★ Field-verified · Dave's ownUSFS · dispersedFree
Gila National Forest
Drive-up · U.S. Forest Service · Grant County, NM · 32.82837, -108.35828
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Ask about this camp →Dave's been here. A spot from Dave's own travels on U.S. Forest Service land — free to camp. Conditions still change, so confirm access, stay limits and fire rules before you go.
A very nice primitive campsite only six miles from downtown Silver City, New Mexico. Located in Gila National Forest, the surrounding area is worthy of exploration. This is a fine place to spend the weekend, and can accommodate two or three overland vehicles. Javelina are present here. This is a higher elevation, a short distance off of a well-traveled forest road. There is ample tree cover for shade. It is a little dusty and a little rocky. There is a fire ring. Due to proximity to town, there is the possibility of local traffic. Recommended. Surprisingly good cell service.
USGS topo — contours & terrain
Aerial — USGS / NAIP
Weather outlook
Loading the latest forecast…
Live NWS area forecast (~2.5 km grid, not elevation-corrected). Camp sits at 7,115 ft.
Fire & smokeNIFC · AirNow
Checking active fires & air quality…
Active wildfires from NIFC (within ~50 mi); air quality from AirNow. Always confirm current fire restrictions with the managing office before you go.
Everything you need — measured from camp
Straight-line miles · bearings approx · roads run longer
Nearest of each
- HHardware6 mi
- FFuel6 mi
- GGrocery6 mi
- +Urgent care6 mi
- OOutfitter6 mi
- LLaundry6 mi
- @Mail6 mi
- WWater18 mi
- DDump40 mi
- MMechanic40 mi
- RxPharmacy52 mi
≤30 mi30–4545+water
The read: water's a short hop out, fuel & food sit about 6 mi out.
Not within 60 mi: Propane. Plan those before you head up.
One dot per need — the nearest of each kind, straight-line from camp. Places from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Open in Google Maps ↗
The site
Access
Drive-up
Land
U.S. Forest Service · dispersed
Elevation
7,115 ft
County
Grant County, NM
Coordinates
32.82837, -108.35828
Cost
Free
Nearby & resupply (OpenStreetMap)
- Water featureLittle Bear Tank (water) · nearby
- Nearest townLittle Walnut Village · ~4.9 mi
- Drinking waternone within 10 mi
- FuelFuel · ~6.0 mi
- Propane / LPGPropane · ~10.1 mi
- Dump stationnone within 31 mi
- GroceriesSnapy Mart · ~6.0 mi
- Hospital / clinicCommunity Health Clinic · ~6.0 mi
- HardwareAce Hardware · ~7.2 mi
From the field — what Dave saw, in person
Cell service
Had a signal
Getting there
Any vehicle managed it
Fire ring
Yes
Toilet on site
No
Tent friendly
Yes
Verdict
Recommended
Nearby restrooms — pit toilets, restrooms & rest areas (government data)
- RestroomWagon Wheel - Cdnst · ~4.6 mi NE · USFS
- Vault / pit toiletGomez Peak · ~4.9 mi E · USFS
- Vault / pit toiletGomez Peak · ~4.9 mi E · USFS
- Vault / pit toiletLittle Walnut West · ~5.1 mi E · USFS
Open this spot elsewhere
Other camps nearby
If this one is full, gated or washed out.
- In Gila National Forest~4.5 mi
- Cherry Creek Campground~9.8 mi
- McMillan Campground~10.8 mi
- Sapillo Group Area Campground~18.8 mi
Snow, and when this opens
The nearest automatic snow station is Signal Peak at 8,390 ft, about 14 miles away. It sits about 1,275 ft higher than this camp, so treat it as a guide rather than a reading for this spot. We do not repeat a depth here, because any number we stored would be stale by the time you read it — the station publishes today's.
How we know this
Source
Dave's own travels
Confidence
Researched — The record is detailed and internally consistent, and the coordinates land where the managing agency says this site is.
How it was placed
FIELD VERIFIED by Dave Lalande -- he has stood on this site. Coordinates are his own GPX track point, not a geocode. County and state confirmed against the FCC Census Block API (Grant County, NM). Everything under 'From the field' is a direct observation; nothing here is inferred from a land record.
Field check
Verified on the ground. Dave has stood on this one. Conditions still change — confirm before you commit.
What we don’t know
A land record can put you within a few metres of a spot. It cannot tell you any of this — so check it yourself, and treat anything below as the open question it is.
- How many rigs actually fit
- Seasonal & winter access
- Current fire restrictions
- Whether any water here is drinkable
- Shade & wind exposure
- Noise and who else shows up
Before you go
Finding water out here →What “dispersed” means here →Dumping grey & black →Getting unstuck →All field notes →
Been here? Tell us what changed. This page is built from public records, so the fastest way it gets better is somebody who has actually pulled in. Road washed out, site gone, gate locked, or it is exactly as described — all of it useful. Send a report →