As of 2022, Scenic Canyons no longer manages this campground, and this page will no longer be updated. For up to date information, please visit the Forest Service website.

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Santa Barbara Campground lies at the end of Forest Road 116 about 7 miles southeast of Penasco, NM. Santa Barbara is a relatively new campground situated very nicely on the edge of a wilderness area and next to Rio Santa Barbara, a beautiful and healthy trout stream.  Click here for a pdf of the campground map, or scroll down to view an image.

 

Prices:

$20 for single site
$34 for double site

$50 for triple site

$66 for group site
$5 per extra vehicle
$10 for day use
$5 per vehicle per day for trailhead parking

Reservations: Available at recreation.gov. Group sites can be reserved one year prior to the first day of your camping stay. All other sites can be reserved six months prior to your first day.

Directions: From Penasco, NM, take New Mexico State Road 73 east. After about 1.5 miles, turn left onto Santa Barbara Road. Santa Barbara Road will become Forest Road 116 and end at Santa Barbara Campground about 5.5 miles from NM 73.  See map below.

Amenities: Vault toilets, pressurized drinking water, garbage service. One site and one restroom is accessible to people with disabilities.

Open dates: Opens one week before Memorial Day weekend. Closes two weeks after Labor Day.

Nearby: Popular hikes lead up the Rio Santa Barbara to its West, Middle and East forks. The lower part of Rio Santa Barbara is stocked regularly with rainbow trout and the forks have a healthy brown population. The upper stretches still have some native Rio Grande cutthroat.

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See more campgrounds managed by Scenic Canyons in the Carson National Forest.

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For more information, visit the Forest Service website.