Navajo Dam State Park is straight west from Farmington, NM. Just outside of the town of Aztec on Hwy 550 you will turn right onto Hwy 173. Hwy 173 gets used a lot by the oil & electric company with their large trucks and the road is good but will jar things around in your rig a little. When you come to the town of Navajo Dam, turn left onto Hwy 511. Once you cross over the dam, and go around the curb about another 1/2 mile or so, you will veer to your right into the park.
Once upon a time this lake was quite huge, but due to recent years of drought, the lake is below normal pool level, but still big enough for bass boats, houseboats and jet boats to have a little room to play. But on a busy weekend-one will have to be more cautious than maybe during the week.
The campground itself is very rustic looking and for some large rigs a bit intimidating. We ended at Pine-main. There is a combination of both elect/water, full hook-up and primitive sites in this loop. Pine has 5 separate loops from A-E.
In “A” loop is where you will find the full hook-up sites-but only just a few. the rest are electric with the exception of one site that is primitive. All the other loops in Pine have either elect/water or are primitive.
Just past the dump station, if you turn right you are in “E” loop. Turn right at the bathroom again, go around the loop and on the right side you will come across a gravel type road. Going in is three sites, one has access from the paved road while the other two are from the gravel road. The road is narrow and very uneven. the lower site is just about impossible for any size rig to get in.
Not rig friendly, but perfect for a tent or two.
however the very last site, rigs can get in-but don’t expect to be on even ground. This is where we parked and had a great view of the lake.
We had a great view from all four direction and loved this spot! This was a primitive site.
Although there has been large rigs in Pine-main, it’s really not designed for large rigs. The road is narrow with breakage on the edge of the roadway, making it impossible not to hit branches or to drop off. We even seen one 5th wheel scrapping the tree and doing damage to his antenna not to mention the scratches he put in his rig. Here is a view of some rigs in spots and notice how they just about stick out in the roadway:
These rigs are nearly in the roadway!
I’m not saying large rigs shouldn’t camp here, for once here, the view and rustic of the area is just gorgeous! But word of caution: If you are a triple axle or unsure with your large rig, I might suggest going to Cottonwood for camping.
I also might suggest if you are a large rig coming in; once entering the campground, the dump station is on the right and down the hill. If you stay on the main road, to your left is “A” Loop, go just past the host and playground (on left) you come to a three intersection: one is “B” loop with a one way sign-stay out of there if your big! not much room to move around. But instead veer a little to your left (you will find a green fencing on your right where there is a gas well-follow it). You are now in “C” loop and there are one or two sites that a big rig might fit in. But keep going around the bend and you soon go into “D” loop. There are sites on your left with great view of the lake and marina. These sites are a little more accommodating for the bigger rigs. But word of caution: only one site is not reservable….
Once again you will come across yet another gravel roadway, and although we checked it out-there was no way we could even possibly think of getting our small motorhome down there! We did see a truck and small camper down there, but we also saw evidence of his spun out when he came back out and I’m sure he had to put the truck into 4-wheel drive. But nice sites for tents!
This is not RV Friendly! They use too large of rocks for their roadway.
Pine is not the only campground in this area. You also have: Pinon, Cedar, and Juniper campground. These three were closed and only open just before Memorial Day and close shortly after Labor Day holiday. They are all primitive with vault toilet; with the exception of Cedar having flush toilet and shower building.
When you first turn left to head towards these three campground, you start out on black top, but once you cross over the cattle guard it becomes gravel. It’s mostly hard pack, but getting closer to Juniper campground, you climb up hill and it seems the gravel is a little more loose in this area.
Gravel roadway to Juniper-Here it starts to get a little loose compare to the rest of the hard gravel.
Pinon Campground allows no RV’s and believe me, after walking it, if you don’t have a 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle-we would not suggest even considering this area! the road is very un-even, rough with large rocks and many ruts. Sites are okay with some nice private sites and views of the lake. I wonder if anyone has gotten into trouble with their vehicle in this area and had to be hauled out?
This is the roadway to Pinon
Cedar and Juniper is a little bit more RV friendly with some sites that have great view and/or privacy for those that wish it. However, once again, the road is narrow with bush hanging out in the roadway, deep ruts with large rocks. If I owned a big diesel pusher-I would NOT want to bring my rig in here at all. I would not want to come into these areas if there were any intention of rain-you just might find yourself-stuck....
