Santa Clara Canyon Campground

About this campsite

Campground: Santa Clara Canyon Campground.

Location

Santa Clara Canyon Campground•NM

Explore on our map Get Directions Open in Maps

Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

SUN☀️

18° / 8°

💧 2%

TODAY☀️

19° / 8°

💧 5%

TUE🌦️

21° / 10°

💧 10%

WED☁️

19° / 9°

💧 10%

THU☁️

19° / 9°

💧 6%

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

8.8 km away

Camp May

Campground: Camp May.

15.7 km away

Ponderosa Group Campground (NM)

Overview Ponderosa Group Campground is located 6 miles (9.7 km) from the park's main entrance and is an ideal place to stay for large groups visiting Bandelier National Monument. The campground is adjacent to Ponderosa Trailhead providing access to more than 70 miles (113 km) of hiking trails and is just a short drive from the Visitor Center, the Frijoles Canyon Shuttle System (mid-May to mid-October), and the town of Los Alamos, Valles Caldera National Preserve, Manhattan Project National Historic Site, and the Santa Fe National Forest. Ponderosa Group Campground is open year-round (water is only available from mid-May to mid-October, subject to delays and/or early shut off). Same-day reservations are not permitted. Frijoles Canyon and the park Visitor Center are accessible only by shuttle bus from mid-May to mid-October. The shuttle bus system stops at the Bandelier Visitor Center, Juniper Campground, and the White Rock Visitor Center in the town of White Rock. Outside of the designated shuttle bus period, visitors may access all park areas by private vehicle. Public events are prohibited at Ponderosa Campground. Private events that adhere to campsite capacity limits, may be permitted after obtaining a special use permit. Visit the park's Permits & Reservations web page or call (505) 672-3861 ext. 1102. Recreation Accessible from Ponderosa Group Campground, the Ponderosa Trail descends into the park through ponderosa pine forest and connects to many other trails including the Middle Frijoles Trails which leads 8 miles (13 km) through Frijoles Canyon to the Visitor Center and Main Loop Trail. The Visitor Center houses museum exhibits, park film, information and ranger programs, Western National Parks Association sales outlet, and more. Entrance to Frijoles Canyon and the Visitor Center is by shuttle bus only from mid-May to mid-October. These areas are accesibile by private vehicle outside the shuttle bus period. Although rock climbing is prohibited within Bandelier National Monument, many popular climbs are within a short drive up Route 4 into the Jemez Mountains. Facilities This campground is located at 7600 feet (2316 m) and is usually free of snow from mid-April through mid October. Water is not available during any months with freezing temperatures (potentially mid-October to mid-May). Vault toilets (with no running water), drinking water, a picnic shelter, picnic tables, food storage lockers, and campfire rings are provided at this facility. No hookup campsites are available. These sites are tent-only, but one RV per site can be accommodated in the parking area. Each site can accommodate between 10 and 50 people. Check-in time for the campground is 4:00 pm. Check-out time for the campround is 11:30 a.m. Group Picnics : Sites can be reserved for large group picnics, however the fee and process is the same as reserving the site for an overnight stay. Natural Features Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres (13,355 ha) of rugged, beautiful canyon and mesa country which features evidence of human presence going back over 11,000 years. Petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls pay tribute to the early days of a culture that still survives in the surrounding communities. Bandelier

21.3 km away

Juniper Campground (NM)

