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Submission
Primitive, 4 site campground at the mouth of Alamo Canyon. No RVs, trailers or generators.
Campground is located at the end of the Alamo Canyon Road. Road junction with Highway 85 is located halfway between milepost 65 and 66 on the eastern side of the highway. There is no road sign. The road begins on the north side of the concrete bridge that crosses the wash. Road is suitable for all cars.
Beautiful. Be prepared for bugs (would not sleep under a tarp here). Was alone on a weekday in mid-August, honestly not surprising considering that it was just a little too hot to sleep comfortably. Probably awesome in the winter. Bathroom was clean and had plenty of TP. Saw coyotes on the dirt road, so don’t leave food out. Also saw some pretty creepy lights that I assume have some border patrol purpose just to the north. Bored CBP agents questioned me twice in the monument (in
The campground was great, well taken care of, and so beautiful. The bathroom was clean and the road was pretty good considering we drove a car (not a truck). The safety button on the road to the campground is nice. I wouldn't drive here in the dark though. It's close to the border and the campground is off a known drug highway. However, I did feel safe here and would go back again.
I've camped here twice while on vacation from North Carolina. If you would like to feel as if you're one in harmony with the desert then this is the place to be. Each time when I visited I was the only camper there and I literally felt as if I was the only person in that entire desert. It gives you that kind of feeling and for someone who values his solitude it was a very peaceful and relaxing feeling. I wished I could have stayed longer.
Bring a chair with you and I recommend having someone to babysit your dog while you stay here. There are cacti everywhere both as tall as telephone poles and as small as mushrooms. At night the desert comes alive with life. You'll have no problem spotting tarantulas, snakes, lizards, scorpions, rats and bats that fly so close you can hear their wings flap which is an experience all by itself. Just walk down the road or trails after dark with a flashlight or by moonlight and you'll see them. It's illegal to kill any wildlife including rattlesnakes. They have signs posted in the park that even they are protected and are to be left alone.
EDIT: I also recommend that you do your research before staying in the primitive campsite. Eventhough the Border Patrol and Federal Park Rangers are patrolling the campsite both with cameras, which is comforting, and in person there is always the possibility that you'll encounter an illegal crossing. I encountered one who was more in distress for water than causing any harm. The border patrol quickly had him in custody. I think he wanted to go back.
