Ozark National Scenic Riverway – Big Spring Campground

Ozark National Scenic Riverway – Big Spring Campground

Tonight’s campground was a happy accident – I didn’t intend to end up here, I was just driving north towards home and this was the best stopping point I could find. Truth be told I knew nothing about the site; it was a road sign that led me here as the daylight was fading. That … Read more

Natural Falls State Park – Camping

Natural Falls State Park - Entrance sign

The heat today was a problem; not only that, a few of the other spots I checked out had dried-up streams meaning no waterfalls meaning nothing to share. Fall colors are fading. And I was running out of time quickly so I couldn’t reasonably stay down south to explore the Ozarks further on this trip. … Read more

Cibola National Forest – Tijeras FR462 Dispersed Camping

Cibola National Forest dispersed camping off FR362/Chamisoso Canyon Road

Spent the remainder of my afternoon driving NM-55/NM-337 heading north toward Tijeras. As the sun started to fade I checked the map and found some dispersed campsites in the Cibola National Forest off FR462 at the Coyote trail head which leads to Chamisoso Canyon Road. Overall this road is well graded but a few spots … Read more

Organ Mountains – Baylor Canyon Rd Dispersed Camping

Baylor Canyon Road Dispersed Camping - Moody sunrise views at Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument

I don’t have many photos from my time visiting family in Las Cruces as I was focused on enjoying our time together and not photography. Didn’t come away empty-handed though: My concerns about allergies to their cats led me to test out alternate lodging options, and my dispersed camp in the BLM land off Baylor … Read more

Cibola National Forest – Quaking Aspen Campground

Quaking Aspen Campground - Campsite #2 is quite premium

Heading west from Grants, New Mexico on I-40 and absolutely loving the scenery as the sun fades on the day. Huge red sandstone cliffs are to the north of the interstate and I didn’t know at the time but this is the southern terminus of the Colorado Plateau. Most of this area is also Navajo … Read more

Jemez Falls Campground

Jemez National Recreation Area - Jemez Falls campground

Camp for tonight is at the Jemez Falls campground in the Jemez National Recreation Area. This is part of the Santa Fe National Forest in the Jemez Mountains, and borders on the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Being a Sunday night, camp is only about half full (if that). According to the posted signs there might … Read more

Raton KOA + K-Bob’s Steakhosue

KOA in Raton, New Mexico - Sunset from camp

I stopped in Raton, New Mexico to get some fuel and decide where to rest for the night. Not much around these parts so I took the easy out and booked a campsite at the Raton KOA campground. Not very busy even on a Saturday night because it’s remote and not a popular destination which … Read more

Pike National Forest Dispersed Camping

Pike National Forest dispersed camping – Idyllic campsite in the woods

My adventures for the day ended a bit early, but I didn’t get the best sleep last night and the drive back down the mountains felt like rushing things. I heard there were some good dispersed camping spots in the Pike National Forest so I decided to check those out. “Nice” is an understatement – … Read more

Wyoming Stealth Camping

Sneaky but delicious continental breakfast

This part of the trip is the consequences of my seat-of-the-pants style travel. Time to pay the piper. In this area of the world there aren’t a ton of options for camping other than RV parks and I’m not keen on bailing out to a hotel every night when I basically have a tent on … Read more

Custer State Park – Game Lodge Campground

Custer State Park - Game Lodge Campground

Camped at Custer State Park – Game Lodge Campground last night. The sites are a little wonky but overall it’s a nice spot with some of the only foliage changes I have seen in the area. Bonus they have hot showers even this late in the season. I stayed at site 52E which was the … Read more