Overview Juniper Family Campground is the ideal place to camp on the Pajarito Plateau. Located just inside the main park entrance, the campground is a short drive from the Bandelier Visitor Center, the Frijoles Canyon Shuttle bus system (mid-May to mid-October), and the adjacent towns of Los Alamos and White Rock. Juniper Family Campground is the perfect "home base" to explore the Pajarito Plateau, Jemez Mountains, and all of north central New Mexico! The campground is divided into 3 loops: Abert's Squirrel Loop (Loop A) campsites are available year-round as first-come, first serve only. Pay for first-come, first-serve campsites at the self-pay kiosk located at the Juniper Family Campground or in-person at the Bandelier Visitor Center during business hours. Black Bear Loop (Loop B) campsites are open year-round and are reservable up to 6 months in advance. Some sites may open on shorter booking windows (7 or 14 days in advance or the day of arrival). Coyote Loop (Loop C) campsites are open seasonally, March 1 – October 31, and are reservable up to 6 months in advance. Some sites may open on shorter booking windows (7 or 14 days in advance). You may also book campsite reservations in Loops B & C on the day of arrival (subject to availability). HOWEVER, cell service/data is not always reliable in the park and no public WiFi is available. The park highly recommends booking your reservation from the neighboring towns of Los Alamos and White Rock before heading to Bandelier. Group campsites (in Loop A) are available by reservation only up to 12 months in advance until the day before arrival (subject to availability). Same day reservations are not available for group campsites. Recreation Bandelier is home to over 70 miles (113 km) of hiking trails most of which are located within federally designated wilderness. Two trails are accessible directly from Juniper Family Campground. The Frey Trail follows the historic route into Frijoles Canyon and descends down the canyon wall to the Visitor Center and the Main Loop Trail. The Tyuonyi Overlook Trail leaves the amphitheater parking area for a 3/4-mile (1.2 km) hike across the open mesa top to an overlook providing breathtaking views of Frijoles Canyon and of Tyounyi, an ancestral Pueblo village. The Bandelier Visitor Center houses museum exhibits, park film, information and ranger programs, Western National Parks Association sales outlet, and more. Entrance to Frijoles Canyon and the Visitor Center is by shuttle bus only (or by hiking) from mid-May to mid-October. These areas are accesibile by private vehicle outside the shuttle bus period. Many other opportunities for recreation and exploring the history and culture of the area are nearby, such as Valles Caldera National Preserve, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Los Alamos museums, the Jemez District of the Santa Fe National Forest, US Department of Energy public recreation trails, and others around Los Alamos County. Rock climbing is prohibited within Bandelier National Monument, however many popular climbs are within a short drive up Route 4 into the Jemez Mountains. Facilities Juniper Family Campground has 3 camping loops. There is an RV dump station on the road into the campground, however water at the dump station is completely turned off from mid-October to mid-April (campers will not be able to fill water tanks or dump). RV dump station has been turned off for season (11/10/25). During the summer months, interpretive programs may be offered during the day at the Visitor Center and in the evening at the campground amphitheater (check with the Visitor Center for progra

25.9 km away

Coyote Canyon Camping Area

Campground: Coyote Canyon Camping Area. Operated by USFS.

26.3 km away

Redondo Campground

Overview The Redondo Campground is situated in a stand of Ponderosa Pine interspersed with grass and wildflower meadows within the Jemez National Recreation Area. The campground is approximately 8,200 feet in elevation and you can plan for warm days and cool nights. The Valles Caldera National Preserve and Bandelier National Monument are within driving distance, both are accessed via the Jemez Mountains Trail National Scenic Byway (NM State Highway 4). Recreation Redondo Campground is one of five developed campgrounds in the Jemez National Recreation Area on the Jemez Ranger District. There are numerous outdoor recreation opportunities throughout the Jemez National Recreation Area, from scenic driving to fishing accesses and day-use picnic areas. Redondo Campground is a brief drive from the San Diego Overlook scenic site, and within a short drive from access points to Trail 137. Facilities Redondo Campground has vault toilet bathrooms throughout. Electric is not available. Water is not available. Natural Features Redondo Campground sits at over 8,200 feet and is surrounded by mixed-conifer and Ponderosa Pine stands. Nearby Attractions Redondo Campground is part of the Jemez National Recreation Area. There are numerous developed, dispersed, and undeveloped recreation opportunities throughout the Jemez National Recreation Area. It is also near the Valles Caldera National Preserve, Bandelier National Monument, Dome and Bandlier Wilderness Areas, the town of Los Alamos, and a two-hour drive to Santa Fe.