Navajo Dam also has two other campgrounds besides here. Cottonwood is below the dam and just off of 173 just before you get to the town of Navajo Dam. It’s a gravel road, but a good road getting into the campground. the sites appeared to be more level and wider and as I stated earlier, more RV friendly. They do not have showers but have flush toilet and a dump station.
You are on the San Juan River with great fishing and wildlife viewing. We were here during the day and saw a young buck coming out of the water and constantly heard wild turkeys.
The only downfall that we could really see to camping here was the knats and mosquitos! We hate both, so opted of not coming here to camp.
there is also one other park called Sims Mesa-we did not adventure to that side and cannot say what that is like.
As for the cleanliness of the Parks wasn’t all that bad. Not a lot of trash, but fire rings we notice could use a cleaning and could see evidence of past campers that have thrown it down the hill-us included. Our fire ring was full, so making sure no hot spot-Brian scooped up most of it and flung it down the hillside.
There is a campground host and he seems to be very friendly and was helpful to us. Not really sure of his job description, but we did notice that he might clean one site, but totally skip another site. One site has had trash in the fire ring now for the whole time we have been here and no one has bother to clean it up.
The park rules states no glass bottles outside of your vehicle while inside the park, but again evidence showed that people don’t pay attention to rules.
I can’t speak for during peak season, but off season there is no rangers around other than in the visitor center. If coming in you pay your fees through an honor box system that is located at the entrance of the park, and again at Pine, Pinon, Cedar & Juniper. Both Cottonwood and Sims Mesa the honor box is at their entrance as well. The only time we saw evidence of a park ranger was on the weekends. We were told by the host that two do live on the premises.
Bathrooms were clean-but not spectacular. I think they fear cleaning the showers the most, the whole time we stayed here they might have gotten a hose down down once or twice-but that’s it. Brian and I said that when we use to contracted for the C.O.E. and would get a “white glove” inspection-this would not pass the inspection! But good enough to use-until the weekend groups came in. We have been in cleaner and dirtier-so I guess we take this as being in the middle for cleanliness.
When we took a drive down to Cottonwood we both were completely appalled to what we saw. Our American Flag completely tattered, faded and worn out! Upon emailing pictures and a letter to the main office in Santa Fe-the Flag was replaced immediately. It should have never been allowed to be let go for that long and there fore made us a little disappointed in New Mexico State Park and hope we never come across this again….
Would we ever come back here? Oh yeah! Even though the park is a little out of date, and we understand cut-backs. The peace and tranquil here in the high-desert mountain was awesome! I’m sure however during peak season this place is booming. That is why we choose to come in early spring before the crazy starts.
Once upon a time this lake was quite huge, but due to recent years of drought, the lake is below normal pool level, but still big enough for bass boats, houseboats and jet boats to have a little room to play. But on a busy weekend-one will have to be more cautious than maybe during the week.
The campground itself is very rustic looking and for some large rigs a bit intimidating. We ended at Pine-main. There is a combination of both elect/water, full hook-up and primitive sites in this loop. Pine has 5 separate loops from A-E.
In “A” loop is where you will find the full hook-up sites-but only just a few. the rest are electric with the exception of one site that is primitive. All the other loops in Pine have either elect/water or are primitive.
Just past the dump station, if you turn right you are in “E” loop. Turn right at the bathroom again, go around the loop and on the right side you will come across a gravel type road. Going in is three sites, one has access from the paved road while the other two are from the gravel road. The road is narrow and very uneven. the lower site is just about impossible for any size rig to get in.
Not rig friendly, but perfect for a tent or two.however the very last site, rigs can get in-but don’t expect to be on even ground. This is where we parked and had a great view of the lake.
We had a great view from all four direction and loved this spot! This was a primitive site.Although there has been large rigs in Pine-main, it’s really not designed for large rigs. The road is narrow with breakage on the edge of the roadway, making it impossible not to hit branches or to drop off. We even seen one 5th wheel scrapping the tree and doing damage to his antenna not to mention the scratches he put in his rig. Here is a view of some rigs in spots and notice how they just about stick out in the roadway:
These rigs are nearly in the roadway! I’m not saying large rigs shouldn’t camp here, for once here, the view and rustic of the area is just gorgeous! But word of caution: If you are a triple axle or unsure with your large rig, I might suggest going to Cottonwood for camping.
I also might suggest if you are a large rig coming in; once entering the campground, the dump station is on the right and down the hill. If you stay on the main road, to your left is “A” Loop, go just past the host and playground (on left) you come to a three intersection: one is “B” loop with a one way sign-stay out of there if your big! not much room to move around. But instead veer a little to your left (you will find a green fencing on your right where there is a gas well-follow it). You are now in “C” loop and there are one or two sites that a big rig might fit in. But keep going around the bend and you soon go into “D” loop. There are sites on your left with great view of the lake and marina. These sites are a little more accommodating for the bigger rigs. But word of caution: only one site is not reservable….
