Upper End Campground

4.47

62 reviews

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

Summer Destination

Featured in:Boating Camping New Mexico Pet-Friendly Campgrounds New Mexico

Quick Facts

6,100 ft

Price

$10 - $15/night

Booking

First-Come

Sites

12 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

RV Friendly

Opens Gila National Forest Supervisors Office site

Official Website

Get Directions

Quick Facts

6,100 ft

Price

$10 - $15/night

Booking

First-Come

Sites

12 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

RV Friendly

Opens Gila National Forest Supervisors Office site

Official Website

Get Directions

Upper End Campground

$10.00 - $15.00 / night

Campsite Fees

Standard fee is $15 per night per campsite. Fee payment is via self-service fee envelope system. User reviews mention $10 per night in some cases but...

Standard Site Fee$15.00

Hookup Site Fee$0.00

Premium Site Fee$0.00

Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00

Group Site Fee$0.00

Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

Free with account · Checks every 2 minutes

150,000+ sites monitored · Email, SMS, or in-app notifications

Share this campground

USFS

Provider

575-388-8201/

Help improve this page

See something outdated or incorrect? Let us know!

What Campers Say

4.47

Recommended

Based on 62 reviews

55 Google reviews

Most mentioned

cleanrestroomssites

Some mention

noise

"User reviews generally describe Upper End Campground as peaceful, clean, and well-maintained. Frequent highlights include excellent fishing, scenic views, and abundant wildlife. Some complaints were about noise from other campers."

Read all reviews

Campground Map

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

Upper End Campground

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

Driving directionsFrom Mimbres, NM, travel 21 miles north on New Mexico Highway 35. Look for the campground sign on the south side of the road between mileposts 22 and 23. Alternatively, "In Mimbres, NM, at the intersection of State Rts. 152 and 35, take State Rt. 35 north 22.5 miles to campground sign. Turn left at sign into campground." Due to tight curves and steep grades, the alternative route via Silver City (US Rt. 180 and State Rt. 15) is not recommended for RVs.

Accessibility is fair but challenging for large recreational vehicles on alternative routes due to tight curves, switchbacks, and steep grades. Roads are paved with clear signage for standard vehicles.

Nearby places

Silver City (~25 miles, 45-minute drive), Mimbres (~21 miles, 30-minute drive).

Nearby supplies

Lake Roberts General Store is nearby, offering limited groceries, phone access, and lodging. Mimbres (~21 miles) has gas and cafes. Silver City (~25 miles) provides Walmart for fishing licenses and RV waste stations.

Best Time to Camp at Upper End Campground

The campground transforms with each passing season, offering year-round adventures for those who seek them. Spring arrives with gentle warmth and wildflower blooms, while autumn paints the forest in brilliant golds and crimsons against crisp, cool air. Summer days can climb to a toasty 90°F, perfect for lakeside activities and seeking shade beneath towering pines. Winter brings a crystalline beauty to the landscape, though temperatures plunge well below freezing—January visitors should prepare for true mountain cold that can freeze water pipes and dust campsites with frost.

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.0 / 5

Boating and fishing peak in summer; pleasant weather though summer weekends can be busy.

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.0 / 5

Autumn colors and elk activity enhance scenery and wildlife viewing in fall.

Best

Spring(Mar-May)

4.0 / 5

Spring brings gentle warmth, wildflowers and good fishing opportunities.

Winter(Dec-Feb)

3.0 / 5

Open year-round and often empty in January, but services (drinking water) may be limited in freeze.

Planning Tips

Peak Season: /. Book 2-3 months ahead.
Operating Season: Open year-round (not seasonally closed). Drinking water may not be available during freezing conditions (e.g., January).
Current Alerts: Site closure due to Trout Fire Closure Order Number: 03-06-07-25-002.

About Upper End Campground

Nestled alongside the shimmering waters of Lake Roberts, Upper End Campground offers an intimate escape into the heart of Gila National Forest. This peaceful retreat features 12 thoughtfully designed campsites, each graced with stone-terraced picnic tables and fire grills that blend seamlessly into the natural landscape. Here, mornings might begin with the bugle of elk echoing through the pines, while wild turkeys strut past your campsite and black bears occasionally lumber through the distant forest shadows, reminding visitors they've entered a world where wildlife still reigns supreme.

Upper End Campground caters to dry camping enthusiasts, with options for tent camping and no RV hookups. It is also first-come, first-served.

Historical SignificanceStep back through millennia along the legendary Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway, where ancient stories are etched in stone. The mysterious Spirit Canyon pictographs stand as silent testimony to the indigenous peoples who first called these mountains home, while the remarkable Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument preserves 700-year-old homes carved into canyon walls. These sacred sites weave a tapestry of human history that stretches back countless generations, inviting modern visitors to connect with the timeless spirit of the Southwest.

Weather and SeasonsThe campground transforms with each passing season, offering year-round adventures for those who seek them. Spring arrives with gentle warmth and wildflower blooms, while autumn paints the forest in brilliant golds and crimsons against crisp, cool air. Summer days can climb to a toasty 90°F, perfect for lakeside activities and seeking shade beneath towering pines. Winter brings a crystalline beauty to the landscape, though temperatures plunge well below freezing—January visitors should prepare for true mountain cold that can freeze water pipes and dust campsites with frost.

ElevationPerched at 6,100 feet above sea level, Upper End Campground offers a refreshing mountain retreat where the air is crisp and clear. This elevation gifts visitors with naturally cooler temperatures that provide sweet relief from desert heat below, while panoramic mountain vistas stretch across the horizon. The thin mountain air carries the scent of pine and the promise of adventure, creating an invigorating atmosphere that awakens the senses.

