## Overview

Echo Amphitheater is a natural amphitheater located on the Carson National
Forest in Rio Arriba County, in Northern New Mexico. .

## Recreation

Echo Amphitheater Recreation Site offers opportunities for hiking, nature
viewing, camping, and picnicking.

## Facilities

Stay for a short time, the entire day, or overnight! This site has multiple
picnic/shade ramada options, vault toilets, a paved walkway up to the
amphitheater, a large group shelter, and eight campsites with electric hook-
ups. Campsites can accomodate small and medium-sized RVs, camper vans, and
tents at some sites. Plus, there are two double sites that provide additional
parking.

Our water system is temporarily out of service. Please bring your own water
for drinking, washing dishes, etc. We apologize for the temporary
inconvenience.

## Natural Features

The sandstone cliff is known for its unique echoing auditory properties. The
red vertical stripes down the otherwise horizontally stratified cliff wall are
streaks of mineral varnish that provides a colorful contrast to the sandstone
cliff. This colorful geological feature combined with its unusual auditory
properties no doubt fed the legend of myth associated with the Echo
Amphitheater

## Contact Info

This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general
information, please call: (575) 684-2489.

## Nearby Attractions

Abiquiu Lake, Ghost Ranch Education and Retreat Center, Canjilon Lakes

<h2>Overview</h2>
<p>Echo Amphitheater is a natural amphitheater located on the Carson National Forest in Rio Arriba County, in Northern New Mexico.  .</p>
<h2>Recreation</h2>
<p>Echo Amphitheater Recreation Site offers opportunities for hiking, nature viewing, camping, and picnicking.  </p>
<h2>Facilities</h2>
<p>Stay for a short time, the entire day, or overnight! This site has multiple picnic/shade ramada options, vault toilets, a paved walkway up to the amphitheater, a large group shelter, and eight campsites with electric hook-ups. Campsites can accomodate small and medium-sized RVs, camper vans, and tents at some sites. Plus, there are two double sites that provide additional parking.  </p><p>Our water system is temporarily out of service.  Please bring your own water for drinking, washing dishes, etc.  We apologize for the temporary inconvenience.  </p><h2>Natural Features</h2>
<p>The sandstone cliff is known for its unique echoing auditory properties. The red vertical stripes down the otherwise horizontally stratified cliff wall are streaks of mineral varnish that provides a colorful contrast to the sandstone cliff. This colorful geological feature combined with its unusual auditory properties no doubt fed the legend of myth associated with the Echo Amphitheater</p>

<h2>Contact Info</h2>
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (575) 684-2489.
<h2>Nearby Attractions</h2>
<p>Abiquiu Lake, Ghost Ranch Education and Retreat Center, Canjilon Lakes</p>

**Day Use:** **$5/vehicle** (day use is any amount of time spent at Echo
Amphitheater in one day). Use of the restrooms, picnic tables, parking lot,
hiking, all require a day use fee. Please help us keep this site open and
operating by paying your fees at the entrance!

**Camping (all sites have electric hook-ups!):**

$20 Per Single Site

$35 Per Double Site

$5 Per Extra Vehicle

**Group Picnic Shelter:** $50/day with 40 person maximun. Reserving this group
shelter includes three campsites (sites 1-3) to be used for additional parking
and camping! Reservations are required to use the group shelter via
recreation.gov.

Echo Amphitheater

Fee station, group shelter to the right, and colorful cliffs

Echo Amphitheater entrance

Pathway in parking lot

Check out the interpretative panels and then walk up to the amphitheater!

Interpretive panels and amphitheater

Echo Amphitheater -- Night Sky

New vault toilets brought to everyone by the Great American Outdoors Act

New vault toilets

Beautiful geologic layers and the amphitheater

Amphitheater and parking lot

Echo Campground is a roadside campground adjacent to U.S. Highway 84.

