FREE CAMPING: Carson National Forest- Tres Piedras, NM

April 9, 2018

FREE CAMPING: Carson National Forest- Tres Piedras, NM

GPS: 36.655331, -105.977997

We had planned on pushing through to Durango, CO and instead opted to stay near Taos, NM in the Carson National Forest. We found this campsite at www.freecampsites.net and it was spectacular.

We are big fans of boon-docking and not paying for a campsite, but we also want to be out and away from town and other people. This spot was perfect for that. The pine trees create a very secluded feeling even though you could be a couple hundred yards from another camper. There was one other camper there when we stayed in early April 2018 and it was quiet!

The best part about this spot was that the ambient light from Taos, NM doesn’t quite drown out the stars like it does down on the Mesa. The result is a beautiful show!

There is much to do in the Taos, NM area including mountain biking, river rafting, skiing/snowboarding in the winter. If you get the chance, check out the Rio Grand River Gorge Bridge near this campsite.

January 17, 2018January 17, 2018

Glamping on the Mesa: Hotel Luna Mystica- Taos, NM

I will be honest: I don’t like paying for camping. On previous trips, we have avoided paid campgrounds by camping in a city park! However, that was before we were faced with a dilemma in Taos, NM. We had a grand campsite at the top of the tree-line, nestled next to a multi-million dollar home, but it was up in the mountains and we wanted to spend some time down on the mesa and enjoy Taos Mesa Brewing Co. and similar establishments in and around Taos.

Enter Hotel Luna Mystica and the Starlight Campground. These guys have done it right. First, they have brought in ten of the raddest, refurbished, vintage trailers from all around and hooked them up to modern utilities so you can glamp in style and comfort. For example, check out Ralphie, the 1962 Airstream Overlander.

Image courtesy of www.HotelLunaMystica.com

Like all of the trailers at the hotel, Ralphie is outfitted with top of the line amenities including a FULL BATH! The interiors of these trailers have been completely redone and are simply works of art. There is a cookstove, coffee pot, and AC to make your stay as cozy as can be. Light up the fire pit out front and unwind from your day of adventuring with a nice fire and a pint from Taos Mesa Brewing.

If glamping isn’t your thing, the Starlight Campground is for you. We camped here before it was a campground and it was BEAUTIFUL! I can’t imagine what it’s like with all of the enhancements completed.

AND THEY HAVE A BUS! The chill bus was in fact, very chill. Tons of improvements have been made here since we were there in May 2017 including shade structures, trees to block the wind, and a shower house. Hotel Luna Mystica and Taos Mesa Brewing host many events throughout the year and camping is available at all of them. Check out the schedule on the brewery website when planning your trip.

The new sail shades and pad improvements make a huge difference as it is in the middle of a desert. The overall flow of the campground has a great vibe and is staffed with awesome people. Construction was going on when we were there on the trailers and one of the carpenters even gave us tips on a local mountain bike trail not far from there. It was a great spot and a highlight of the trip.

Perhaps the most important part of this location is its proximity to Taos Mesa Brewing. TMB has one of the most iconic buildings in the Taos area with the mothership and they offer live music every night of the week. When we were there we saw The Drunken Hearts and they put on a really good concert. The beer is brewed on-site and is spectacular. We sampled some up at the ski area a day or so before and were rewarded with more selection and awesome staff at the mothership. Once we finished some tacos and beer, we made our way across the street to our tent and crashed. The sound of coyotes in the distance put us right to sleep and waking up to the mountains made for a great way to wake up.

So whether you are shredding the local mountain bike trails (we recommend Horsethief Mountain Bike Trail) or skiing at Taos Ski Valley, Hotel Luna Mystica is right for you. How many people can honestly say that they have stayed in a vintage RV hotel?

SaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSave

January 11, 2018

FREE Camping: Taos Ski Valley

With every trip that we take into the wild, we strive to not pay for camping. Nature should be free. There are a few exceptions, such as the folks over at Hotel Luna Mystica: those guys and girls know how to have a good time in the middle of the desert(pictured above), you should check them out. We spent a night with them on our last trip to Taos, NM. More on that later.

