How much does camping cost at Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake)?

Camping fees at Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake) range from $15-$25/night. Prices may vary by site type (standard, hookup, premium) and season. Book online to see exact pricing for your dates.

Is Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake) first-come first-served or reservation?

Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake) accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Can I see photos of campsites at Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake) before I book?

Yes! Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake) has 11 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

What is the best time to visit Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake)?

Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake) is open May 08 to September 29. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake)?

Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake) does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Can I have a campfire at Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake)?

Fire policies at Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake): Fires are permitted only in fire rings provided.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

How many campsites does Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake) have?

Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake) has 18 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake)?

Yes, pets are allowed at Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake). Dogs must typically be kept on a leash (usually 6 feet or shorter) and under control at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet and check for any breed or size restrictions.

What amenities are available at Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake)?

Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake) offers: Restrooms, Potable Water, Electrical Hookups, Pets Allowed. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake)?

Popular activities at Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake) include Hiking, Fishing, Biking, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake)

4.16

85 reviews

Top 14%Summer

Summer Destination

Featured in:Boating Camping New Mexico

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

7,712 ft

Price

$15 - $25/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

18 campsites

Season

May 10, 2025 - Septe...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

Electric

Book on US Forest Service Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

7,712 ft

Price

$15 - $25/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

18 campsites

Season

May 10, 2025 - Septe...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

Electric

Book on US Forest Service Official Website

Get Directions

Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake)

$15.00 - $25.00 / night

Campsite Fees

RV Electric: $25.00; Standard Nonelectric: $15.00. Plus Recreation.gov reservation transaction fee ($8 online / $9 phone / $3 in person).

No paid fee categories listed.

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Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

(575) 773-4678

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake)

34.1375, -108.4892

Nearby places

Quemado - 14.2 miles

Weather at Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake)

Current alerts(6)

All Gila National Forest sites have a 14 day stay limit.
All pets must be on a leash except in enclosed areas.
Horses are prohibited at Juniper Campground and the Quemado Lake Recreation Area. Horses are permitted only in El Caso 5 Campground.
Hunting and target shooting are prohibited in the Quemado Lake Recreation Area.

Best Time to Camp at Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake)

Best season: summer. Summer offers the most reliable window for warm, comfortable camping at 7,712 ft — expect crisp mornings in the mid-40s to low-50s F and afternoons typically in the mid-60s to mid-70s (occasionally low 80s on sunny days). This is peak time for boating, warm-water fishing, paddling Quemado Lake, and long daylight for hiking and biking; stargazing is exceptional on clear summer nights. Expect moderate weekend crowds and steady park services (electric hookups available), but be prepared for brief, Peak months: June, July, August, September Avoid: October, November, December, January

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.5 / 5

Top 14% in US

Peak season May–Sep; summer most reliable and popular for fishing/boating.

Planning Tips

Peak Season: May 08 to September 29. Book 2-3 months ahead.
Operating Season: May 10, 2025 - September 29, 2025

About Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake)

Juniper Campground sits at 7,712 feet on the shore of Quemado Lake in Gila National Forest, 15 miles south of the town of Quemado. This small US Forest Service campground offers electric hookups, vault toilets, and potable water for tent and RV campers seeking high-elevation alpine scenery. Visitors fish, boat, and paddle the lake, hike and bike nearby trails, and watch for wildlife in the surrounding ponderosa forest.

Juniper Campground accommodates RVs, tents, and offers a mix of first-come, first-served and reservable sites.

Weather and SeasonsBest season: summer. Summer offers the most reliable window for warm, comfortable camping at 7,712 ft — expect crisp mornings in the mid-40s to low-50s F and afternoons typically in the mid-60s to mid-70s (occasionally low 80s on sunny days). This is peak time for boating, warm-water fishing, paddling Quemado Lake, and long daylight for hiking and biking; stargazing is exceptional on clear summer nights. Expect moderate weekend crowds and steady park services (electric hookups available), but be prepared for brief, Peak months: June, July, August, September Avoid: October, November, December, January

Elevation7712 ft above sea level

Natural Features and SceneryQuemado Lake sits just beyond the campground, surrounded by pines and junipers that give the area its character. The elevation means crisp air and wide views across forested ridges. Elk graze the meadows regularly. Reviewers mention abundant wildlife sightings. On clear nights, the sky opens up with minimal light pollution, making the Milky Way visible. The lake itself is the main draw: accessible water for fishing, paddling, and summer recreation.

