DryRig

Black Bear Group Area

Black Bear Group Area is a national forest campground in New Mexico. Hookups: no hookups.

Type
National forest campground
Location
New Mexico
Coordinates
32.92083, -105.74167
Hookups
No hookups
Activities
Camping
Map
Open in OpenStreetMap
Phone
575-682-7570

Amenities

  • Reservable sites

Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.

About Black Bear Group Area

Overview Black Bear is perched atop the scenic Sacramento Mountains of south-central New Mexico, near Alamogordo and Cloudcroft. The site is surrounded by the aromatic pine trees and aspen groves of Lincoln National Forest. The group area is conveniently connected to a network of hiking and biking trails. Bring your camera and binoculars for the chance to spot elk, deers, birds, and even black bear. The black bears are arguably the most celebrated wildlife in the area due to the fact that the original Smokey Bear was found here. While battling a fire in 1950, firefighters rescued a burned bear cub clinging to a scorched tree in Lincoln National Forest. The bear was adopted by the US Forest Service and became the real-life mascot for forest fire prevention. Recreation Evening skies are often clear of clouds - bring a telescope for stargazing. The campground is surrounded by a series of hiking trails. A popular hike is the Osha Trail, which is a 2.5-mile loop. Facilities Whether for a family reunion or a large social event, Black Bear is a convenient location for groups up to 70. No water is provided at this site, but it is available at Sleepy Grass Campground from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Natural Features Set 9,000 feet above sea level in the Sacramento Mountains, Black Bear is in a pine forest area overlooking the desert valley of the Tularosa Basin. The basin stretches 6,500 square miles between the Sacramentos and the San Andres Mountains. Contact Info For facili

Cell coverage

No coverage data for this location yet.

Nearby RV services

Dump station
US Forest Service · 3.9 mi
Water fill
None mapped within 50 mi
Propane
Airgas · 12 mi
Low clearances
None mapped within 10 mi
Off-road routes
138 designated routes (339 mi) within 10 mi

Other places to stay nearby

NameTypeDistanceFeeHookups
Aspen National forest group campground 1.3 mi — —
Black Bear National forest group campground 1.3 mi — —
Black Bear Group Campground Private campground 1.3 mi — —
Slide Group Campground Private campground 1.3 mi — —
Aspen Group Campground Private campground 1.4 mi — —
Slide National forest group campground 1.4 mi — —

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Sources. Recreation.gov (RIDB). Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.