy areas. Also make sure you have all of the proper New Mexico state hunting licenses.
The winding canyon roads and dramatic elevation changes in the forest make for excellent scenic driving throughout the year. Popular scenic drives and lookouts include Haynes Canyon Vista, which is perfect for panoramic pictures, as well as Monjeau Lookout, a famous building in the Smokey Bear Ranger District that is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Do take caution if driving a large rig, as many of the switchbacks in the forest are quite narrow.
RV campers who visit during the winter months can also visit Ski Apache, the main ski area in the forest. The resort is located near Sierra Blanca, and is one of the most popular ski areas in the area, with a mix of trails for skiers of all experience levels. The resorts is private, so you’ll need lift tickets if you plan on skiing. You can rent equipment from the resort, so don’t worry about bringing it along with your campervan.
