Area photo: Lincoln National Forest near Cloudcroft · Denver Gingerich, CC BY-SA 2.0
Summer Pasture Dispersed Camping
Free, no-hookup dispersed camping in the ponderosa pines off Forest Road 568, just north of Cloudcroft and about 1 hr 15 min from Ruidoso, with a 14-day stay limit, rock fire rings and a rough dirt road best for small rigs.
Cloudcroft, New Mexico · Lincoln National Forest dispersed camping
Season
Late spring–fall
Snow and mud can close the road
Elevation
About 8,700 ft
Cool summers, snowy winters
Hookups
None
No water, toilets, trash or hookups
Big rigs
Front spots only
About 40 ft at the first spots; small rigs past the fork
Updated October 18, 2026 · Details checked against Lincoln National Forest orders
Free camping in the pines
The Summer Pasture experience
Free dispersed camping in the Lincoln National Forest along about a mile of Forest Road 568, just north of Cloudcroft. There are no hookups, water, toilets or trash service, only rock fire rings at roughly eight usable spots in the pines, and a 14-day stay limit.
Rock fire ringsAt existing sites; follow fire restrictions
Pine forestElk and deer at about 8,700 ft
Cell signalAT&T best; T-Mobile and Verizon mixed
Life at camp
What campers say
The campsite report card
We don’t recycle other sites’ reviews, but the published scores tell a clear story: campers love the cool, quiet pines, the elk and the price, while the warnings are about the rough, narrow road, off-level spots and busy summer weekends.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report45 ft Nov 2019
Cell signal reportedAT&TT-MobileVerizon
Last reported nightly rateFree Feb 2025
As reported by Campendium users; a 45-ft rig fit at the front spots, but reviewers say nothing over about 20 ft should go past the fork. Confirm road and fire conditions with the Sacramento Ranger District before you go.
On FR 568 north of Cloudcroft
Getting there
Forest Road 568 leaves the paved road just north of the village of Cloudcroft. The road is rocky and rutted; big rigs should stop at the first spots before the fork, and a gate about 1.5 miles in has no room to turn a trailer.
From Ruidoso: south through Mescalero toward Cloudcroft, then onto FR 568 just north of the villageFrom Alamogordo: US-82 east up the mountain to Cloudcroft, then north to FR 568
FR 568 · NORTH OF CLOUDCROFT
Set your GPS
Forest Road 568, Cloudcroft, NM 88317
To Cloudcroft*About 5 min
To AlamogordoAbout 35 min
To White SandsAbout 1 hr
To Midtown RuidosoAbout 1 hr 15 min
Scout before you tow. The road is rocky and narrow past the fork with no turnarounds; one camper had to back a 29-ft trailer out about a quarter mile.
About 8,700 ft. July highs average about 72°, nights are cold, and snow and mud can make the road impassable from late fall to spring.
*Drive times are from OpenStreetMap routing and are approximate. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Day trips from camp
Around Ruidoso
Cloudcroft is about 5 minutes away, Alamogordo about 35, White Sands about an hour, and Midtown Ruidoso about 1 hour 15 minutes north.
Photo thanks to Dennis Adams, FHWA (public domain)
Midtown Ruidoso & Wingfield Park
Shops, galleries, tasting rooms and restaurants along Sudderth Drive, plus Wingfield Park’s playground, river walk and summer events, an easy walk from camp.
Photo thanks to Jonathan Cutrer (CC BY 2.0)
Ski Apache
The Mescalero Apache Tribe’s ski area high on Sierra Blanca, with winter skiing and scenic gondola rides in summer. Ski Run Road is steep and winding, so leave the rig at camp.
Photo thanks to Road Travel America (public domain)
Smokey Bear Historical Park
A small state park and museum in Capitan telling the story of the real Smokey Bear, a cub rescued from a 1950 fire in the nearby Capitan Mountains; his grave is on the grounds.
Photo thanks to Pablorgalindo (CC BY-SA 4.0)
White Sands National Park
Rolling white gypsum dunes for sledding, hiking and sunset walks, past Alamogordo. US-70 can close briefly for missile-range tests, so check before you go.
More places to stay
Other parks worth a look
These are the closest parks we’ve reviewed around Ruidoso.
Photo thanks to Arrowhead Motel & RV Park
Arrowhead Motel & RV Park
A small motel with full-hookup RV spaces on US-70, a few minutes from Midtown and the race track.
Photo thanks to Pine Ridge RV Park
Pine Ridge RV Park
An older, wooded hillside park just off US-70, minutes from Midtown, with full hookups and quiet, tree-shaded sites.
Photo thanks to Rainbow Lake Cabin & RV Resort
Rainbow Lake Cabin & RV
A wooded park in Carrizo Canyon with a trout pond, a lodge and cabins, a few minutes from Midtown.
Before you go
Plan your stay
Everything that decides whether Summer Pasture fits your rig, your dates and your plans, in one place.
