Amole Canyon Group Shelter

Show on map 575-587-2255 ricardo.leon@usda.gov

Camino Real Ranger District, PO Box 68
Penasco, NM 87553

Overview

The Amole Group Shelter is located immediately adjacent to the popular wooded Amole Canyon Day Use Area at 8,400 feet in elevation. The group shelter accommodates up to 100 people with plenty of solitude since this is the only group facility in this location.

Recreation

There are approximately 11 miles of non-motorized trails located in the Amole Canyon Day Use Area. Here, visitors can enjoy sections of the nearby South Loop Trail, with views of the Rio Pueblo Valley, and nearby Bear Mountain and Penasco Mountain. Along the Upper Cutoff Trail, views of Picuris Mountain are readily available. The trails are popular for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and are rated easy to more difficult. The Amole Canyon Trailhead also provides access to the Forest's Motorized Trail System via Trail 182, the Tio Maes Trail.

Facilities

This location provides gated access, twin barbecue grills, picnic tables and a group-sized fire ring. In addition, accessible twin vault toilets with a paved path to the shelter are provided. There is no water at this facility and no trash service. Please bring all the water you will need for your stay and pack out your trash.

There is group camping for up to 100 people with 4 paved single vehicle parking spots, and gravel spots for passenger vehicles or camper trailers/RVs. All designated parking is surfaced with gravel or pavement. The pull-thrus can either be used for passenger vehicles or RVs and camp trailers. All parking, regardless of vehicle type, must be on surfaced parking areas.

Natural Features

The group camping area has been constructed within a stand of tall ponderosa pine trees. The shelter has been constructed on a small hill overlooking a pristine meadow.

Contact Info

This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (575) 587-2255.

Nearby Attractions

Amole Canyon Group Shelter is located approximately seven miles away from the unincorporated community of Penasco with art galleries, some restaurants, fuel and automotive services, and a small hardware store; seven miles from Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort with a resturant and a nationally ranked disc golf course; eight miles from the Taos Campus of Southern Methodist University and the Pot Creek Cultural Site; 11 miles from Picuris Pueblo; 15 miles from Taos which has a hospital and most services; 15 miles from access to the Pecos Wilderness and world class fly fishing at the Santa Barbara Trailhead; 20 miles from the Serpent Lake Trailhead which accesses the Pecos Wilderness and Jicarita Peak (12,800 feet); 20 miles to Taos Pueblo with events and pueblo tours; and 30 miles from the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument with word class rafting, kayaking and flying fishing.

Camp site features

Across 1 camp site:

Fire pit: all 1 sites
Pets allowed: all 1 sites
ADA accessible: all 1 sites
Group sites: all 1 sites
Longest rig: 30 ft
Largest party: 100 people

Directions

From State Road 68 in Ranchos de Taos, go south on 518 14.2 miles to the junction with National Forest System Road 703, go southeast on FSR703 approximately 0.4 mile to a gate locked with a coded padlock. The code will be provided to you in an email. Unlock the gate and proceed south into the group shelter parking area.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 11 AM.

Reviews

5 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

Brandon T

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

Beautiful private location but we actually swung by a couple weeks before our reservation to check it out and when we got there for the reservation, there was a mess of felled logs and branches, we had to be careful not to roll an ankle even just walking on the gravel paths. It was not like that on the first visit. We were a bit disappointed on the mess made to clear some trees

Mark S

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed a year ago

The Amole Canyon Group Shelter is not really in a canyon but it’s a fine shelter with ample space in the beautiful meadow immediately adjacent for pitching tents. The vault toilets were clean and appeared equally new.

Jennifer J

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed a year ago

Very nice spot. Mostly secluded except when random people hiking on the trail decide to walk through your camp.

Matt W

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed 2 years ago

Beautiful campground. Absolutely loved it. Bathrooms were in good condition. No water, no cell reception, no lights in the pavilion, but it was a great place for our group to spend a couple of nights. Nice short loop hike nearby.

Craig G

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed 3 years ago

Very private. Beautiful. Clean restrooms. Men's toilet had one seat hinge broken. Split rail fence had a small section damaged where a tree had fallen across it. Plenty of dead wood for fires. Charcoal grills were clean. Great place for a scout or church camp.

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve Watch

Popularity: Very quiet

Busiest in August, when about 15% of guest capacity is reserved. Based on 4 years of reservations.