City of Rocks State Park

So Fascinating!! Absolutely fell in love with this place...the vibe, the history, the nature. New favorite spot. Ive passes it a few time in previous adventures circling the U.S. - SO glad I didnt this time. I really enjoyed hiking up to table top and the sunsets ...exploring the rock formations, even the conversations with staff. Great experience I decided to stay longer then I originally planned.

This was our first experience camping at City of Rocks. We had sites 20-25. 21-24 are rather close to each other. 20 is elevated and fairly separated from the other sites, but you have to hike a good 500 feet in from the parking spot. The rocks and bouldering are the main draw here, as well as the dark skies for stargazing. Other than the wind, November is a great time to visit. Be aware that the gate is locked at 9 PM each night. Drinking water was available during our visit, and the visitor's center has ice, and many other items you may have forgotten. Deming and Silver City are the closest towns nearby, about 30 minutes away for each.

We checked into the Campground around 3:30. We took a trail up into the cool rock formations for about an hour. Then we watched the sunset from up there. It was a SPECTACULAR sunset!

Google Review: City of Rocks State Park, New Mexico Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Geological Masterpiece and the Gold Standard for Desert Camping! I usually have "campground trust issues" and prefer dispersed camping on BLM land, but City of Rocks State Park completely changed the game. Located in the high plains of the Chihuahuan Desert between Deming and Silver City, this place is absolutely magnificent—especially for a Christmas getaway. I posted a whole review video on my Youtube Channel Muddy Ruttzz. Just search for Muddy Ruttzz "City Of Rocks New Mexico Camping: Secret Desert Stonehenge!" The Landscape: Driving in, the massive volcanic rock formations (formed nearly 35 million years ago!) suddenly appear like a "Silent City" of stone. Some of these rhyolite pinnacles tower 40 feet high. It feels prehistoric and otherworldly. Camping & Facilities: We stayed at Site 12 (Corona Australis) with our Jeep Gladiator and Xventure trailer. The sites are beautifully integrated into the rocks, offering incredible privacy and a front-row seat to the geology. Whether you need electric or prefer the non-electric primitive spots, this is the gold standard for overland setups. Activities: Hiking & Biking: I took my Lynskey Live Wire (titanium mountain bike) out on the Hydra Trail. The singletrack is well-marked with stone-carved signage and offers epic views of the spires. Botanical Garden: A must-see loop to learn about yuccas, barrel cacti, and ocotillos. It’s very dog-friendly—our American Eskimo, Freya, loved exploring the "natural jungle gym" corridors. Visitor Center: Very modern architecture with a great gift shop, local history exhibits, and a cool Solar System Walk that scales the planets. Don’t miss the historic windmill! Stargazing: As a dark sky area, the night sky is unreal. Seeing the Milky Way over the silhouetted rocks is a spiritual experience. Pro Tip: This is an outdoor adventurer's dream. Whether you’re birding (look for Golden Eagles!), mountain biking, or just want to explore "city streets" made of stone, put this on your New Mexico bucket list. Perfect for: Off-roaders, overlanders, families, and dog owners.

Amazing place to visit. There are non-electric campsites among the rocks or electric campsites in a row outside of the rocks. The electric sites are typical campground with not much space between. The non-electric are spread out and most are quite private. This is is a hide and go seek paradise. Its fun exploring all the formations, nooks and crannies. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We stayed one night but could have easily stayed two. Check in at 4pm with checkout at 2pm gives plenty of time to explore the rocks. There is a separate set of rocks up on a lookout hill that you can hike to or drive to. There is a picnic table at the top with a parking lot. There are also several trails in the area for those staying longer than overnight. Sunset was amazing. Those camped along the Westside got an amazing view. We camped in site six which was interior to some rocks. A small trailer will fit but take care in backing in. Note that the bathrooms are not close to most sites. The visitors center has showers which were extremely busy in the morning even though the night we stayed there were not that many campers. Probably about 1/4 full on non-electric sites. The electric sites were completely full. Apparently they like the public bathroom better than their own.

