Forks Campground
Gila National Forest
Write a Review East Forest Camp Rd. Silver City, NM 88061 505-536-2250 505-388-8201 Official WebsiteGPS: 33.1837, -108.2061
Overview of Forks Campground
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads.
Learn more: Boondocking 101
Last Price Paid: $0
Reported by SupBoy on 9/27/2022
Longest RV Reported: 28 feet (Class C)
Reported by KC McG on 1/21/2021
Number of Sites 7
Open Seasonally Yes
Elevation 5,577 ft / 1,699 m
Max Stay 14
Tent Camping Yes
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Q&A - Ask the Community about Forks Campground
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 505.536.2250
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Reviews of Forks Campground 9 people have reviewed this location.
“Open, Near River, Could Be Crowded In High Season - But Free!”
Reviewed 9/27/2022
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | not sure |
| RV Length: | 19' (Class B) |
Overall Rating
Great location less than 10 minutes from Gila Cliff Dwelling Visitor Center. Lots of sites, wide open,some privacy, but could easily become a crowded zoo in the summer. Just pit toilets, no other facilities. Nice short trail to river. Lots of trash left behind at sites. Fire rings, no tables. Free!
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T-Mobile
SupBoy would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Excellent Campground, No Cell Service. Very Quiet Peaceful Tranquil Setting Listening To The River At Night”
Reviewed 9/1/2022
Overall Rating
There is a small store at the hot springs. The hike to the cliff dwelling is awesome. Pit toilet is fair. No cell service for miles till silver city.
Yar would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Free camping convenient to the cliff dwellings”
Reviewed 4/12/2022
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | NA |
| RV Length: | 20' (Class B) |
Overall Rating
We camped here in a camper van. This is dispersed camping with no hookups near the Gila river. There are quite a few spots available. Dirt and gravel roads. Very close to the main highway. About 5 mi from the cliff dwellings. Pit toilets are decent. Only about four other campers on a weeknight in april.
WanderingWakes.Net would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Nice and easy”
Reviewed 1/21/2021
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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| Days stayed: | 3 |
| RV Length: | 28' (Class C) |
Overall Rating
Well spaced out and level area that was mostly empty on MLK weekend in January. Easy for any vehicle that can make it over the pass (take hwy 35, not the road from Silver City). Nice short walk to the river below. Easy access to the general store in town and the cliff dwellings. Beautiful location and there is so much to see and do in... more
Well spaced out and level area that was mostly empty on MLK weekend in January. Easy for any vehicle that can make it over the pass (take hwy 35, not the road from Silver City). Nice short walk to the river below. Easy access to the general store in town and the cliff dwellings. Beautiful location and there is so much to see and do in this valley. We left only to stay at the hot springs campground which was amazing.
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AT&T
Verizon
T-Mobile
KC McG would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Ok,quiet but a few strange cars driving around late at night ”
Reviewed 12/12/2020
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
Overall Rating
The Very quiet only one in the campground although it was dec.11 with rain and snow after the fog cleared beautiful views of river and mountains.I would be very cautious walking around at night the drops to the river would be deadly and they are right at The campsite EXTRA caution with children and pets
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Verizon
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Good base for exploring the Gila area”
Reviewed 10/3/2020
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 3 |
| RV Length: | 23' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
Spent 3 nights here with our trailer and a rental car while we waited for the Ford dealership in Silver City to diagnose a “check engine” light on our truck. This was a convenient and peaceful place to be stranded! The campground was less than half full in late September/early October. We claimed a great spot on the edge of the cany... more
Spent 3 nights here with our trailer and a rental car while we waited for the Ford dealership in Silver City to diagnose a “check engine” light on our truck. This was a convenient and peaceful place to be stranded!
The campground was less than half full in late September/early October. We claimed a great spot on the edge of the canyon, looking down on the river. It was a short walk down the road to the day use area where we found a terrific swimming hole at the foot of the tall cliffs. At night we watched the full moon rise over the canyon rim and made campfire s’mores.
Only minor complaints: campground is very close to (lightly trafficked) road, and pit toilets were swarmed with flies—especially the upper ones in campground.
From this base camp we ventured out to explore the cliff dwellings (rangers were doing a great job dispensing info and good humor from the parking lot, despite the pandemic policies) and enjoy a couple gorgeous wilderness hikes from the (closed) visitor center. Sampled the homemade ice cream and lifeline of free wifi (noon-4 only) at Doc Campbell’s. Made multiple round trips down the windy road to Silver City to deal with truck repair, and visit the (surprisingly open) museum of awesome Mimbres pottery at the university.
Not exactly how we planned things, but had a great time despite the headaches with our truck.
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Verizon
T-Mobile
ZoraK9 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great Campground, high up a mountain road with no service and few supplies ”
Reviewed 11/17/2019
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 2 |
Overall Rating
The mountain road up will definitely test your vehicle. We made it slowly up in our minivan pulling close to it's maximum capacity. The views are outrageous, gorgeous. The campground will likely accommodate almost any size rig, though I'm no expert and I'd be wary of the road up. Site were level with well kept gravel surfaces. Clif... more
The mountain road up will definitely test your vehicle. We made it slowly up in our minivan pulling close to it's maximum capacity. The views are outrageous, gorgeous.