Lodging & AccommodationsNo hotel-style lodging is available at this campground.

Programs & ActivitiesNo cultural or educational programs are mentioned.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Stay Limit

14 consecutive nights allowed during a visit to this campground.

Guests Allowed Per Site

RV electric site pods contain up to 3 slots per area. Tent sites are described as having more spacing and privacy.

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsReservations can be made through Recreation.gov.

AccessibilityAccessibility features are not detailed in the provided data.

Site SizeRV sites are described as cramped, with three RVs sharing a single parking pad. Tent sites are more spacious and nicely spaced.

PrivacyPrivacy is limited for RV sites due to close proximity. Tent sites offer more space and are better suited for privacy.

Total Campsites18 campsites

Recommended SitesOpt for tent sites for privacy or RV sites with odd numbers for better layout. Avoid middle slots in RV site pods to prevent crowding.

Best CampsitesSite 11 offers lake views and decent privacy when neighboring sites are empty. Reviewers suggest choosing tent sites over RV pods if you value space. Diane G. recommends sites without water and electric hookups for those prioritizing solitude over amenities.

Need help booking Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake)?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

Recreation.gov Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Juniper Campground, located in the Quemado Ranger District, is the most popular campground within the Quemado Lake area. It offers electric RV hookups (without water or sewer), leveled tent sites, and has easy access to the lake. Facilities include picnic tables, vault toilets, grills, and campfire rings. The campground features natural forested surroundings with unrestricted night sky views.

Potable water

Electricity hookups

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Firewood available

Vault toilets

I manage this campground

RV details

Activities you can enjoy

Juniper Campground offers a range of recreational opportunities, including fishing, boating, hiking, and wildlife viewing. The nearby Quemado Lake is a hub for these activities, and the forested surroundings provide a serene setting.

Hiking

Fishing

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Winter Activities

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not available; vault toilets are provided instead.

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

No Dump StationThere is no dump station at this campground. Plan to use a dump station along your route or at a nearby facility before or after your stay.

Fire PolicyFires are permitted only in fire rings provided.

Trash & RecyclingTrash facilities are limited. One user review pointed out the lack of trash bins in Juniper Campground, requiring campers to cart out their trash. Guillermo Loubriel noted 'PLEASE ADD TRASH CANS' and mentioned seeing them piled together in the nearby Piñon Campground.

Cell CoverageCell phone service availability is not explicitly mentioned in the provided data or user reviews.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

4.2

85 reviews

Satisfactory

Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake) is satisfactory, placing it in the bottom 60% of campgrounds based on reviews

Reviews are generally positive, highlighting the campground's natural beauty, clean facilities, and recreational opportunities. Complaints focus on the cramped layout of RV sites and limited trash facilities.

Review Summaries

Based on 85 reviews

What Campers Love

Positive aspects include clean vault toilets, access to electricity, beautiful views, abundant wildlife, and proximity to Quemado Lake. Katy Bradford described the campground as 'gorgeous' with...

Based on 85 reviews

Common Concerns

Common complaints include the cramped layout of RV sites, limited trash facilities, and the need to cart out garbage. Guillermo Loubriel criticized the tight spacing and lack of trash bins, while...

Based on 85 reviews

Site-Specific Reviews

Site reviews highlight differences within the campground. Site 9 is noted for being uneven, while site 11 offers nice views. Steven R. mentioned, 'Nice view from #11. Tight spaces but well kept.'

Based on 85 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Tips include bringing exact change for first-come, first-served sites, being prepared to cart out trash, and visiting on weekdays for a quieter experience. Diane G. advised those preferring privacy...