Small but fascinating little park. Get lost among the boulders for an hour or two. This sounds crazy but take the time to bang on some of the rocks until you find a "hollow spot" and then play that sucker like a xylophone. Not ultimately big enough to justify the drive out to southwestern New Mexico on its own, it lends itself well to a long weekend hiking around Silver City. And yes, one of the first rocks you see is delightfully phallic

I have been coming to the City of Rocks since I was a teenager in the 1980’s, and I still love it just as much today. This is a MUST VISIT place. Now, as a mobility-impaired person, the experience looks a little different for me, but there is such magic here that it’s always worth the visit. We brought our travel trailer and parked in the E10 Xena electric (water too but no sewer) campsite. It’s quite large, fairly level, has a picnic table and sturdy gazebo and is an easy pull-thru site. There are quite a lot of goatheads (sharp little thorns) around the camp sites and throughout the park, unfortunately, so be prepared for those. They will stick to your shoes and sneak inside your dwelling unit waiting to impale your foot when you least expect it. The bathrooms nearby (vault toilets) are relatively clean and large enough for my power chair but have no lights at night so bring your flashlight. The bathrooms at the visitor’s center have lights and showers (prepare for some chilly water in the mornings!). The roads around the entire park are gravel and not terribly friendly for getting around with a power chair, but I was able to get around a bit near the electric campsites in spite of the bumpy road. Ideally, it would be great if they could provide a cement accessibility trail around the park or at least the electric sites, but I realize that’s a huge expense. I would also like to see the area maintained a bit better regarding the brush (loose and dry branches from native flora) and goatheads, in particular, around the camp site areas. Otherwise, it’s just beautiful here and definitely worth the trip even if mobility is a concern. We took our vehicle around and stopped at several of the unoccupied sites with nearby rock formations. Try to stay through the weekend when the park hosts talks about how the area was formed or for star gazing opportunities (it’s an amazing dark sky here!). The visitors center has some exhibits as well and sells souvenirs and a few necessities (firewood can be purchased here). Walmart in Deming and/or Silver City is less than an hour away should you need to go. Reserve your campsite early because they fill up fast. Don’t miss this unique and beautiful place! Photo quality for the night sky isn’t the best ( cell phone camera and it was windy), but it gives you an idea of the expansive dark sky.

Smaller park. I feel it's more designed for campers than anything. As you can pull your camper into any of the areas to stay so when your walking around you feel your intruding on someone's space just to get a look at the rocks. But if you're in the area, neat rock formations to view. Also have a planet walk where you start at the sun and hike out and find the markers of each plant. Mercury - Mars are right there at the beginning across from the windmill and that's when you would start your hike to locate the others to get an idea of how far apart they are. I believe it says each step, approx 2 feet equates to 6 million miles. So, that's fun to experience.

This place ROCKS! Camping here has to be awesome, especially at night when you can see all the stars. But the best part, especially for kids, is the unique rock formations. There's so much to explore and climb on. My kids could've spent hours there. We took some epic pictures. Drive around the place before you decide to park and choose a spot.

I am almost afraid to write this review. I want to keep this place all to ourselves! This is a gorgeous, out of the way, campground in southwest New Mexico. It's almost like spending the night in Stonehenge! Rocks out in the middle of nowhere (seemingly), each camp spot is fairly secluded too! Not much cellular activity here, so if you can't disconnect, you'll likely need something stronger or need to pass. It's gorgeous, see my photos!

If you are staying at a hot springs resort nearby, found yourself on a road passing by this area and wanted to take a quick walk to enjoy some NM sceneries, City of Rocks State Park is one place you should consider! I love coming here to take a quick walk around the area, especially when it isn't too hot or sunny out. The area is mostly quiet, feels safe and you rarely have to interact with anyone (there are visitor center and campgrounds along the rocks in the area..but either people are staying inside their RVs..or they just don't get too many visitors). The visitor center seemed quite modern compared to other NM state parks I had been to. Best part of it all, it's just $5 for a day visit. For me I have an annual pass (just $40), so....visiting here to walk and enjoy the nature with my furry paw friends is a no brainer! Good for your eyes, body and soul! One minus is that...it seemed a bit out of nowhere with not too many things around...so not sure how visitors choose to visit this place. Also, it can be hot, especially in the summer...but on a cool or light rain day or day with some clouds..this is a good spot to visit! Otherwise, the facilities seemed safe, pretty clean and well kept to me!

