Mills Canyon Campground, Mills, NM

Kiowa National Grassland

US Forest Service

Free Camping at Kiowa National Grassland

Mills Canyon Campground is a remote campground situated within the Canadian River Canyon at an elevation of 5,160 feet. There are 12 camping units available. The site is the old Mills Canyon Orchard, a fruit growing enterprise established in 1881. There are ruins of the old buildings still there.

Authority

Kiowa NG logo

Kiowa National Grassland

US Forest Service

Grassland Headquarters

Tel: (575) 374-9652

Official campground webpage

Particulars

GPS: 36.0476, -104.3755

Elevation: 5,105 feet

Reservations: First come, first served

Camping Fee: None

Permit: None

Max stay: 14 days in a 45 day period

Amenities: Picnic tables, fire rings, cooking grills, restrooms

Submitted by

Admin Staff

Admin Staff

Boondocker's Bible

Camping at Mills Canyon Campground

Fruit bearing trees still grow in this area. The old ruins attract visitors throughout the warmer months. And despite the road conditions down here, there are often people camped throughout the week, though there are always a few campsites open.

The road descends down into Canadian River Canyon and gets extremely twisty. Signs posted just before you make the descent warn that “Trailers and RVs Not Recommended Beyond This Point”. This is because the road gets very narrow with tight turns. A trailer could be taken down here, as long as it’s small, something no more than 16 feet in length, and preferably designed for off-road use.

There is another campground at the top of the canyon, “Mills Canyon Rim Campground” which is suitable for RVs and trailers. You can unhitch there and then scout this campground to see if you think you can make it.

Once you reach this campground there are trails to explore and trails on the other side of the river.

Other Campsites Within 20 Miles Radius

Associated Documents

Cibola National Forest Order 3-03-00-23-03, Occupancy rules, camping limits, alcohol possession, public nudity, (eff: May 20, 2023, term: December 31, 2027)
Motor Vehicle Use Map, Kiowa National Grassland, Page 1, Illustrates dispersed camping restrictions & OHV restrictions, (eff: January 1, 2023)
Motor Vehicle Use Map, Kiowa National Grassland, Page 2, Illustrates dispersed camping restrictions & OHV restrictions, (eff: January 1, 2023)

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