The campground contains 21 campsites with 3 small pull-throughs. Campground
cannot accommodate large RVs. There are no hookups but potable water is
available at the Group Shelter next to first campsite. Paved trail from
campground accesses the Echo Amphitheater Trail. Spectacular views along an
easy trail to eroded dramatic cliff face.

<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://tourmkr.com/F1maPrAqzy" style="min-height:640px;width=100%;padding:0px;" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>Echo Campground is a roadside campground adjacent to U.S. Highway 84.</p><p>The campground contains 21 campsites with 3 small pull-throughs. Campground cannot accommodate large RVs. There are no hookups but potable water is available at the Group Shelter next to first campsite. Paved trail from campground accesses the Echo Amphitheater Trail. Spectacular views along an easy trail to eroded dramatic cliff face.</p>

* $20 Per Single Site
  * $35 Per Double Site
  * $50 for Group Shelter (up to 40 people)
  * $5 Per Extra Vehicle

Bird's eye view of the campground

Echo Campground

The following recreation site water systems are currently offline. Visitors
should bring their own water.

Site| Status| Online By Date  
---|---|---  
Cimarron Campground| Water system repairs needed| To be determined  
Echo Campground, Picnic Area, Trailhead| Water system repairs needed| Expected
by mid-August 2026  
Hopewell Lake Campground and Day Use Area| Water system repairs needed|
Expected by late spring 2027  
McCrystal Campground (non-potable for horses only)| Awaiting supplies| Unknown
(McCrystal Creek is dry)

<p>The following recreation site water systems are currently offline. Visitors should bring their own water.</p><table><thead><tr><th>Site</th><th>Status</th><th>Online By Date</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Cimarron Campground</td><td>Water system repairs needed</td><td>To be determined</td></tr><tr><td>Echo Campground, Picnic Area, Trailhead</td><td>Water system repairs needed</td><td>Expected by mid-August 2026</td></tr><tr><td>Hopewell Lake Campground and Day Use Area</td><td>Water system repairs needed</td><td>Expected by late spring 2027</td></tr><tr><td>McCrystal Campground (non-potable for horses only)</td><td>Awaiting supplies</td><td>Unknown (McCrystal Creek is dry)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Water Systems Out of Service at Some Recreation Sites

## Overview

The El Rito Campground Group Shelter is situated along El Rito Creek and is
part of a larger campground, El Rito Campground. The group shelter and
campground are located approximately 5 miles from the small village of El
Rito. Elevation of the group shelter is 7,600 feet with the predominant
vegetation being pinon, cottonwood, spruce, juniper and gambel oak.

This is a **great place** to host your family and friends, graduation parties,
organization meetings, and school events. Stay for the day or make it an
overnight! Visitors can enjoy hiking and fishing, plus there are also nearby
opportunities for sport and traditional climbing . Wildlife (depending on the
season) may include mule deer, squirrels, chipmunks, and racoons plus the rare
sighting of a bear or mountain lion. The campground is situated along the
banks of the El Rito Creek.

**Typical season** of use is May 1 to October 1. **Check-in at the site is
1:00 PM on the start date of your reservation. Check-out is 11:00 AM on the
last day of your reservation.**

## Recreation

The nearby creek is great for fishing and enjoying nature. Look for birds
flitting around the water in search of their next aquatic meal and splash
around in the creek on hot days when the water is lower and you need to cool
off. The water from this creek begins in the mountains as snow and rain runoff
and travels along the corridor shared with the picnic shelter/camping area.
Cross the creek and you will find adventures at the base of the red cliffs.
Can you spot the hawk flying overhead and was that a chipmunk that just ran
past you?!

Please **do not** climb the cliffs unless you are an experienced rope/harness
climber. There are specific climbing areas designed for such adventures in the
nearby vicinity.

## Facilities

The beautiful, majestic timber shelter was constructed on a concrete
foundation in 2018 and is situated in a big grassy meadow 200 feet from the
river. Amenities included with your reservation of the group site include
**1)** a large grill with pedestal at the shelter, **2)** seven picnic tables,
four of which are located at the shelter, **3)** three additional campfire
rings situated throughout the site, **4)** a vault toilet, **5)** one trash
receptacle, **6)** and space for three large RV trailers and ample tent
camping.