This State park is amazing for photography. Be sure and take the walk through the middle of the campsites, the rock outcrops are stunning and if it has rained recently you will see many interesting shallow pools. The rock formations were created about 30 million years ago from volcanic ash.

Faywood (Luna County), New Mexico. Timestamp: May 2021. Roads: Dirt roads. Parking: Limited. Little markings. Basically stay off the path as many trucks with trailers need space on the roads. Costs: $5/Car. Hours: 24/7. Terrain: Mountain, desert. Weather: Desert climate. Spring to Fall is hot & dry. Winter is cold as its near the Black Range aka Sierra Diablo (Devil's Mountains). Handicap: Poor. The heat, rocks, and unstable footing is not an ideal place for handicap to do much except camping and eating. Distance: 750 miles east of Los Angeles, California. North of Site: Albuquerque, New Mexico is appx 260 mi. South of Site: Deming, New Mexico is 30 mi. East of Site: Las Cruces, New Mexico is 90 mi. West of Site: Tucson, Arizona is 250 mi. Landmarks: Unique volcano rock formations. Things to do: Camping, hiking and rock stuff. Nearby Landmarks: -Continental Divide Trails -Twin Sisters (peak) -Gila Cliff -Silver City -Mimbres Valley -Fort Bayard The City of Rocks is rough terrain for us sick folks. Otherwise, nothing some dirt bikes can't fix. It's a great place to camp but reservations are required as it is a small camp site. The rocks offer good shade depending on the sun's angles, amazing photography, and a decent amount of flat hiking to walk around. This is a slow paced region and not much else to do. There is no fishing with very little wildlife or conspicuous vegetation. Basically, City of Rocks is a below average spot to visit and chances are that one will never return unless the goal is to camp. Hiking is available anywhere since it's just walking but the Gila National Forest with all the various ranges has famous trails to explore. 1,000 mile journey starts w/ one step. www.cleeshyun.com @cigarcpa

We visited City of Rocks State Park to do some hiking and to explore the rock city. What an interesting area to hike! We did the Hydra Trail, a flat, easy trail that circles the Park. It gives you a nice view of the rocks all the way around the park perimeter. I recommend you add the Table Mountain Trail to this hike. It's a bit of a climb, but the views of this part of New Mexico are beautiful from the top of the mountain. Be sure to do some of the hiking trails that cut through the rocks, it's amazing. The rock formations are unique and there are a number of spots to just sit and admire the area. Some of the campsites (for smaller vehicles) are amidst the rocks. Well worth the visit!

What a magical place. Out in the middle of no where these giant rocks jut a hundred feet high. Clearly marked foot paths (but not for handicapped or people with mobility issues) and you can drive around in much of it. If you are a camper and can get one of the amazing sites surrounded by the monolithic rocks it's an ideal place to get out of the sun, wind and lay on your back and watch the stars. Each little camping nook is named so it's pretty easy to find yours. You can drive your vehicle right up to the spot and unload. Sure they have RV and camper parking. I understand they have facilities but no showers. Not an RVer, sorry. If you are gonna hike, bring water. There's no water available throughout the park. Some of the walks are steep and if you wanna climb up to get a better view they can be really steep and even a bit dangerous. But most paths are just a bit of an incline. Please wear good walking shoes. We didn't see any but I can't imagine there NOT being snakes in the rocks. Self pay entry of $5 at the entrance. The visitor's center was kinda a disappointment. The guy inside gave no greeting or conversation about the place. The walls were filled with lots of reading...so the littler ones would be bored in a half second. Souvenirs seemed pretty non existent.

Diamond in the desert. Easy hiking. Did ebiking around trails. Nice. Worth the out of the way.

A magical place, where the primary sounds are wind and ravens. The private nooks for camping next to 40 foot pinnacles is the norm. Biking and hiking paths are clearly marked. Saw ladder-backed woodpecker and a 10 inch long cactus wren nest in an eye-level cholla! April cactus blooms everywhere.

