El Aguaje Campground
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
Write a Review El Aguaje Questa, NM 87556 575-758-8851 575-586-1150 Official WebsiteGPS: 36.6663, -105.6729
Overview of El Aguaje Campground
Last Price Paid: $7
Reported by Ed & Kathy on 5/21/2024
Longest RV Reported: 28 feet (Travel Trailer)
Reported by Tomp on 1/11/2015
Pad Type gravel
Elevation 7,447 ft / 2,269 m
Tent Camping Yes
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To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 575-758-8851
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Reviews of El Aguaje Campground 10 people have reviewed this location.
Cell Phone Coverage
Confirmed by 3 Users
Last reported 10/26/2023
Confirmed by 2 Users
Last reported 9/27/2020
“Quiet, beautiful campground! Beautiful area!”
Reviewed 5/21/2024
| Nightly rate: | $7 |
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| Days stayed: | 6 |
| Site Number: | 27 |
| RV Length: | 25' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
We stayed six nights and made this our "base" to visit Taos and Circle of Enchantment. It is out of the way, but it is definitely worth it. We have a 25' trailer and we could've fit in several sites. We like to be tucked away in nature and have a peaceful time...this was it! We did not have any cell service (Verizon) within the campg... more
We stayed six nights and made this our "base" to visit Taos and Circle of Enchantment. It is out of the way, but it is definitely worth it. We have a 25' trailer and we could've fit in several sites. We like to be tucked away in nature and have a peaceful time...this was it! We did not have any cell service (Verizon) within the campground. Seemed like Big Arsenic Springs side may get 1 or 2 bars (and at the Visitors Center). We stayed in mid May and it was still very cool with thunderstorms in the afternoons (nights 40s, days 60s). Loved hiking the many trails in this area. Highly recommend hiking to the confluence via Small Arsenic Springs (or Big Arsenic)...there's a bridge over the Red River portion that is pretty cool. The gentleman at the Visitor Center was very nice, knowledgeable, and helpful.
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Verizon
Ed & Kathy would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great campground outside of Questa, NM ”
Reviewed 11/28/2023
| Nightly rate: | $20 |
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| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | n/a |
| RV Length: | 24' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
Great site just adjacent from trail that overlooks the gorge. Great hike down to the river, small campground and found the last site available, definitely was worth the drive.
Maed-it22 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Unique Cheap Spot”
Reviewed 10/26/2023
| Nightly rate: | $7 |
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| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | 91 |
| RV Length: | 21' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
I stopped here for a night on my way to Colorado. The drive in from Questa takes FOREVER. But the campsites are nice. I grabbed a pull through and the pit toilets were nearby and very clean. They’ve replaced the roads and made them one way around the campgrounds. So if you pass one campground and want to go back, you can’t. You’ll have... more
I stopped here for a night on my way to Colorado. The drive in from Questa takes FOREVER. But the campsites are nice. I grabbed a pull through and the pit toilets were nearby and very clean. They’ve replaced the roads and made them one way around the campgrounds. So if you pass one campground and want to go back, you can’t. You’ll have to drive all the way around the circle loop. A little annoying. But for $7/night and cool views and info, it was worth it. I wouldn’t stay here long though.
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Verizon 4G
HeadForTheHeels would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Unique Spot For Cheap”
Reviewed 10/26/2023
| Nightly rate: | $7 |
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| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | 91 |
| RV Length: | 21' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
I stopped through this campground on the way to Colorado. I found this to be very unique and not talked about a lot. It takes FOREVER to drive from Questa to the campsites. And they’ve redone the road where it’s one way through the campgrounds. So if you pass the first one and want to go back to it, you’ll have to drive the entire loop... more
I stopped through this campground on the way to Colorado. I found this to be very unique and not talked about a lot. It takes FOREVER to drive from Questa to the campsites. And they’ve redone the road where it’s one way through the campgrounds. So if you pass the first one and want to go back to it, you’ll have to drive the entire loop back around. The price is right though at $7/night. The pit toilets were nice and clean and there was a water faucet I filled my drinking water with. Overall it was a nice spot to stop for the night but I wouldn’t stay multiple nights
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HeadForTheHeels would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great spot”
Reviewed 5/30/2022
| Nightly rate: | $7 |
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| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | 26 |
Overall Rating
We stopped here on our way to Taos from Colorado. We were pleasantly surprised by this little gem of a campground. There is some roadwork happening on the main road near the visitor center, so the road was perfect. No washboard dirt road.