Based on 85 reviews

Seasonal Insights

Summer reviews emphasize the campground's popularity for fishing and boating. Crowds can lead to noise and encroachment on camping spaces, as noted by Diane G.

Based on 85 reviews

Camper Quotes

1. 'This is a gorgeous campground with reliable water and electric and clean as possible vault toilets.' - Katy Bradford. 2. 'Nice place to camp and fish. Sites are roomy.' - Howard Polley. 3. 'The...

Based on 85 reviews

Accessibility Features

Accessibility features are not explicitly reviewed.

Based on 85 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

Pet policies are mixed, with some reviewers noting that leash rules are not always followed. Louis V. stated, 'Always clean. People don't follow instructions on keeping their dogs on a leash.'

Based on 85 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

You want affordable alpine lake access with electric hookups for fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing.

Skip if

You need spacious, private sites or on-site trash service during your stay.

Nearby Campgrounds

Piñon Campground sits at 7,900 feet on the shore of Quemado Lake in Gila National Forest, operated by the US Forest Service. The high-elevation setting offers cool summer nights under piñon pines, with spacious sites that serve tent campers, RVs, and groups. Visitors come for lake-centered recreation — boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing — with elk sightings common in early morning hours.

Pinon Campground (Quemado Lake)

Gila National Forest

Pinon Campground sits at 7,900 feet on the shore of Quemado Lake in Gila National Forest, operated by the US Forest Service. The high-elevation alpine setting draws visitors for fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing, with spacious sites that can accommodate multiple RVs and tents. Camp hosts provide support during the peak season, and the lakefront location offers osprey sightings and mountain scenery.

$15.00 - $125.00 / night

Less Visited

3.7

(13)

Armijo Springs Campground

Armijo Springs Campground sits at 7,850 feet in Gila National Forest, where ponderosa pines and oaks create a shaded mountain retreat. The campground stays lightly trafficked and offers primitive tent sites with vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables. Groups sometimes use the area for volleyball and horseshoes. Campers consistently mention having the place to themselves.

Tents

Primitive

8.717 km

$0.00 - $0.00 / night

Less Visited

4.0

(21)

Valle Tio Vinces Campground

#3 Lyle Loop, P.O. Box 159 Quemado, NM 87829

Valle Tio Vinces sits at 8,134 feet along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail in Gila National Forest. The primitive campground has six sites with vault toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, and horse corrals. There's no water or trash service. Pack everything in and out. Verizon gets five bars of 4G here, unusual for the area.

$0.00 - $0.00 / night

Frequently Visited

4.5

(56)

Apache Creek Campground

5 Smokey Bear Circle, P.O. Box 170, Reserve, NM 87830

Apache Creek Campground sits at 6,431 feet in the northwest corner of Gila National Forest, surrounded by park-like stands of Ponderosa pine and juniper. The 10 sites are spacious, well-spaced, and free on a first-come basis. Elk and deer wander through camp regularly, and there's no cell service.

$0.00 - $0.00 / night

Campgrounds you may also like

Pinon Campground (Quemado Lake)

$15.00 - $125.00 / night

3697 Hwy 35 N., HC 68 Box 50 Mimbres, NM 88049

Mesa Campground sits on a bluff 6,100 feet above Lake Roberts in the Gila National Forest, where 24 widely spaced sites offer views through ponderosa pines, pinon, and juniper. The campground runs $15-25 per night and includes flush toilets, water hookups, and electric hookups at some sites. Silver City is over an hour away, so bring everything you need.

$15.00 - $25.00 / night

Less Visited

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(25)

Dipping Vat Campground

5 Smokey Bear Circle, P.O. Box 170 Reserve, NM 87830

Dipping Vat Campground sits on the western shore of Snow Lake in the Gila National Forest, about 7,300 feet up. It has 40 sites split between two loops, with fees at $10 per night. The campground is open year-round, though full services (including potable water) run May 1 through November 14. Getting here requires a high-clearance vehicle. Reviewers consistently mention rough, potholed gravel roads that can be challenging without 4x4.