If you find yourself traveling to the Taos area during the summer season (Memorial Day to Labor Day) we have a camping area that is free and awesome! There are actually a couple of spots that we found on Free Campsites. This is a free resource that shows user generated reports on FREE campsite locations around the country. We use this site nearly every time we camp in a new location. There is FREE camping EVERYWHERE! This post is about the free campsite that we chose which is right at the base of the ski runs and is a few steps from the Wheeler Peak trail.

GPS Coordinates: 36.573815, -105.437082

TO GET THERE-

From Taos, head North on US-64W. Turn right onto NM-150N. 150 will wind into the mountains and lead you directly to the ski resort area. Once you reach the main parking lot, stay left on Twining Rd. The main parking lot is the location of our back-up campsite that we didn’t need to use. Take a hard left onto Zapp’s/Porcupine/Kachina RD and travel toward the Bavarian. Once you reach the Phoenix Grill, hang a left on Bluejay Ridge Rd and drive until you can’t drive any farther. The campsite is on your left.

There are no facilities at this location, but the woods (and lots of woods) are right there. Everything uphill from this spot is National Forest and all Leave No Trace precautions should be used. There is a nearby creek for water and bathing. It was in full run-off mode when we visited around Memorial Day and provided great noise at night. I am a big fan of using a SteriPen to treat all of our drinking water when camping, but this water was CLEAN. I think we could have gotten away without using the UV light this time around.

There were two gear casualties on this trip and one happened at this campsite: the demise of my old friend and trusty hammock. The poor, bright blue, Walmart special couldn’t support the weight of both of the Okienomads and ripped in two pieces during an afternoon cuddle sesh. So long old friend, thanks for the hangs. He has been replaced by a brand new ENOS Doublenest that I will be reviewing in a later post and in case you were wondering, it was a very worthwhile upgrade.

The second gear fatality of this trip was my beloved Cannondale mountain bike. It was my first venture into mountain biking and it served me well for a few years. The rear derailuer took a dive on a beautiful mountain bike trail outside of Taos.

The beauty of this campsite (besides the obvious) is it’s proximity to the trailhead for Wheeler Peak. This campsite is at approximately 12,000′ of elevation, so spend a day at camp then make a push for nearby Wheeler Peak (13,161′). The trail is well marked and even with a large amount of snow still on the trail, we found our way up to the top. Regardless of conditions, I suggest that you start at day break or earlier and get to the top before the crowds and before snow melt/thunderstorms in the afternoon.

After hiking this trail during the late season, we made a mental note that the next time we are here will be in the early spring and we will hike for some backcountry ski/board lines, the terrain is beautiful!

Just before tree-line is Williams Lake. The lake was obviously still frozen when we arrived, but still made a beautiful campsite for several backpackers on a nearby ridge. If you are brave and warm natured, the peace and tranquility of this campsite might be worth the hike, but be prepared for high winds, temperatures below freezing, and critters that are very curious. Please use a bear bag and hang it properly away from your camp.

The hike up from the lake got very steep and involved quite a bit of snow. I suggest bringing trekking poles as balance is hard to come by on the snow and ice. The poles may also come in handy on the way down in the slush. I wore trail running shoes and Rachael hiked in hiking boots. Neither of us were disappointed in our choice.

We made it to the top and simply took in the sunlight and the view. It seemed like we might have been the first or second group on the summit and we passed A LOT of hikers on our way down that had slept in. The peak allows some amazing views of the nearby San De Cristo range and farther Rocky Mountains in the distance.

The hike down took around an hour and a half. With the snow pack still fairly deep, we were able to slide on our butts most of the way down. There would be GoPro footage, but the slide required a very specific set of skills to stay upright while sliding.

This campground was excellent. We really enjoyed the distance from the trailhead, the privacy, and the natural beauty. This site ranks in my top 5 best campsites that I have ever been to. The only down-side that I could see would be if someone were staying in the ski house near the site. Constant traffic might be annoying, but we did not see a soul while we were there on a holiday weekend. I highly recommend this campsite to anyone in the Taos, NM area and look forward to the next time we make it back. And best of all, IT WAS FREE!

As always, follow us on Instagram to get the most up to date images and video from our trips and build progress on our bus. We would love it if you would check out the rest of the blog and the YouTube page as well. All social media is @okienomads. Thanks for reading and have a blessed day!

Coming Soon- Campground Review: Hotel Luna Mystica

SaveSave

Tag: Taos camping