This is a no reservations campground 17 miles north of Abuiqui (10 miles north of Ghost Ranch) on US 84. It is an "iron ranger" set up. We camped here off season , so restrooms and water pumps were turned off. (No sign was posted to this effect, however.) Campground was monitored by a US Forest Service employee, who came round to empty the iron ranger in the morning. Very pretty, unusual setting and nice walk up to the amphitheater itself, which really does echo. After about 7PM, traffic noise from US 84 died down and it was very quiet at night. Beware very unlevel sites, though. Nearby Abuiqui Dam is a much nicer, developed campground, but this is nice in its own way. We heard from locals that dispersed camping in the Carson National Forest (just south on US 84, turn right at the monastery sign) is very nice, too. We camped here in a Motorhome.
We stayed off season for free--one loop is left open--in what might be the prettiest spot we've ever camped in, site #1. The view of Pedernal and the lake just filled our windows, and we had the whole place to ourselves. Well, there was the one coyote who kept getting into our trash at night.... Be sure to dump and fill yourself with fresh water before arriving in off-season. No water, dump, electric, bathrooms or patrols in off season, but very, very pretty place. We stayed here, instead of Ghost Ranch, because dogs aren't welcome at the Ghost Ranch CG (plus the roads and sites at Ghost Ranch are horrible). We would stay here again in a heartbeat. We camped here in a Motorhome.
As usual a nice COE park and only $7 with the Golden Age Passport. We stayed here three nights and enjoyed the visit. We were in site 11 and found it difficult to back the 38 foot fifth wheel in but other sites looked easier. Especially #1. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
This is a beautiful park with a fabulous view of Abiquiu Lake and the surrounding Ghost Ranch area. The staff is especially helpful and pleasant. The RV sites are relatively level with paved pads. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Absolutely our favorite park. Must enjoy silence, beauty and being away from everything. This park has everything but sewer at every site. If you are comfortable with peace, this is the park for you. Hosts are pleasant and helpful. We'd came back whenever we can. We camped here in a Motorhome.
We spent 5 great nights at this park. The views from most sites are outstanding! You look across Abiquiu Lake towards Ghost Ranch, where Georgia O'Keeffe both lived and painted. It is one of the prettiest parks we have ever stayed in, with spectacular views of the cliffs and mountains. The color variations are almost unbelievable. The staff was friendly and helpful. The sites are well cared for and the bathrooms clean. We definitely would stay here again. It's a park for adults...no video games, silly golf courses etc. A good place. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
We stayed in the E/W hoop-up loop, on a first come/first serve site, and had a great view of the lake. The lake gets crowded on weekends but during the week is mostly deserted. The E/W hook-up loop of the campground was full and stays that way through most of the summer, but the electric only sites never seemed to fill up. I guess we were lucky to get a site. A good fishing lake, in beautiful country. The Abiquiu store has everything you may need and is about a 15 min drive. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
No empty W/E sites on the weekends but, if you arrive mid-week you can generally find an empty W/E site. Most W/E sites are reservation sites but there are a couple of first come sites. Dry camping sites are available even on weekends. The lake is warm enough, in summer, to swim in so weekender's come to splash and fish. The nearest grocery/gas/general store is in Abiquiu (10mi) and is has some of anything you need. Wal Mart is 40 mi away in Espanola. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
Review Rating
[ 9 / 10 ]
April 2006
$14
The Riana Campground is located on a 150 foot rock bluff overlooking Abiquiu Lake. This is an Army Corps of Engineers development. The scenery is spectacular and there is a pretty view of the lake which is 4,000+ acres - big for New Mexico. This is Georgia O'Keeffe country. The campground is open April 15-Oct 15 and fees range from $5-$14. Sites 1-15 have water, 50 amp electric, covered picnic table, trash can, fire pit, and lantern pole. The sites have a paved RV pad. We have camped only at these sites. They have a good amount of distance between the sites. Sites 9 and 10 are pull-throughs, the rest of the hooup sites are very long back-ins. On sites 1-39 only, you can have 2 camping units but only one unit can be a wheeled unit. Sites 40-54 are primitive tents sites only with two tents allowed per site. There is a dump station. Nice clean vaulted bathrooms as well as very clean bathrooms with showers. There is a group site as well as separate tent sites. There is a playground for the kids. There are water spigots throughout the campground. Lake shore access for boat launching is 1 mile from the campground. Primitive camping is permitted free of charge during the off season. During the open season, there are two campground hosts. Odd numbered sites are reservable. We have camped here several times and have always enjoyed our experience and the scenery. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
What a fabulous campground!! While it does not have sewer hook ups, we stayed for 10 days and conserved so that we only had to go to the dump station once. Being Georgia O'Keefe country, the scenery was unbelievably gorgeous. The camp hosts were wonderful and kept the weekend people under control. Great place to do day trips to other parts of that area. Very relaxing and we will return. (If you are 62 and have the National Park pass the rates are only $7 a night. We camped here in a Motorhome.