City of Rocks is in a remote part of Southern New Mexico. On Hwy 180, it's easy to miss the turn into the park due to one small sign about 2 miles away. This pandemic restriction on out of state visitors have given New Mexicans a chance to enjoy the park with less crowds. I would joke about how we drove this far to just see a pile of rocks. However, the rocks are so beautiful up close.

Started a Boondocking trip in my SUV & this was an amazing place I stayed, favorite so far. Found this place much more enjoyable to see than white sands. Wish I'd have went on and stayed a couple of nights. Saw several large Hare early in the morning & a raven stayed on one of the huge rocks right by & over my site. Clean restrooms without showers. Definitely windy but it's hot here so it was a blessing. A dusty one occasionally but if a site is available by a rock it solves that. No cell service for the night at my site but possible to get a quick bar somewhere in the park. A Must see!

This was our first "off grid" trip, and it was the perfect experience. The sites are clean and well maintained as are the bathrooms. Great visitor center with wonderful camp volunteers and rangers. Highly recommend!

Best hiking for a short day trip. Absolutely beautiful ancient rock formations. Nice trail: nothing too hard. You can also bike here! There is a nice visitors center. Look out for rattlesnakes. Stay hydrated. So picturesque. An Instagrammer's dream! Met quite a few friendly hikers. And this is a great place to camp overnight. They also have star parties (on super clear nights). Must visit!

Love love love!!!!!! My husband has been telling me about this place for a while and he hasn't been back since he was 10 years old! So like newbies, we were off on another adventure here! Since we were not camping, we did have to pay a small fee of $5.00 per vehicle (bring cash or check) this is a self serve station that you would fill out and drop in the deposit box! So please make sure you bring enough change for exactly $5.00! I was very impressed with this particular state park! Such beauty tucked away, felt like we had the entire place to explore without all the overcrowding people! Be sure to stop by at the visitor center! There are plenty of things to read about and see! Plus as a bonus you can touch a lot of the items inside!! The lady that was there was very, very kind and full of information! Sadly I could not remember her name but she had the most beautiful one green and blue eyes! If you are reading this, thank you for making our experience amazing with all your info!!! Now the park itself is such a beauty!!! The rocks are fascinating to envision how they formed naturally over time! You can either drive around or walk about each point! We took the car around as a glance then came back around again, this tome we stopped parked and got out to see and take pictures of our favorite rocks! I do love how each space is named by stars and plenty of space for each camper to camp!! Overall don't pass up this opportunity to see these rocks!! For $5.00 a vehicle I say that's a great deal and the place is well kept!! Till next time! Let me know how you liked it!

This place is AWESOME - besides two issues... There is no place to dump & the showers are push button (they stay on for about 1. Otherwise, this place is THE place to go. You have your own covered picnic table & the views are 10/10! I also highly recommend the table mountain hike!

Currently only residents of New Mexico are allowed to go in, meaning no out of state residents are allowed near the rocks. There are park rangers near the gate entrance.

Very unusual rock formations make this a good park to visit if you are in the area. Admission is $5 at a self pay station. Trails lead from observation area to Visitor's Center, along with a few other hiking options. Most of the park seems dedicated to camping with RV hook-ups but you can walk around a bit.

We haven't spent any time in New Mexico before and decided to stop here for a few days to check it out. It is a ways from Deming, out in the middle of nowhere and beautiful. A unexpected surprise to be driving among the flats when you go around a bend a see these unique rock formations. We checked in and found our reserved spot. We had selected a hook up site, water and electric, no sewer or dump station on the property. The ranger station is small but has quite a bit of information on the park and the critters, plants and how the "city of rocks" was formed. The campground host was nice but not too forthcoming with any information. They have 4 vault toilets located throughout the campground. There is a bathroom/shower house near the check in that is open from 7:30 am to 9:00 pm at night. They close it at night so that there well can refill. The hook up sites are right as you come in but the rest of the sites are nestled within the rocks, very cool spots, with some great views. They are multiple hikes within and around the campground as well as an observation point. They also have a small desert botanical garden. There is a group site available for rent as well. There is an observatory on the property, unfortunately they didn't offer any programs while we were here. Lots of bunnies and jack rabbits as well as a large variety of birds. Coming in on a Sunday was wonderful, very few campers, very quiet and relaxing. We loved being able to look at the stars at night, no light pollution here. From this campground you can explore Las Cruces, Old Mesilla, Deming, Silver City, Gila Cliff Dwellings and if you have your passport, you can even do a day trip into Palomas Mexico. This has been one of our better stops on our journeys! Would definitely stay here again if coming through the area.