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Jh would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“A hidden gem ”
Reviewed 5/18/2021
| Nightly rate: | $3 |
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| Days stayed: | 3 |
| Site Number: | 27 |
Overall Rating
We met friends here, otherwise we never would have known about this place and what a wonderful surprise! This is the confluence of 2 rivers but aside from the amazing location this is a very well maintained campground that is little used. There is one central pit toilet and water spigot.The sites are spaced well apart with a sun/wind s... more
We met friends here, otherwise we never would have known about this place and what a wonderful surprise! This is the confluence of 2 rivers but aside from the amazing location this is a very well maintained campground that is little used. There is one central pit toilet and water spigot.The sites are spaced well apart with a sun/wind shelter. My only criticism is that they are designed more for RVs and don’t really have much of a tent pad so if you use a tent look for a site with enough space. It can get windy here so plan on guywiring your tent. The hiking is fabulous and the views amazing.
2inthedust would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Outstanding CG, Quiet, Gorgeous Night Skies”
Reviewed 9/27/2020
| Nightly rate: | $7 |
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| Days stayed: | 3 |
| Site Number: | 26 |
| RV Length: | 17' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
I debated writing this review, cause I'd like to keep it under the radar. BLM scores a 5 Rating. Paid $3.50 / night with Golden Age pass. Backed into #26, with spectacular view of mountains across the Red River valley, and a few yards from 550' drop-off. CG access road is graded gravel, site drives gravel, but may need blocks to level ... more
I debated writing this review, cause I'd like to keep it under the radar. BLM scores a 5 Rating. Paid $3.50 / night with Golden Age pass. Backed into #26, with spectacular view of mountains across the Red River valley, and a few yards from 550' drop-off. CG access road is graded gravel, site drives gravel, but may need blocks to level your RV. All sites are FCFS. Super clean, very large sites, picnic table, fire ring, grill, most with metal canopy. 2 very clean concrete pit toilets, 2 spigots (screw connectors) with drinking water. Sites have lots of privacy but minimal overhead shade, so sun was helpful during chilly early mornings. Summer days would be hot. Quiet hours 10 pm - 6 am. Most RVs actually used solar panels to recharge.
Lots of well-maintained trails, including a Difficult-rated trail down to the river. Great pinion & juniper smells. The nearby Visitor Center has restricted days (Fri, Sat, Sun) due to Covid. There are 4 additional CGs on the west Rio Grande side.
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T-Mobile 4G
Dave3114 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Quiet, Solitude, and Spectacular Scenery”
Reviewed 6/6/2019
| Nightly rate: | $7 |
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| Days stayed: | 3 |
| Site Number: | 25 |
Overall Rating
El Aguaje is the last of 5 small campgrounds (all first come-first serve) in the Rio Del Norte National Monument (managed by the BLM). It sits on the Red River side of the Taos Vulcanic Plateau with the Rio Grande a short hike to the west. It is very close to where the two river gorges (Red River, and Rio Grande) come together. This... more
El Aguaje is the last of 5 small campgrounds (all first come-first serve) in the Rio Del Norte National Monument (managed by the BLM). It sits on the Red River side of the Taos Vulcanic Plateau with the Rio Grande a short hike to the west. It is very close to where the two river gorges (Red River, and Rio Grande) come together. This campground is the largest of the 5 and has 7 sites. We were in site #5 and lucky to get it on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. There were 3 sites available when we arrived at about 2pm, and they were all gone by the end of the afternoon. I suspect that sites would be readily available on most regular weekends, and certainly during mid-week, as the campground is quite remote (about 15 miles in from the highway, but on a nicely paved road). Our site was very good, but sites 26, 27 and 28 have the best views in our opinion. These sites sit on the perimeter of the campground and back up to the rim of the Red River gorge (the rim is literally just a few yards away from the back of the campsites). The trail down to the Red River starts just next to site 26. There is a trail that connects El Aguaje CG to the other campgrounds on the other side (Rio Grande side) of the plateau where there are several trails down to the Rio Grande. I might add that most of the sites in this campground, as well as the other campgrounds in the Monument, are mostly suited for tent camping and small RV's. I would not attempt to bring in anything larger than maybe 25-30'.
