By:
Submission
_This campground features beautiful cliffs along the West Fork of the Gila River._ This campground is a great place to stop on the way to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (15 miles north). Overnight camping is allowed in the upper portion of Forks; however, the lower portion of the Forks Recreation Site along the West Fork of the Gila River is **day use only**.
The Forks Campground is located approximately 40 miles north of Silver City on the east side of New Mexico Highway 15, just north of mile marker 38, and is located approximately 5 miles south of the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.
I like this place a lot, plenty of camp sites and the restrooms are cleaned daily, except on holidays. But it does get crowded during long holiday weekends, and people with their loud music. I try to go on regular weekends to enjoy the peace and quiet, and sleep at the sound of the water in the river nearby.
Its a primitive campsite with a pit toilet. Not much shade, no picnic tables so bring your own. Water is available about 5 miles up at the visitor center. Views of the canyon are great. Got crowded FAST on Labor Day weekend.
Unrelated to the campground but I gotta say the roads on the way out were pretty sketchy at night. Hairpin after hairpin with cliffs or rock faces on either side. This was 152 heading to I-25. Paved all the way and well maintained just some tricky driving. Could be great fun in the daylight, not so much in the pitch dark.