All state parks are temporarily closed due to Covid 19. We thought we could walk in but the gated it off clear back at the main road.

This is a great campground. The sites are huge, and fairly secluded. The staff is really nice, and the visitor center is a treat. Stuff for kids to look at, and enough geology for most liberal arts majors. This might be my newest favorite campground.

This place was amazing. It was so much fun to explore and take pictures, the views were breathtaking. The openness and the smell of fresh air was refreshing. Currently it is $5 per car to get in, which is so worth the view and the ability to camp there is awesome.

This was one of the best state parks I've ever stayed in for the scenic value. We had a great site (maybe 21?) tucked at the end of its own little road with just a couple other sites nearby. We felt like we had the park to ourselves despite it being quite full! The stars were amazing at night, and the coyotes sounded like they were outside our door one night. We even had our own personal road-runner that kept an eye on us (and surely the coyotes)!! The showers are in the Visitor's Center, but open later hours, and were oh so welcome. Staff was friendly. Wish they had a dump station. No cell service in the camping area, but our AT&T phones picked up 2 bars by the entrance sign. I work from home, so that was handy.... I WILL be back!!

Went here and it's a really cool place to look around for about 2 hours. You can walk among the rock formations in between the camp sights. We tried to be respectful of the people that were there camping so as not to disturb them. But the views are fairly plain as you are basically in the middle of a huge meadow. The hiking trails just wind through the meadow to a few benches that are strewn around the area. I would say that this place is worth the drive to see if you have some additional time in your schedule.

This is a great destination for a bike ride, which we did. We stayed at Faywood Hot Springs (3 miles away) and rode our bikes out to the City of Rocks. It's a great spot to explore but I wouldn't want to stay there in the middle of summer. No shade for your RV's anywhere. Nice smooth roads, restrooms, and picture taking spots everywhere. Glad I road my bike there.

If you're lucky you'll get a site with hookups. Otherwise a place in the rocks. They are nice but we don't have a leveler. There were a million stars out and the sky was the best part, but then you can see the sky anyway

Love it! Well developed areas to camp! Nice visitors center! Clean restrooms. Recommend wear tennis shoes

In the middle of a place very close to nowhere, just south of somewhere, and a little past over there, is a flat and I mean flat plain with a bit of scrub and other desert plant or three and two lane roads that go on and on and on with an acute scarcity of touches of civilization lies City of Rocks State Park. if you go here it is because you are really lost, or you specifically chose this park. Now that can be a real advantage if you want to get away from it all and camp where the stars are blazing from horizon to horizon. The campsites are among the beautiful outcroppings of City of Rocks. There are also electrical hook up for the RV types and group areas for those big family, or what ever your group is! Bring everything you need as the nearest anything is about 30 plus miles. This park is a very interesting geological phenomenon (I can't believe it. I spelled that correct without a spell check) Oh yes, one more thing, in the middle of no where and due to the flatness, clear air and tall towers there is 4g with data! - I suggest you have a solar charger - you can have the best of the wild west and internet too! On second thought, just turn it off and enjoy the clean air and brilliant blue daytime sky and jet black night time sky!

The best! Camped here as a kid, camped here again as an adult. This is the funnest, coolest place around. Good for everyone! Play in and on top of rocks. Camp within the rocks. Attend star viewing parties, and gaze up. Enjoy the small but helpful visitor center and learn about this volcanic beauty. There is tent camping, RV space, electrical hook ups, and even showers in the bathrooms. Services are limited- you need to go to Deming or Bayard if you need something- but this is the ultimate outdoor camping and fun place. Hike the trails, bike, see the garden, and just enjoy the rocks. Grill up on the BBQ's. And have fun!