Natural Features and SceneryTowering Ponderosa pines stand like ancient sentinels around each campsite, their vanilla-scented bark and whispering needles creating a natural cathedral. The 72-acre Lake Roberts sparkles just steps away, its calm waters reflecting sky and forest in perfect mirror image. This pristine wilderness serves as a living gallery where deer browse in meadows at dawn, elk move like shadows through the trees, and wild turkeys parade with prehistoric dignity. The nearby Spirit Canyon pictographs add an element of mystery to the landscape, reminding visitors that this beautiful wilderness has captivated humans for thousands of years.

Geological RegionUpper End Campground sits within the remarkable Lake Roberts Recreation Area, a jewel of the Gila National Forest where ancient volcanic activity and eons of erosion have sculpted a landscape of stunning beauty. At 6,100 feet elevation, mature Ponderosa pine forests dominate the terrain, their roots anchored in soil that tells the story of geological ages. The centerpiece 72-acre Lake Roberts, formed by damming Sapillo Creek, creates a mountain oasis that draws both wildlife and wonder-seekers to its shores, while the surrounding peaks and valleys showcase the raw power of the forces that shaped this corner of New Mexico.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Check-in

Check-out

Stay Limit

14 consecutive days per campsite.

Guests Allowed Per Site

Maximum of two vehicles per site
guest count specifics not provided.

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are not allowed

Site layoutCampsites are structured into two spurs, terraced with stone. Parking aprons vary between 15' to 38' wide. Gravel aprons.

Reservation PlatformsReservations unavailable; sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

Walk-in AvailabilitySites are first-come, first-served. Fill rates are not specified but busy weekends noted in user reviews.

Cancellation PolicyNo cancellation policy is provided; reservations are not available.

AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible vault toilets are available. The terraced stone campsites may provide additional accessibility challenges.

Site SizeParking aprons vary in width from 15' to 38', with gravel aprons.

PrivacySites are nicely terraced with stone but may lack privacy, as one reviewer noted, 'My only complaint is the proximity of one campsite to the other.

Total Campsites12 campsites

Recommended SitesDisconnect dinghy at fee board before entering due to limited turn-around space in spurs.

Amenities available

Potable water

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Lodging and accommodations

Vault toilets

Camp Store

Activities you can enjoy

Upper End Campground offers a variety of recreational activities, highly praised by users. These include fishing, hiking, and boating opportunities. Wildlife viewing is another highlight, with users frequently mentioning sightings of deer, elk, and turkeys.

HikingHiking opportunities include day hikes and access to nearby Spirit Canyon, which features pictographs. A short trail also leads directly to Lake Roberts.

FishingFishing is available at Lake Roberts, which is home to rainbow and brown trout, as well as catfish. A fishing dock is accessible via a short trail from the campground.

BoatingBoating is permitted on Lake Roberts, including both motorized and non-motorized options. Power boats are limited to electric motors.

Wildlife viewingWildlife sightings are common and include deer, elk, wild turkeys, and even bobcats. One user stated, 'Deer, elk, and javelina, along with many types of beautiful birds, immerse one in the splendor of nature.'

Winter Activities

Water Sports

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsPotential wildlife encounters (bears, javelinas). Cold weather in winter may freeze water pipes.

Active AlertsSite closure due to Trout Fire Closure Order Number: 03-06-07-25-002.

Fire PolicyFires are permitted in designated grills during non-restricted periods. Collecting dead wood is allowed; cutting trees is prohibited.

Quiet HoursQuiet hours are /

Emergency ServicesNearest emergency services are Wilderness Ranger District (3697 Hwy 35 N., HC 68 Box 50 Mimbres, NM 88049) for ranger assistance and Silver City (~25 miles) for hospitals and police stations.

Trash & RecyclingGarbage facilities are available on-site for waste disposal; recycling options are not specified.

Water FeaturesLocated adjacent to Lake Roberts, a 72-acre lake with electric motor boating and fishing dock. Trails lead directly to the water.

Camp HostUser reviews mention non-intrusive hosts but no detailed information available.

Weather at Upper End Campground

Reviews

4.5

62 reviews

Recommended

Upper End Campground is recommended, placing it in the top 40% of campgrounds based on reviews

User reviews generally describe Upper End Campground as peaceful, clean, and well-maintained. Frequent highlights include excellent fishing, scenic views, and abundant wildlife. Some complaints were about noise from other campers.

Review Summaries

Based on 62 reviews

What Campers Love

Positive comments include 'The camp sites are great,' 'very clean restrooms,' and 'well-behaved dogs are welcome.' Another camper noted the 'dark skies great for star gazing.'

Based on 62 reviews

Common Concerns

Complaints include noise from other campers and the lack of full hookups, with one user mentioning, 'It seems that every time we go, there is at least one group of people partying.'

Based on 62 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Tips include visiting the Gila Cliff Dwellings and hot springs. Another camper suggested disconnecting RVs at the fee board due to limited turnaround space.

Based on 62 reviews

Seasonal Insights

Winter months seem less crowded, with one review noting no other campers in January. However, summer weekends can get busy.

Based on 62 reviews

Camper Quotes

'Lake Roberts is one of my favorite places to visit!' 'At sunset, about six deer came 100 meters from my campsite.' 'The Milky Way is visible to the naked eye here.'

Based on 62 reviews