Picnicking

Picnicking Areas

• Black Kettle NG RD

  The Black Kettle and McClellan Creek National Grasslands contains over 31,000 acres in both Texas and Oklahoma.

• Black Kettle Campground
• Black Kettle Picnic Area
• Croton Creek Trailhead
• East Bluff #1 Campground - Lake McClellan
• Lake Marvin Campground
• Lake Marvin Picnic Site
• Lake McClellan Campground
• Lake McClellan Picnic Site
• McDowell Campground
• Skipout Campground
• Skipout Picnic Area
• Spring Creek Campground
• Spring Creek Picnic Area
• Kiowa/Rita Blanca NG RD

  The Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands are administered for range, wildlife and watershed managment, and recreation purposes.  The Ranger Station is located in Clayton, NM.

• Felt Picnic Site
• Mills Canyon Campground
• Mills Canyon Rim Campground
• Santa Fe Trail Interpretive Site (minor)
• Thompson Grove Picnic Site
• Magdalena RD

  Tracing its roots from 1899 with the creation of the Gila Forest Reserve and its name from 1906, the Magdalena Ranger District has been a part of Magdalena's economic life for nearly a century. This long history makes the U.S. Forest Service the oldest continuous business in Magdalena. At approximately 800,000 acres (320,000hectares)the Magdalena Ranger District is the largest of four mountain Districts and four grasslands administered by the Cibola National Forest.

  The District itself is composed of four separate and distinct mountain ranges in southwest New Mexico covering the three counties of Socorro, Catron, and Sierra. The ranges include the Datils, Bears, San Mateos and Magdalena Mountains. From the peak of South Baldy at 10,700 feet dropping in elevation to under 6,000 feet in the southern portion of the San Mateos, varied topography and ecosystems can be found on the district.

  Recreation and Wilderness

  Recreational activities include hiking, camping, horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, hunting, and four-wheeling to name a few. To host these activities, the district has five small-developed campgrounds including Water Canyon, Springtime, Luna Park, Beartrap and Hughes Mill. With limited use of the campgrounds primary recreational values are the many dispersed, primitive, and unconfined acres.

  Created in 1980, the Apache Kid and Withington Wilderness' are located in the San Mateo Mountains. Some 190 miles of trails are located throughout the district centered primarily in the Magdalena and San Mateo Mountains. Maintained roads total about 500 miles with another 600 miles of unimproved roads. Thompson Canyon is a noted popular rock climbing area with the challenging Enchanted Tower.

• Bear Trap Campground
• Hughes Mill Campground
• Luna Park Campground
• Springtime Campground
• Water Canyon Campground
• Water Canyon Group Campground
• Water Canyon Group Shelter Picnic Site
• Mount Taylor RD

  Each season on the Mt. Taylor Ranger District provides different opportunities for the forest visitor.  In late spring, summer and early fall, hikers and backpackers can enjoy the beautiful vistas along Gooseberry Spring Trail as they approach the summit of Mt. Taylor or Strawberry Canyon Trail on the way to McGaffey Lookout Tower in the Zuni Mountains. Fall offers warm, clear days and crisp, cool nights and brings with it abundant hunting opportunities in the Zuni Mountains and on Mt. Taylor.  Stands of aspen across the district provide beautiful gold and red foliage.  Winter sports include snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.  The well-known Mt. Taylor Winter Quadrathlon offers the adventuresome a challenging endurance race every February. In summer, skies often display single and double rainbows after seasonal monsoons. 

  Developed recreation sites include Quaking Aspen, McGaffey, and Ojo Redondo in the Zuni Mountains and Coal Mine and Lobo Canyon on Mt. Taylor.  Photographers and history buffs alike can find many areas to explore and capture memories. The sunsets are truly beautiful to watch as dusk approaches. 

• Coal Mine Campground & Picnic Area
• Lobo Canyon Picnic ground
• McGaffey McKenzie Picnic Site
• Ojo Redondo Campground
• Quaking Aspen Campground
• Mountainair RD

  The Mountainair Ranger District is located southeast of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The District is comprised of two divisions: The Gallinas and the Manzanos.

  The District has many recreational opportunities, including camping, hiking, picnicking. It also is home to the Manzano Wilderness Area.

• Bosque Campground
• Capilla Peak Campground
• Fourth of July Campground
• New Canyon Campground
• Ox Canyon Trailhead
• Pine Shadow Trailhead
• Red Canyon Campground
• Red Cloud Campground
• Red Cloud Picnic Site
• Tajique Campground
• Sandia Ranger District

  Just east of Albuquerque are the most visited mountains in New Mexico. Millions of people journey into the Sandia Mountains each year. More than half these visitors ride the Sandia Peak Tram or drive the Sandia Crest National Scenic Byway to take in spectacular panoramic views of Central New Mexico and to enjoy many other recreational opportunities. The Sandia Crest Scenic Byway 536, has several newly remodeled picnic grounds with shelters and group areas for reservation.

  The National Fee Project is currently in operation for all developed sites on the Scenic Byway and along the west and north sides of the district inthe Juan Tabo, Basin, and Las Huertas Canyon Areas. A daily amenity fee of $3.00 is required for all vehicles parking in designated, developed recreation sites around the District. An annual pass is favorable, with particular support given to the concept of fees staying available to the unit where they are collected.  The annual Sandia Ranger District Amenity pass is $30.00 and can be purchased at the Sandia Ranger Station, Tijeras, NM, the Forest Service Supervisor's Office, Albuquerque, NM, and REI, Albuquerque, NM.