Beautiful Park, but the people drive way too fast, turning it into a Ginormous Dust Festival. No respect for others is a common problem with people these days!

It was neat to see the rock formations. It can be done fast and no need to plan a day trip here.

How had I never heard of this place!!! Amazing camp ground among really cool rock formations surrounded by flat desert all around. Really nice place to chill for a day or even longer!!! NO NOISE!!!!

Visiting Silver City on March 3rd and 4th... We had planned to go to the Gila Cliff Dwellings when we rolled up into town. Over our burgers and beers, the bartender at Little Toad Creek brewery told us to wait until the next day. He said that it was a dangerous road if we weren't used to it, and we'd be driving home in the dark, so he highly recommended we not drive out there after lunch. So. what to do? Always ask the local barkeeps. Enthusiastically he and another staff member told us "City of Rocks!" "It is my favorite place on earth!" said the one guy. He looked so ecstatic, I had to believe him. We drove out and coming up over the rise and seeing the formations out of nowhere is outstanding. We both immediately knew how the bartender felt and what he meant. We hiked around and watched the clouds and the light change the landscape. We spent a good couple hours just soaking the sites in. Regretting the fact we didn't have camping equipment, we decided the next time we head out this way we're camping here. Renting gear at an REI or getting a trailer or shipping our stuff ahead of us or something. I bet the dark sky stargazing is outstanding here. And would like to experience that. Did not use the showers, but the bathrooms were clean and nice. Staff was super nice, really helpful. Kept the visitor center open longer for us since we got there at closing time. Ten thumbs up. Looks like a hidden jewel in a region full of lots of attractions. Go and love it.

We were next door at Faywood Hot Springs, so dropped by City of Rocks to possibly camp. After driving around the place for an hour we decided not to. First, yes, this large rock outcropping surrounded by Chihuahuan Desert is, in and of itself, fantastic and beautiful. The problem is, most of its aesthetic and ecological value has been virtually destroyed by the numerous dirt roads, campground, and people tromping around every nook and cranny. I mean, the entire perimeter of the rocky area is covered with roads and campsites! There is no naturalness to it anymore, and its beauty is severely compromised. Essentially, this state park is little more than a giant campground/playground -- a "city" in the rocks. If you just want a "cool" spot to camp amongst the boulders, and maybe let the kids run around and go crazy, then this is your place. If you appreciate and care about nature, then this form of environmental vandalism to keep (most of) the public happy will turn your stomach.

Beautiful Place with an incredible trail up the nearby mountain. Please please stop here!!!

This is worth the trip to see these amazing HUGE boulders, some have smaller boulders perched on the top of them. Camping is top-notch and they even have a section if RVs need to plug in. Water is available also. Check out the photos! https://landcruisingadventure.blogspot.com/2019/05/city-of-rocks-state-park-new-mexico.html

Interesting rocks but lousy showers. I realize they are in a desert and trying to conserve water, but honestly I would pay money to have a better shower. Can we say drip, drip, drip? That's what I was trying to wash with. Just be forewarned. If you've been camping for a while and are looking for a good shower cuz it's been many days, look somewhere else!

Fun place to camp with all the rocks, semi-private spots and a clean, big bathroom with showers.

Beautiful. My family loved climbing and exploring the rocks. The museum had a lot of information and was certainly interesting to read more about the history behind these rock formations.

Great park. Didn't use restrooms. You are allowed to climb on the rocks and do anything on them but go through other campsites. Only ten with electricity, water, etc. Tent camping in cool places like caves and inside the rocks. Has real nice garden with plants and cacti. Decent TV channels.

We only came here for the day, but we were blown away. This strange formation of rocks is in the middle of no where, which makes it even more engaging. My wife and I spent close to three hours just wandering through the rock formations, taking pictures, and rock hopping. We're both nearing 60 and we felt like kids again. My wife (a protective mother) said this would have been the perfect place to bring our kids when they were younger. They loved to climb on and around rocks, and it gave them great exercise without them even trying. The campground sites look fantastic. Many of them are nestled in to the rock formations, and look very private. If we're ever back this way again we'll be bringing a tent and staying over.