The campground will likely accommodate almost any size rig, though I'm no expert and I'd be wary of the road up. Site were level with well kept gravel surfaces. Cliff faces all around with spectacular views and a hike down to the river.
There are non-flush toilets. Nearest water is at the Gila Cliff Dwellings visitor's center, maybe 3 miles further up the mountain. There is unleaded regular gas at Doc Campbell's Post and I recall seeing some further down the mountain. Other than that I believe the nearest amenities are 30-40 miles away in Silver City (cute city!).
No service to speak of. Our AT&T cut out much sooner than other reviewers said (maybe 40 miles out?).
Gila Cliffs are incredible. We also made the short hike out to the hot springs (in the park). There are nearby businesses that have dug pools but they seemed much less fun and inviting to us. The hot springs in the river are free and seemed much nicer to us. It's a 1/5 mile hike each way and you have to cross the river twice.
The Wanderlings would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Perfect campsite near Gila Cliff Dwellings”
Reviewed 3/28/2019
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | 614 E |
| RV Length: | 15' (Teardrop Trailer) |
Overall Rating
Been living full time in our camper for the past 20 weeks, and this is our favorite camping spot (so far)!! We had planned to visit Gila Cliff Dwellings and picked Gila Hot Springs Campground as our base, based on reviews and the notion of getting into a hot spring. We pulled in and were told “we’re all booked”. I asked about other ... more
Been living full time in our camper for the past 20 weeks, and this is our favorite camping spot (so far)!!
We had planned to visit Gila Cliff Dwellings and picked Gila Hot Springs Campground as our base, based on reviews and the notion of getting into a hot spring. We pulled in and were told “we’re all booked”. I asked about other options. “Go north on route 15. There’s an RV Park on the left.” So we went there and were told it would be $25.66 per night. It was a farm with a few campers on a dirt road with no personality and zero privacy. We decided to go back down Route 15 to check out some of the other spots we saw on the way up, and that we had read about in our search.
We went no further than ½ mile and turned left into Forks. Well, we were treated to an amazing campground with beautiful views of mountains and a river below from up high on a hill. Everything works out we say, and this was no exception.
Free camping with such privacy and incredible views! So great we had to open a bottle of wine and drink in the moment with all its peace and beauty. We were soooo happy to have found this spot.
There is plenty of room for smaller-sized rigs, and plenty of space between the sites for privacy. It is boondocking except for a restroom with a no flush toilet. No water and no trash. Fine with us, as we felt safe and in a beautiful place. Water is available at the Gila Cliff Dwelling Visitor Center 4 miles north on route 15, so bring your containers to fill up there.
The sad thing was seeing some trash left by others. We walked around our campsite area filling a small trash bag of equal parts soda cans, juice boxes, and candy wrappers to beer cans, bottles, and cigarette butts to assure us that parents are missing the opportunity to teach their children about the importance of taking care of out planet. Oh well.
We were so glad to have found this gem of a spot to call home for the night and would recommend it to anyone interested in a peaceful and beautiful spot to boondock near the Gila Cliff Dwellings.
Added note: others have advised to take Route 35 up and we will agree.
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Verizon
Liam n Maggie would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful cliffs, and river access too!”
Reviewed 8/26/2017
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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| Days stayed: | 3 |
| RV Length: | 21' |
Overall Rating
I loved this place! This free National Forest campground is located on a little bluff overlooking the Gila River. The forks of the river join together near here, hence the name of the place. On the opposite side of the river are beautiful cliffs, so it makes for a really pretty campsite view. The place was totally empty when I arri... more
I loved this place! This free National Forest campground is located on a little bluff overlooking the Gila River. The forks of the river join together near here, hence the name of the place. On the opposite side of the river are beautiful cliffs, so it makes for a really pretty campsite view.
The place was totally empty when I arrived, so I was able to select a spot with the river right behind me, and a gorgeous view. It looked like most of the spots do have a view. I left just as the 4th of July crowd started arriving, so I suspect it filled up then.
The small campground has a clean pit toilet, but no other facilities. There is a short road you can walk down to reach the river, and that's a lovely spot for relaxing, sitting with your feet in the water, or some people even went swimming. The only water available is the river.
The road up here from Silver City is a winding little mountain road, all paved, but slow going. But it's a beautiful drive, so just take it slow and enjoy the scenery.
When I next visit the Gila, I think I'll end up staying at the same place. It's wonderful!
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T-Mobile 4G
Zennie (Uphill Zen) would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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1 review
Forks Campground In The Gila National Forest
Date Visited: February 23-25, 2021Address: Silver City, NM 88061GPS: 33.18348, -108.20642Phone: (575)536-2250WebsitePrice: FreeReservations: First Come - First ServeStay Limit: 14...
10 reviews
Cliffs and Camping at the Gila Forks - Uphill Zen
I'm camping at the Gila Forks campground, a lovely spot right above the Gila River. The forks of the river come together near here, and there are fabulous cliffs just across the wa...
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Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
- Dispersed Camping
Recreation
- recreation trail
- water access
Facilities
- restrooms: vault
Pets
- pets
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