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Lincoln/Saddle Campground
Overview
Lincoln/Saddle Campground offers a quintessential alpine experience within the Lincoln National Forest. At an elevation of 9,000 feet, this destination provides a refreshing sanctuary from the sweltering heat of the surrounding New Mexico basins. Visitors are greeted by the aromatic scent of ponderosa pines and the sight of quaking aspens. It is a peaceful, rustic getaway designed for those who want to immerse themselves in a pristine mountain environment without the distractions of modern development.
Location & Surroundings
Situated just a few miles from the charming village of Cloudcroft, the campground feels worlds away from civilization. The terrain is characterized by rolling hills and dense woodlands, providing ample shade and privacy between sites. The surrounding Lincoln National Forest serves as a vast backyard for exploration. Because of the high altitude, temperatures remain significantly cooler than in nearby Alamogordo, making it a premier choice for summer RV travel in the Southwest.
Amenities & Park Features
This is a traditional forest service facility, prioritizing the natural landscape over luxury. The campground features two distinct loops, Lincoln and Saddle. Key amenities include:
- Access to vault toilets and potable water via shared hydrants.
- Individual sites equipped with a picnic table and a heavy-duty fire ring.
- A true dry camping experience with no hookups available on-site.
This setup is perfect for self-contained rigs and travelers who enjoy being off the grid while staying close to nature.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Outdoor enthusiasts will find no shortage of activities in the Sacramento Mountains. The Osha Trail is a popular nearby loop offering stunning views of the Tularosa Basin. Other local highlights include:
- The historic Mexican Canyon Trestle overlook.
- The high-altitude Sunspot Solar Observatory.
- The charming shops and local eateries in downtown Cloudcroft.
These attractions are just a short drive from your campsite, making daily excursions easy and convenient.
Who This Park Is Best For
This campground is ideal for adventurous RVers who value scenery and quiet over resort-style amenities. Because the access roads and parking spurs can be narrow, it is best suited for small-to-medium RVs, camper vans, or truck campers. It is a top pick for nature photographers and hikers looking for a basecamp that feels connected to the wild. If you are seeking a serene, off-grid experience under a canopy of stars, this park fits perfectly.
Amenities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Steve Tarro
Incredible camping at 9,000' surrounded by pine and Aspen forests, all less than five miles from Cloudcroft, NM. Mark Simons is an EXCELLENT campground Host. Friendly, helpful, and very knowledgeable of the area. We have been coming up to this campground for many many years, and Mark is one of the best.
Gary Purcell
Stayed one night in my Hammock. Very nice
Kirill Kuzmin
Wonderful campsite, very well maintained. The hosts are helpful and welcoming. $28 per night might feel pricey but it's totally worth it.
borderstars
Really Nice and Quiet
Felipe Barrera
Always feeling at peace at this place
Mish
Wonderful! Cool, quite, generous sized camping areas. Quite clean despite being full; it's obviously popular--and equally obviously well cared for by camp hosts. Plenty of hiking trails that don't encroach on camp sites. Really a lovely park.
Daniel Tarango
They have noise restrictions, which is good cause I come up camping for peace and quiet.
Kristopher Foster
Very nice and secluded campground. Sites are a bit close together and the price is a bit steep but still rating 5 stars
Kevin Edgington
This is one of many developed camp grounds around the Cloudcroft area. The groundskeepers can be somewhat intrusive to your camping experience, but it's their job to take care of the place so I can understand their sometimes frequent checkups on all the campsites. Pets must be kept on a leash at all times in any pay-to-camp area in NM, so bring your pets at your own risk. Each campsite has a solid fire pit and a concrete picnic table, but we always take extra tables and a canopy to shelter us from the midday sun...in NM it can be hot even at almost 10K foot elevation. There are a few walking trails around the Saddle campground, and at least one of them can be a bit challenging for folks that aren't in great shape. Overall we like this campground, but since we like to take our two small dogs with us, we will be looking for more primitive camp sites in the future so we don't have to keep them on a leash the whole time.
Randy Lusby
Found the best campsite ever here in July 2019. Easy to purchase firewood. Extremely friendly host (thanks Jerry!). Wonderful mountaintop feeling. Commodes kept nice and clean and mostly odor free! There is a little nature hike trail that encircled the grounds featuring nature factoids along the way. Very close to a couple other hiking trails as well. No running water except showers at the Silver Overflow site are $5 for a lenient 10 minutes. Great shower facility in that case. Will return.