Bluff Springs Dispersed Camping

This is a beautiful camping area with access to miles and miles of wonderful hiking. The forest had received abnormally high amounts of rainfall for the weeks leading up to our arrival, make sure you check the conditions before you arrive (there is a ranger station just a few miles away if needed). To get to the camping area you have to drive another 1.5 miles once the pavement ends. The road seemed to be kept in good shape, but the rain got the best of it on our trip. Even with all of the rain it was still passable with a 2wd while towing, but not recommended. There are numerous cattle gates, and the roads are pretty tight, so if you have a class A or larger C I would avoid it, or scout it before you make the trek. The main camping area is ok, we went another 200 yards or so past it and pulled off on to a grassy area above the creek. If it has been raining this is a bad choice as we found out when we when got stuck. Unknown to us at the time, about a 1/4 mile past the main camping area there is a nice gravel area to park or turn around without the worry of getting stuck. The only thing you have to keep an eye on is your ground clearance as you pull on and off the road (this is more for Airstreames or motorhomes). Once you are there the area is amazing, beautiful hikes that take you through flowery valleys, old burned sections of fir and aspen trees, and an abundance of wild life. The trails are a bit rocky, so if you have a small dog yo many have to help them a little. This is a dry camping spot, the only thing offered is a vault toilet. I can't wait to visit this spot again under better circumstances. There is no cell service from what I recall.

We stayed here mid March 2017. The dirt road was not that bad for our 30 ft Airstream. Once you get to the little waterfall area, it's hard to tell where the campground is at. Near the waterfall is parking for cars and a vault toilet (which was extremely dirty). We continued down the road over a little hill and found a spot to pull off into. There was a decent sized bump getting off the road but we did not drag the Airstream. The site was grass and dusty dirt with some weeds around the edges and no large trees. Someone had already built a fire pit. The little creek was running close to our site but down a very steep incline. It was too steep for kids to enjoy. Nobody else was camping near us, so it was nice and quiet. We saw some beautiful hawks flying around and a few squirrels but not other wildlife. Later that day, after our camp was setup, we drove down the road and found a spot that would have been much better. There was big trees surrounding it and the creek was at ground level. Overall we had a very good time. Hiked to the waterfall, the steps going up are very muddy and slippery. Temperatures were in the high 70s and mid 30s at night. At times it was a bit windy. We heard a lot of wildlife at night but did not see anything. When it was time to leave, it took a bit of power to get the camper moving from the loose dirt and the weight distribution hitch was close to scratching the hump to get back on the dirt road.

Very beautiful tall trees. ATV trails really awesome. Quiet at night. Road in with rv is pretty rough. Road gets a bit narrow at times with only one vehicle able to go through.

We arrived at or about 1430ish (4:30 p.m.) after not finding anything at our original location. The road leading up to Bluff Springs is a narrow road that could fit only one rig at a time. There were moments where we had to move over slightly to allow smaller cars, trucks, and suv's to pass by. I do not know what we would have done if we had encountered another rig approaching from the opposite direction. We were traveling in our 33' Keystone Passport and make it through alright...there was one tight switchback...but nothing too bad. Upon arrival to Bluff Spring, we noticed an open area that accommodated our rig for the night. We were greeting by cattle the entire time. We woke up at 0530 hearing cattle around our rig. Overall, this was a great spot; this was during the week, Tuesday night; not sure what it would have been like during the weekend. Great place for hiking and very picturesque (waterfall right outside our rig). We were lucky to have a scout car with us...if possible, we recommend send a car ahead to scout the area just in case you cannot find a spot directly adjacent to Bluff Springs.

We camped in a tent by the waterfall. There aren't any set sites so it's hard to tell how much room there is. There is a gravel road that is short from the east side about 10 minutes and longer about 20-25 minutes from the west to enter from. We got through easily with our SUV only some minor dips. Seems like you can pull over everywhere to let people pass the other way. There was a herd of cattle that walked by when we were setting up our tent and waking up! Great place to get away 30 minutes out of Cloudcroft. Hast toilets and place to put trash as well.

My friends and I camped here the first weekend Ft. Bliss personnel were allowed to travel after COVID-19. It was packed. We drove about two miles past the falls before we found a spot across the spring that wasn't crowded. We drove 4WD trucks (one with a tear drop trailer) and SUVs and had no issues crossing. Everyone was very respectful and quiet. No noisy parties. No camp fires allowed, but we were able to cook on stovetop a without issue. The spring is too shallow in most spots (deep in some spots)fast and cold. I don't recommend for swimming. We will definitely be back soon. There is no cell service with Verizon here - a plus in my books! Plenty of trees to string up a hammock. Great place to get away from the desert heat. Low 50s at night, high 70s during the day. Very comfortable for tent or hammock camping. Road might be too narrow for big rigs.

Still just as busy as last time, but we parked on one side and camped across the creek away from the crowds this time. We were able to hang our hammocks amongst a nice spruce Grove. It was very quiet this weekend. The weather was perfect. 70s during the day and 50s at night. I still highly recommend this site despite the crowds.

We stayed here in September and the weather was perfect. There are many sites for RV’s on the left hand side of the road. There are no spots past the recreation waterfall area so this is your last turn around point. We stayed after a small rain and the road was fine to travel on.

We stayed at the last spot available which is also the largest near the trailhead. Only 2 vehicles approached to park near the travel head during the day, which wasn’t too bothersome.

Each spot is right along the Rio Peñasco which makes for a beautiful little scenery. You can hear plenty of elk throughout the night as well.

The spot was clean and very level with a fire ring already in place. The road it self isn’t very long, but it takes quite a while to travel down because you have to take it slow.

We love this spot and plan to stay here many more times! Definitely less crowded then the other dispersed camping areas in Cloudcroft.

The central hub - where the waterfall is - for the area was VERY crowded, as were a lot of the spots on the side of the road by the creek to the east. There is a very sizable area just past the spot where the road on the west side goes from the pavement that leads to the sunspot highway turns to gravel. It was level, open, and easy access. LOTS of sun/sky view to run our solar, and little to no traffic during the weekday. We had a HUGE area completely to ourselves. It's close enough (30 minutes) to Cloudcroft if you forget/need anything basic, and far enough away to feel like you're almost in the wilderness.

Be careful if you're towing, though. The road that comes in from the east is quite narrow in places and offers little chance to turn around and plenty of areas where passing another car/truck/RV is not possible.

We camped up the road a ways from the waterfall. Road was busy at times-but far enough away from our site. Very quiet and peaceful. Lots of Elk sign everywhere. Saw them morning and evening moving through our camp and a nearby meadow. Temps were extremely pleasant. Really enjoyed our stay here. Road in was bumpy but GPS took us the long way. The road out towards cloudcroft was much better.