This is a fenced and gated area reserved exclusively through recreation.gov so
you'll not have to stress about whether the site will be available for your
special event.

## Natural Features

This group shelter/camping area is tucked up in the forest and located next a
babbling creek that is popular for fishing and lounging next to when the
moment strikes you. The view of the nearby cliffs tops off this great
experience in nature.

<h2>Overview</h2>
<p>The El Rito Campground Group Shelter is situated along El Rito Creek and is part of a larger campground, El Rito Campground.  The group shelter and campground are located approximately 5 miles from the small village of El Rito. Elevation of the group shelter is 7,600 feet with the predominant vegetation being pinon, cottonwood, spruce, juniper and gambel oak.  </p>
<p>This is a <strong>great place </strong>to host your family and friends, graduation parties, organization meetings, and school events.  Stay for the day or make it an overnight!  Visitors can enjoy hiking and fishing, plus there are also nearby opportunities for sport and traditional climbing .  Wildlife (depending on the season) may include mule deer, squirrels, chipmunks, and racoons plus the rare sighting of a bear or mountain lion.  The campground is situated along the banks of the El Rito Creek. </p>
<p><strong>Typical season </strong>of use is May 1 to October 1.  <strong>Check-in at the site is 1:00 PM on the start date of your reservation. Check-out is 11:00 AM on the last day of your reservation.</strong></p>
<h2>Recreation</h2>
<p>The nearby creek is great for fishing and enjoying nature.  Look for birds flitting around the water in search of their next aquatic meal and splash around in the creek on hot days when the water is lower and you need to cool off.  The water from this creek begins in the mountains as snow and rain runoff and travels along the corridor shared with the picnic shelter/camping area.  Cross the creek and you will find adventures at the base of the red cliffs. Can you spot the hawk flying overhead and was that a chipmunk that just ran past you?!  </p>
<p>Please <strong>do not</strong> climb the cliffs unless you are an experienced rope/harness climber. There are specific climbing areas designed for such adventures in the nearby vicinity.</p>
<h2>Facilities</h2>
<p>The beautiful, majestic timber shelter was constructed on a concrete foundation in 2018 and is situated in a big grassy meadow 200 feet from the river.  Amenities included with your reservation of the group site include <strong>1)</strong> a large grill with pedestal at the shelter, <strong>2)</strong> seven picnic tables, four of which are located at the shelter, <strong>3) </strong>three additional campfire rings situated throughout the site, <strong>4)</strong> a vault toilet, <strong>5)</strong> one trash receptacle, <strong>6) </strong>and space for three large RV trailers and ample tent camping.  </p>
<p>This is a fenced and gated area reserved exclusively through recreation.gov so you'll not have to stress about whether the site will be available for your special event.  </p>
<h2>Natural Features</h2>
<p>This group shelter/camping area is tucked up in the forest and located next a babbling creek that is popular for fishing and lounging next to when the moment strikes you.  The view of the nearby cliffs tops off this great experience in nature.  </p>

Group shelter in the fall

Group Shelter with Southwest Conservation Corps van

Southwest Conservation Corps 2022--group shelter site improvements

A great placed to camp!

El Rito Campground--Group Shelter

Located near the town of El Rito, this area is often crowded in summer due to
its popularity. The campground is situated along the bank of the El Rito
Creek. 11 campsites at 7600 feet with excellent hiking and fishing access.

<p><img alt="El Rito Creek surrouned by evergreen trees." src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd594173.jpg" style="width: 518px; height: 344px;" /></p><p style="clear: both">&nbsp;</p><p>Located near the town of El Rito, this area is often crowded in summer due to its popularity.&nbsp;The campground is situated along the bank of the El Rito Creek.&nbsp;11 campsites at 7600 feet&nbsp;with excellent hiking and fishing access.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

El Rito Campground

In a picturesque setting of lakes and a meandering stream, Canjilon Lakes
Campground offers excellent fishing and camping opportunities to forest
visitors. Its beauty turns to splendor when fall leaves change from greens to
dazzling gold and oranges.