  The Sandias are part of the signature of Albuquerque's unique sense of place. They serve as a premier refuge to a population of over 700,000 people in the extended metropolitan area. Over one-third of the State's school-age population lives within an hour's drive of the Sandias, and there is a great demand for fire prevention, fire ecology, and other environmental education programs.

  Sandia Mountain is a landmark in the spiritual universe of many active traditional Indian beliefs. It is regularly visited for ceremonial purposes by the Sandia Pueblo and at least annually by many other pueblos. It also has direct ties to Spanish land grant communities established by the King of Spain in the 1700's and Mexican land grants from the 1820's. Some Spanish land grants adjoining the Sandias are still active.

  Water sources are not only sacred to Indian beliefs, but also played a key role in sustaining the agricultural bases of the land grant communities. Several ditch systems still function today, including one actively maintained in Las Huertas Canyon as an "acequia madre" for a community's agricultural water. These traditional communities are encountering greater conflicts with the growing recreational uses of the Sandias.

  The lesser-known southern part of the District includes the Manzanita Mountains, which form a low ridge between the Sandias to the north and the Manzano Mountains to the south.

  The Tijeras Pueblo Archaeological Site is located behind the Sandia Ranger Station office. The Friends of the Tijeras Pueblo maintain and provide education through the use of a monthly lecture series which meets at the Sandia Ranger Station every second Tuesday of the month.

  A portion of this area is in the Military Withdrawal, where public use has been restricted since 1943. The Military Withdrawal and adjacent Forest Service land is currently the subject of intensive ecosystem planning to reduce fuel loads and the risk of wildfire, to enhance wildlife habitat and ecosystem health.

  In many ways wildlife, fish and rare plants are the measure of our success as ecosystem managers. Species diversity and abundance relate to ecosystem health. The District wildlife program features habitat enhancement projects, inventory and monitoring of emphasis species, and informative and education. The program relies heavily on the support of partnership groups such as the Albuquerque Wildlife Federation, Hawk Watch International, Central New Mexico Audubon Society, Sandia Mountain Bear Watch, and the New Mexico Habitat Stamp program; the wildlife program is integrated into fire/fuels, recreation, and forest health project objectives and Quivira Coalition.

• Manzanita Mountains Recreation Zone

  All recreation areas and trailheads south of Interstate 40 within the Sandia Ranger District.

  • Please refer to the Manzanita Mountains Trail System map to plan your course.
  • Cell phone coverage is not guaranteed
  • It is the recreationist’s responsibility to know which trails are designated for motorized vehicles and to follow the guidelines.
  • This is a multi-use area.
  • Trail(s) open for the following uses: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding and OHV use.

  Area Trailheads:

  • Lower Pine Trailhead (area is unavailable)
  • Chamisoso Trailhead
  • Coyote Trailhead
  • Tunnel Canyon Trailhead
  • Otero Canyon Trailhead
  • Pine Flat Trailhead
  • Cedro Trailhead
  • Oak Flat Trailhead

  Area Picnicking:

  • Pine Flat Group Picnic Area
  • Oak, Yucca and Locust Picnic Group Areas

  Area Camping:

  • Cedro Peak Camping Area
• Cedro Trailhead

  Cedro Trailhead (near Cedro Camping sites) gives access to Middle Trail 05623 & Cedro Singletrack Trail 05625.

  Please refer to the Manzanita Mountains Trail System map to plan your course.

  • Cell phone coverage is not guaranteed.
  • It is the recreationist’s responsibility to use a map.
  • It is a multi-user area.
  • Trail(s) open for the following uses: Hiking, Mountain Biking, 2 Wheel Motorized Vehicles and Horseback Riding.
  • Be courteous to other users – motorized vehicles and bicycles yield to hikers and horses.
  • Travel only on established trails.
• Cedro Peak Camping Sites - Robin and Jay
• Pine Flat Connector Trailhead & Trail 05635

  Pine Flat Connector Trailhead accesses the Manzanita Mountains Trail System by way of the Pine Flat Connector Trail 05635. The trailhead begins at FS Road 54, at the south end of  Pine Flat Picnic Site.

  Please refer to the Manzanita Mountains Trail System map to plan your course.

  • Cell phone coverage is not guaranteed

  • It is the recreationist’s responsibility to know which trails are designated for motorized vehicles and to follow the guidelines.

  • It is a multi-user area.

  • Trail(s) open for the following uses: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding and 2 Wheel Motorized use.

• Pine Flat Picnic Site
• 10k Trailhead and 10K Trail 200
• Sandia Mountains

  The Sandia Mountains are chock full recreational activities, for all seasons.

  Just east of Albuquerque, the Sandia Mountains are the most visited mountains in New Mexico. Millions of people journey into the Sandia Mountains each year. More than half these visitors ride the Sandia Peak Tram or drive the Sandia Crest National Scenic Byway to take in spectacular panoramic views of Central New Mexico and to enjoy many other recreational opportunities. The Sandia Crest Scenic Byway 536, has several picnic sites with shelters and group areas for reservation.

  • If you recreate on a regular basis in the Sandias or other National Lands you might consider purchasing one of the America the Beautiful Passes or a Sandia Annual Pass at the locations listed below.

  Sandia Mountain Trails

• Balsam Glade Nature Tr - La Madera Canyon Overlook
• Balsam Glade Picnic Site
• Capulin Spring Picnic Site
• Cienega Canyon Picnic Site & Interpretive Trail
• Doc Long Picnic Site
• Las Huertas Picnic Site
• Sulphur Canyon Picnic Site
• Sulphur Canyon Trail 281
• Nine Mile Picnic Site
• Juan Tabo Picnic Sites
• La Cueva Trailhead-La Cueva Trail 83 & Picnic Site