Camping With Beautiful Views in the Three Rivers Area in South Central New Mexico

The Three Rivers area in New Mexico is home tofor any size RV. The campground also allows camping
two public campgrounds that have spectacular viewsin the picnic area. The vista of the distant mountains
of the Sacramento Mountain range and Whiteand arid landscape is beautiful and the camp sites
Mountain Wilderness. Each campground has remote,(including the picnic area) have totally unobstructed
quiet, spacious camp sites - all with beautiful views ofviews of it. Amenities include flush toilets and water
the surrounding landscape.hook up. This is a real gem that looks like it is in the
Three Rivers Petroglyph Site and Campgroundmiddle of nowhere.
This archeological site and campground is maintainedThree Rivers Campground
by the Federal Bureau of Land Management. TheSeveral miles east of the Three Rivers Petroglyph
petroglyphs were created by the Jornada MogollonSite is Three Rivers Campground in Lincoln National
people between about 900 and 1400 AD. TheForest maintained by the National Forest Service. This
number and concentration of petroglyphs here makecampground is very remote and quiet. The fourteen
it one of the largest and most interesting petroglyphcamp sites are very well laid out and well spaced
sites in the Desert Southwest. More than 21,000with many having ramadas and picnic tables.
glyphs of birds, humans, animals, fish, insects andMost of the sites have excellent views of the
plants, as well as numerous geometric and abstractsurrounding mountains and White Mountains
designs are scattered over 50 acres of New Mexico'sWilderness area. Although the surrounding landscape
northern Chihuahuan Desert.is arid, there is a lot of greenery. A river runs along
A short, easy interpretative trail 200 yards south ofthe edge of the campground and can be heard from
the petroglyphs leads to the remains of the Mogollonsome of the camp sites. This is a very nice, well
village. The site, which was partially excavated inplanned campground with very beautiful views.
1976, was occupied for about 400 years.Although this campground can accomodate large
We started our visit at the small visitor center andRVs, the only amenities offered are vault toilets and
talked to a very friendly host. Then we spent aboutwater spigots - but the trade off of amenities for
an hour walking a very easy interpretive trail (justthe beautiful views is worth it.
behind the visitor center) and thoroughly enjoyedGetting to these campgrounds is easy. Eighteen miles
both the petroglyphs and the beautiful scenery. Thenorth of Tularosa, NM, turn east onto Forest Road
petroglyph site and adjacent campground is in a579 at the sign that says Three Rivers Petroglyph
grand, open arid plain surrounded by the SacramentoSite. The roads to each campground are well marked
Mountain range and White Mountain Wilderness.but unpaved a good part of the way. The trip is well
The campground is just in front of the visitor center.worth the effort - two campgrounds with beautiful
There are only two camp sites at the campground -views and a very interesting archeological site.
both having electric and water hook-up and designed