$10.00 - $10.00 / night

4.7

(126)

Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area Campground

Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area Campground, Show Low, AZ, USA

Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area Campground sits in the ponderosa pine forest near Show Low, Arizona, operated by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. This very large campground offers full hookups for RVs and tent sites, with direct access to Fool Hollow Lake for boating and fishing. Shaded sites stay comfortable through warm summer days, and the facility includes showers and flush toilets.

Cutthroat sits at high elevation in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, operated by Recreation Resource Management of America and serving as a gateway to Big Lake's rainbow trout fishing and boating. The small campground offers tent and primitive options alongside developed sites with fire rings, picnic tables, and a dump station. Summer brings comfortable daytime temperatures in the 60s–70s, crisp nights, and full lake access for anglers and paddlers, with camp hosts maintaining clean facilities and enforcing a strict no-show policy.

$26.00 - $26.00 / night

Less Visited

3.6

(19)

Ojo Redondo Campground

Take Exit 53 at Thoreau and drive south on NM State Highway 612 past Bluewater Lake.

Ojo Redondo Campground sits at 8,900 feet in the Zuni Mountains of Cibola National Forest, southwest of Mt. Sedgwick near Grants. The small campground offers 15 primitive tent sites with picnic tables but no water or trash service. Low visitation means campers often have the place to themselves.

$0.00 - $0.00 / night

Campgrounds

Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake)

From the U.S. Forest Service

Reference information about Juniper Campground (Quemado Lake) sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →

Overview

<p>Juniper Campground is Quemado Ranger District's most popular campground. It offers full RV hookups, leveled tent sites, and easy lake access. Maximum RV size is 35'.</p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="800" src="https://cdn.recreation.gov/widget/fs/camping/index.html?id=10052227" width="100%"></iframe></p>

About the campground

The elevation is 7,700 ft. The campground, one of three in the Quemado Lake Recreation Area, is composed of two loops - RV Loop (no tents permitted) and Camping Loop, stretches along a bluff above Quemado Lake among Ponderosa and Pinon pine. Some sites overlook the lake. The RV Loop is composed of six clusters with three camping sites in each cluster. Each of the sites has electric and water hookups. While there is privacy between clusters, there is no privacy between sites located in each cluster. The Camping Loop (sites 19 through 36) is composed of single and double sites providing far more privacy between sites than the RV Loop. There are no hookups in the Camping Loop. Birdwatching is a popular activity for campers. Heron are year-round residents. Bald eagles winter in the area along with a variety of other birds. NOTE: Although part of the Apache National Forest, this campground is administered by the Gila National Forest.

Seasons & access

Open May 1 through September 30.

Facilities

Quemado Lake is 130 acres. Only electric motors are permitted. Hiking: Juniper Access Trail (foot) #3.1 - 0.5 miles Cove Access Trail (foot) #3.2 - 0.5 miles Fishing: Rainbow trout and Tiger Muskie (catch & release)

Water activities

Quemado Lake is 130 acres. Only electric motors are permitted.

RV information

The parking aprons are gravel and dirt. The average apron size in the RV Loop is 16' X 45' and in the Camping Loop it is 15' X 40'.There is a waste station (with potable water) at the entrance to Pinon campground, about 0.5 miles above Juniper campground on Forest Rt. 13.

Directions

In Quemado, NM, at the intersection of State Rt. 36 and US Rt. 60, take Rt. 60 west for 0.7 miles to State Rt. 32 sign. Turn left at sign onto Rt 32 and go 13.7 miles to Quemado Lake/State Rt. 103 sign. At sign, turn left onto Rt. 103 and go 4.8 miles to campground on the right. NOTE: State Rt. 103 becomes Forest Rt. 13 and last 0.8 miles is gravel.

National Forest: Gila National Forest
Ranger District: Quemado
Elevation: 7700
Rate: $10 per day - single (without hookups) $15 per day - single (with electric & water hookups - RV Loop only) $16 per day - double (without hookups) - America the Beautiful Pass, formerly known as Golden Age, discounts are not valid.
Maximum Stay: 14