The campground has very clean toilets, and drinking water available as well as trash dumpsters. Each site is equipped with a covered concrete picnic table (on a concrete pad) and a fire ring. The sites were not super level, so be prepared to put a little effort in.
There are a number of spectacular hikes in the area, and lot's of wildlife. We ran into a family (including a couple of young lambs) of big horn sheep on our way down the Red River gorge. The most remarkable (and enjoyable to us) aspects of this CG is the absolute quiet, and incredible stargazing. Due to the remoteness, there is very little light pollution or man made noise. We will definitely go back - probably this summer even though we were just there in late May.
The standard rate is $7 per night - we paid $3.50/night with our lifetime interagency senior pass. We camped in a 21' travel trailer.
Colorado Highlander would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Gorgeous canyon views, superb hiking”
Reviewed 8/24/2017
| Nightly rate: | $7 |
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| Days stayed: | 3 |
| Site Number: | 26 |
| RV Length: | 21' |
Overall Rating
I love this place! This is part of the Wild Rivers Recreation Area, which is now the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. There are several campgrounds located on a mesa between the Rio Grande Gorge on one side, and the Red River Canyon on the other. El Aguaje is on the Red River side, and the canyon was directly behind my campsite.... more
I love this place! This is part of the Wild Rivers Recreation Area, which is now the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. There are several campgrounds located on a mesa between the Rio Grande Gorge on one side, and the Red River Canyon on the other. El Aguaje is on the Red River side, and the canyon was directly behind my campsite. I could walk down the trail right from my camp!
Every campsite has a shade structure, picnic table, fire ring, and grill. The bathrooms (pit toilets) are in good shape, and there's garbage collection and recycling. Drinking water is available, but there are no hookups. A surprising plus was that I had good cell service on T-Mobile - better than some places in Taos!
The hiking here is amazing. If you have the energy, follow the trails down to one of the rivers. It's heavenly down at the bottom, and a great change from the sagebrush and juniper scenery at the top. There's also a loop hike you can take around the top, that has nice views of the mountains.
I was here over a weekend in the summer, and the place was only about half full. On a weekday, it was even emptier. Very quiet, very peaceful, and very beautiful. One of my favorites!
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Zennie (Uphill Zen) would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Remote, quiet, stunning vistas, wild and therapeutic for a C/G”
Reviewed 1/11/2015
| Days stayed: | 5 |
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| RV Length: | 28' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
More generally known as Two Rivers which is a series of primitive C/G's high on the rim of two rivers 600' below the campsites. This is so quiet here you can hear yourself think and your heart beat. No amenities, but who needs them when you have this for a low price. Nearby is a visitor center staffed with rangers and expert naturalist... more
More generally known as Two Rivers which is a series of primitive C/G's high on the rim of two rivers 600' below the campsites. This is so quiet here you can hear yourself think and your heart beat. No amenities, but who needs them when you have this for a low price. Nearby is a visitor center staffed with rangers and expert naturalists.
If you have the stamina for climbing down and back from the rivers, they say fishing can be excellent. So too iseagle watching, feet and elk at dusk and big horn sheep if you are lucky.
A local motocycle camper living in Taos told us of this place. I can't be more thankful. This is a gem.
Tomp would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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10 reviews
Rio Grande del Norte (Wild Rivers) - Awesome camping! - Uphill Zen
If you're looking for a place to go camping and/or hiking in northern New Mexico, go to Rio Grande del Norte, aka Wild Rivers. Just do it! You won't regret it. 🙂 If you check it...
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Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
Recreation
- fishing
- picnic area
- recreation trail
- water access
Site Amenities
- fire ring
- picnic table
Facilities
- restrooms: vault
- water available
Pets
- pets
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