John Dunn Bridge Overlook Dispersed Camping

Beautiful area on top of a mesa, overlooking the Rio Grande with sweeping views of the mountains to the east. The sites are massive, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding a level spot. Only 6 sites or so, so get there early. Very convenient for visiting the Black Jack hot spring that’s right on the bank of the Rio Grande. It’s about a mile or so walk each way or a 5 minute hop in your toad or tow vehicle. If you walk, the jaunt back up the road is a bit strenuous but doable. The hot springs are the perfect temperature for an endurance soak. You will meet all kinds interesting but friendly folk, some clothed, some not so much. The spring is small so prepare to get cozy.

A word of caution. The road in from the east (over the John Dunn bridge) is pretty rough, narrow and steep. We have a 24 foot class B+ and I definitely would not want to traverse this road with anything larger. The western access is more friendly for any size rig, though its a 10 or so mile further drive from Taos.

The road is closed with large cement barricades. There was heavy rain two weeks ago according to locals and parts of it washed out. If you're driving any kind of RV rig, don't do it. Thank god I only had my Jeep with me because there's nowhere to turn around.

This place offers amazing views of the gorge and surrounding mountains. Early March the road was dry enough to get back here. It’s pretty rough but passable for most vehicles. There is some trash around; bullet casings, broken glass, etc. We did our best to clean some up but be careful with kids and pets. Quiet apart from some air traffic.

This spot is a STUNNER- there was hardly anyone else camping in the area - there was one spot big enough for three 40ft 5th wheels, where we parked with our friends. It's a mile walk down to the river edge for a naturalo hot spring where we met awesome locals. the view over the rio grande makes this spot unline any other. Cell reception for us on Verizon was 'roaming' at the highest spot. We were able to work which inclues a lot of zoom calls for us.Not much futher down and the signal drops signficantly but some basic things will load. 30 miles from taos but this spot is too beautful to not stay. road in was doable but a little bumpy. just went slow with our rv and was totally fine.

Turn off 522 onto B-006, Acequia Madre del Llano Rd, south of Arroyo Hondo not quite a mile.
For a country road the 3 mile drive to the River isn't bad, a little bumpy. If wanting to fish the river
or go to the the hot springs this is the way to get there and a much shorter drive and walk than coming in from
the west side. There was no traffic coming down into the gorge from the west side. Once you cross the bridge the road on west side is blocked off. There is a large area to park along west side of river. Locals said a landslide further up blocked the road and it had been that way for awhile.
A couple vans and car campers stayed overnight. This area isn't really designed for pull behind campers or 5th wheels and locals said these aren't suppose to camp there. Not knowing the road was blocked off I pulled a
36 foot 5th wheel down in there and stayed overnight. It can be done but probably would not repeat that.
Coming in from the west side is a long drive off the highway that goes by the airport but read the other reviews about it. Access to the east side is good if just in a car or truck, there is no cell service. Of course the natural beauty is all around. Access for fishing doesn't require a long walk with some of it is right there on the bank. Would go back for a day trip.

Turn off 522 onto B-006, Acequia Madre del Llano Rd, south of Arroyo Hondo not quite a mile.
For a country road the 3 mile drive to the River isn't bad, a little bumpy. If wanting to fish the river
or go to the the hot springs this is the way to get there and a much shorter drive and walk than coming in from
the west side. There was no traffic coming down into the gorge from the west side. Once you cross the bridge the road on west side is blocked off. Locals said a landslide further up blocked the road and it had been that way for awhile. There is a large parking area right after crossing "the bridge to no where."
A couple vans and car campers stayed overnight. This area isn't really designed for pull behind campers or 5th wheels and next day locals said these aren't suppose to camp there. Not knowing the road was blocked off I pulled a 36 foot 5th wheel down in there and stayed overnight. It can be done but probably would not repeat that.
Coming in from the west side is a long drive off the highway that goes by the Taos airport but read the other reviews about it. Can't go down into the gorge from that side with a vehicle. Access to the east side is good if just in a car or truck, there is no cell service. Of course the natural beauty is all around. Access for fishing doesn't require a long walk with some of it is right there off the bank. Would go back for a day trip. Access rating is if not pulling a trailer.

I stayed at these coordinates: 36.547512, -105.715272 If you come in from the west side, it is not a bad drive. The road is rough and long, but anyone can make it. The camping spot listed, is about 1 mile farther down B007. That's steep and windy.
If you come in from the east, you can get to the actual bridge and river (it's beautiful) but you cannot camp overnight. And no matter how you try, Google Maps tries to take you up those switchbacks, and that road is blocked by cement barricades.

I stayed at my (above) coordinates one night. It was amazing up on the ridge. The view went on forever. It was level. Nobody else within a mile. I left the next morning for propane, and went into Questo. I plugged in the Campendium coordinates and it took me to the east side, and over the bridge, and tried to take me up the barricaded road. No matter what I did, Google would NOT let me go any other way.

So be forewarned...You cannot get to the camping spaces from the east. From the south and west, take 64 NW to John Dunn Bridge Road/Montosa Road. Stay on that (Montosa is long and slow). There is an excellent boondocking spot where Montosa makes a sharp left onto Cam de Lovato. If you want to get to the coordinates Campendium lists, then just continue straight down B007.

We came in to this spot from the west (luckily , as the road is closed on the west side of the bridge where those switchbacks are -August 2022).
We have a 30’ 2WD motor home with low clearance. It took us approx 30 mins of bone-shaking 12mph driving to reach the overlook but it was so worth it.

An absolutely beautiful view, very quiet. One of my favorite camp spots to date. A bit of a drive in, but totally worth it!