Our take: a free, quiet spot in the cool pines with elk for neighbors, minutes from Cloudcroft. There are no services at all, the road is rough and spots are few, so it’s best for small, self-contained rigs, vans and tents in dry weather; big rigs should stop at the first spots or skip it.
FeesLincoln National Forest · checked Oct 18, 2026
Dispersed campingFree /night
Stay limit14 days in any 45 days
There’s no fee and no reservation system; spots are first come, first served. After 14 days, the forest’s stay-limit order requires you to move at least 30 air miles.
Prices are subject to change at any time and may vary by date, season and availability. For the latest pricing, check the park’s rates page or call (575) 682-2551.
Typical July afternoon
Cloudcroft72°
Phoenix107°
Cool high-country summers: 35° cooler than Phoenix in July, with nights near 48°.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider, and why campers come back.
Open
Site types
Free, with a 14-day limit in any 45 days.
Open
Rates & policies
Stay limits, fires, water, dump and road rules.
Open
Before you book
Questions to ask before you go.
Open
Summer Pasture is the name campers use for dispersed camping along Forest Road 568 in the Lincoln National Forest’s Sacramento Ranger District. It isn’t a developed or signed campground, so forest-wide dispersed-camping rules apply.
Best for
- Budget travelers: it’s free.
- Small rigs, vans and tents that can handle a rough dirt road.
- Summer escapes: about 8,700 ft up, with July highs near 72°.
- Wildlife watchers: elk and deer are regular visitors.
Consider this
- No water, toilets, trash service or hookups; pack everything in and out.
- The road is rocky and narrow, with no turnarounds past the fork.
- Only about eight usable spots, and they fill on summer weekends.
- Snow and mud can close access from late fall to spring.
Summer in Cloudcroft
Typical July afternoon
72°
Cloudcroft
Cloudcroft, NM (NOAA)
107°
Phoenix
Phoenix Sky Harbor
35 degrees cooler than Phoenix, with nights near 48°. Normal July highs, 1991–2020.
There are no designated sites, only spots marked by rock fire rings along about a mile of FR 568, some at the roadside and some set back in the trees. Everything is free and first come, first served.
Front spots Free
The first few roadside spots are the only ones campers recommend for rigs around 40 ft.
Spots past the fork Free
Narrow and rocky; reviewers advise nothing over about 20 ft.
Tent & van spots Free
Spots set back in the trees along about a mile of road.
Developed campgrounds Fees apply
Nearby Forest Service campgrounds around Cloudcroft have water and toilets in season.
FeeFreeNo reservations
Stay limit14 daysIn any 45-day period
After 14 daysMove 30+ air milesForest-wide order
Unattended gear48 hours maxForest-wide order
HookupsNoneNo water, toilets or trash
CampfiresExisting ringsOnly without fire restrictions
RoadRough dirtGate about 1.5 mi in
Big rigsFront spotsNothing over ~20 ft past the fork
SeasonLate spring–fallSnow and mud in winter
Ranger districtSacramento575-682-2551
Checked against Lincoln National Forest orders and recent camper reports on October 18, 2026. Summer Pasture isn’t a signed Forest Service campground; call the Sacramento Ranger District at (575) 682-2551 to confirm that dispersed camping on FR 568 is open and which restrictions apply.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- Is FR 568 open? Call the Sacramento Ranger District at 575-682-2551.
- Are fire restrictions on? Check the Lincoln National Forest alerts page.
- Where will I dump and fill? Seasonal Forest Service sites close in September.
- Will my rig make it? Scout past the fork on foot first.
- Is it a holiday or race weekend? Spots fill fast.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: Late spring–fall
Ready for free camping in the pines?
Fill your tanks in town, pick a spot near the front and spend cool days around Cloudcroft and the Sacramento Mountains. Check fire and road conditions with the Forest Service before you go.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. The campsite photos are stills from a camper’s video shared on The Dyrt’s YouTube channel. The hero, trestle and Cloudcroft images are area photos, not the campsites: Denver Gingerich (CC BY-SA 2.0), Samat Jain (CC BY-SA 2.0) and Convivial (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons. Area photos via Wikimedia Commons: Dennis Adams, Federal Highway Administration (Midtown Ruidoso; public domain), Jonathan Cutrer (Ski Apache; CC BY 2.0), Road Travel America (Smokey Bear Historical Park; public domain) and Pablorgalindo (White Sands; CC BY-SA 4.0); the images were resized. Other-park photos: Arrowhead Motel & RV Park, Pine Ridge RV Park and Rainbow Lake Cabin & RV. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the parks we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Summer Pasture Dispersed Camping unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the park’s published materials and publicly available sources. Pricing, availability, rules, policies, regulations, amenities and other details are set by the park and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with Summer Pasture Dispersed Camping at fs.usda.gov or (575) 682-2551. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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