<p>In a picturesque setting of lakes and a meandering stream, Canjilon Lakes Campground offers excellent fishing and camping opportunities to forest visitors. Its beauty turns to splendor when fall leaves change from greens to dazzling gold and oranges.<iframe frameborder="0" src="https://tourmkr.com/F1I7kyMf0z" style="min-height:640px;width=100%;padding:0px;" width="100%"></iframe></p>

Canjilon Lakes Campground

Trout Lakes contains 12 primitive campsites and access roads within the
campground. Sites are best suited for tent camping and small campers/camp
trailers. Three lakes provide fishing opportunities amid a setting of quiet
conifers and aspen. Summer's quiet beauty turns to gold as autumn touches the
aspen and rewards campers lingering in the area.

**Safety Information**

Access road to Trout Lakes is extremely hazardous when wet. This road is
graveled from U.S. Highway 84 for three miles. The remainder is not graveled
and is extremely slick and hazardous when wet. Monsoon rains make this road
impassable. High clearance vehicle and four-wheel drive is recommended. Large
RVs or camper trailers are allowed but not recommended because of the road.

**General Information:**

Be extremely cautious with fire and use only the fireplaces provided. Please
do not cut down trees or shrubs; they provide natural scenery and shade-not
firewood. Please do not carve on the trees. Carving leaves a wound where
fungus can enter and kill the tree.

Please do not deposit fish remains in the lakes and clean fish away from the
water. Please wrap fish remains and other highly spoilage meats, food, etc.,
in small plastic bags, then in bread wrappers, and/or newspapers. Pack out all
trash on your way out of the campground and fishing area.

Please pick up litter around your campsite and pack it out with you. Also
please read and comply with the posted regulations.

Thank you for your help. Enjoy your visit!

<p><img alt="Small lake in the trees" src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/stelprdb5327493.jpg" style="width: 510px; height: 335px;" /></p><p>Trout Lakes contains 12&nbsp;primitive campsites and access roads within the campground. Sites are best suited for tent camping and small campers/camp trailers. Three lakes provide fishing opportunities amid a setting of quiet conifers and aspen. Summer&rsquo;s quiet beauty turns to gold as autumn touches the aspen and rewards campers lingering in the area.</p><p><strong>Safety Information</strong></p><p>Access road to Trout Lakes is extremely hazardous when wet. This road is graveled from U.S. Highway 84 for three miles. The remainder is not graveled and is extremely slick and hazardous when wet. Monsoon rains make this road impassable. High clearance vehicle and four-wheel drive is recommended. Large RVs or camper trailers are allowed but not recommended because of the road.</p><p><strong>General Information:</strong></p><p>Be extremely cautious with fire and use only the fireplaces provided. Please do not cut down trees or shrubs; they provide natural scenery and shade-not firewood. Please do not carve on the trees. Carving leaves a wound where fungus can enter and kill the tree.</p><p>Please do not deposit fish remains in the lakes and clean fish away from the water. Please wrap fish remains and other highly spoilage meats, food, etc., in small plastic bags, then in bread wrappers, and/or newspapers. Pack out all trash on your way out of the campground and fishing area.</p><p>Please pick up litter around your campsite and pack it out with you. Also please read and comply with the posted regulations.</p><p>Thank you for your help. Enjoy your visit!</p>

Trout Lakes Campground

Our facility is experiencing a temporary water outage. Please bring all the
water you’ll need for your visit, including drinking water.

Echo Amphitheater

Overview

Recreation

Facilities

Natural Features

Contact Info

Nearby Attractions

Reviews

Camp Sites

Nearby Campgrounds

Echo Campground

El Rito Campground--Group Shelter

El Rito Campground

Canjilon Lakes Campground

Trout Lakes Campground