Once again you will come across yet another gravel roadway, and although we checked it out-there was no way we could even possibly think of getting our small motorhome down there! We did see a truck and small camper down there, but we also saw evidence of his spun out when he came back out and I’m sure he had to put the truck into 4-wheel drive. But nice sites for tents!
This is not RV Friendly! They use too large of rocks for their roadway.Pine is not the only campground in this area. You also have: Pinon, Cedar, and Juniper campground. These three were closed and only open just before Memorial Day and close shortly after Labor Day holiday. They are all primitive with vault toilet; with the exception of Cedar having flush toilet and shower building.
When you first turn left to head towards these three campground, you start out on black top, but once you cross over the cattle guard it becomes gravel. It’s mostly hard pack, but getting closer to Juniper campground, you climb up hill and it seems the gravel is a little more loose in this area.
Gravel roadway to Juniper-Here it starts to get a little loose compare to the rest of the hard gravel.Pinon Campground allows no RV’s and believe me, after walking it, if you don’t have a 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle-we would not suggest even considering this area! the road is very un-even, rough with large rocks and many ruts. Sites are okay with some nice private sites and views of the lake. I wonder if anyone has gotten into trouble with their vehicle in this area and had to be hauled out?
This is the roadway to PinonCedar and Juniper is a little bit more RV friendly with some sites that have great view and/or privacy for those that wish it. However, once again, the road is narrow with bush hanging out in the roadway, deep ruts with large rocks. If I owned a big diesel pusher-I would NOT want to bring my rig in here at all. I would not want to come into these areas if there were any intention of rain-you just might find yourself-stuck....
Navajo Dam also has two other campgrounds besides here. Cottonwood is below the dam and just off of 173 just before you get to the town of Navajo Dam. It’s a gravel road, but a good road getting into the campground. the sites appeared to be more level and wider and as I stated earlier, more RV friendly. They do not have showers but have flush toilet and a dump station.
You are on the San Juan River with great fishing and wildlife viewing. We were here during the day and saw a young buck coming out of the water and constantly heard wild turkeys.
The only downfall that we could really see to camping here was the knats and mosquitos! We hate both, so opted of not coming here to camp.
there is also one other park called Sims Mesa-we did not adventure to that side and cannot say what that is like.
As for the cleanliness of the Parks wasn’t all that bad. Not a lot of trash, but fire rings we notice could use a cleaning and could see evidence of past campers that have thrown it down the hill-us included. Our fire ring was full, so making sure no hot spot-Brian scooped up most of it and flung it down the hillside.
There is a campground host and he seems to be very friendly and was helpful to us. Not really sure of his job description, but we did notice that he might clean one site, but totally skip another site. One site has had trash in the fire ring now for the whole time we have been here and no one has bother to clean it up.
The park rules states no glass bottles outside of your vehicle while inside the park, but again evidence showed that people don’t pay attention to rules.
I can’t speak for during peak season, but off season there is no rangers around other than in the visitor center. If coming in you pay your fees through an honor box system that is located at the entrance of the park, and again at Pine, Pinon, Cedar & Juniper. Both Cottonwood and Sims Mesa the honor box is at their entrance as well. The only time we saw evidence of a park ranger was on the weekends. We were told by the host that two do live on the premises.
Bathrooms were clean-but not spectacular. I think they fear cleaning the showers the most, the whole time we stayed here they might have gotten a hose down down once or twice-but that’s it. Brian and I said that when we use to contracted for the C.O.E. and would get a “white glove” inspection-this would not pass the inspection! But good enough to use-until the weekend groups came in. We have been in cleaner and dirtier-so I guess we take this as being in the middle for cleanliness.
When we took a drive down to Cottonwood we both were completely appalled to what we saw. Our American Flag completely tattered, faded and worn out! Upon emailing pictures and a letter to the main office in Santa Fe-the Flag was replaced immediately. It should have never been allowed to be let go for that long and there fore made us a little disappointed in New Mexico State Park and hope we never come across this again….
Would we ever come back here? Oh yeah! Even though the park is a little out of date, and we understand cut-backs. The peace and tranquil here in the high-desert mountain was awesome! I’m sure however during peak season this place is booming. That is why we choose to come in early spring before the crazy starts.
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