Camping north of Albuquerque, NM

[swbc150]

[p]Went out Camping in the Santa Fe National Forest, Jemez Ranger District a few weeks ago.[/p][p]This campground is the Santa Fe National Forest, Paliza Family Campground, located off of State Highway 290 from State Highway 4. Highway 290 turns into Forest Road 10 and Paliza Campground is a couple miles further up on FR10.[/p][p]Paliza Campground is a "Fee Area @ $8 per nite", first come/first served, No water/No Electric but does have clean toilets. Most Spaces large enough for Travel Trailers, all need to be backed into.[/p][p]3 have Shelters, with Site #13 and #15, are large enough to handle a Travel Trailer. [/p][p]Pic's here are at site #13.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Nice Forest Service Campground to stay in during the week, can get a bit crowded on weekends. There is a Camp Ground Host/quiet hours are enforced, elevation is around 7300ft.[/p][p]Campfire rings, you will need to bring firewood or check the empty camp sites. Firewood is available at the P66 Gas station on Highway 4 a few miles past the turnoff to Highway 290 if coming in from US550.[/p][p]
[/p][p][a href="http://s774.photobucket.com/user/SWBF750/media/Jemez%20Mountains%20Campouts/My%20Campsite_zpsagmtrtpn.jpg.html"]
[img style="max-width:100%;" src="http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy25/SWBF750/Jemez%20Mountains%20Campouts/My%20Campsite_zpsagmtrtpn.jpg"][/a][/p][p]
[/p][p][a href="http://s774.photobucket.com/user/SWBF750/media/Jemez%20Mountains%20Campouts/Paliza%20Campground_zpscdjovslg.jpg.html"]


[img style="max-width:100%;" src="http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy25/SWBF750/Jemez%20Mountains%20Campouts/My%20Campsite%202_zpszv168c3z.jpg"][/a][/p]

[nmken]

We ride our Rzr up there quite a bit.  Haven't been for awhile because of all the rain, but how was the ground - pretty dry or were there signs of distress from the monsoons!?

[leslie]

Nice toy hauler. Looks like you have the place all to yourself.

[swbc150]

[p]FR10 is passable to the Paliza Campground with any TV. Going further up FR10 the road may be worse. FR10 will take you to other Forest Roads in the area.[/p][p]
[/p][p]nmken, No dust anywhere, nice for a change. With all of this rain, which is continuing daily, it is really very green and at times it is very possible to drive past a turnoff along the other off-road trails.
Run off/drain off doesn't seem to be making any serious trail washouts, come on up nmken and enjoy it while it is so green.[/p][p]
[/p][p]
leslie, yes I was the only one camped in the entire campground till Thursday, then the early weekenders were beginning to come in, not many, around 5 additional campers.
Rain there every day I was there M-TH starting around 4pm then off and on showers for 3-4 hours. Each morning it rained from 2am till 5am with a steady drizzle, was really nice.
Heading back up on July 27th for another 4 dayer campout, afternoon rains are in the forecast.[/p]

[david]

How does that fireplace work? It looks like it hasn't much of a stack and the smoke could back up in to the lean to if the wind were out of the right direction. I have camped in a lot of USFS sites but have never seen that type of shelter/fireplace.

David

[aznighthiker]

Some campgrounds have the shelter but with out the fire place in Arizona, Blue Campground and Upper Pinal. Thanks for posting your trip report and pictures.

[swbc150]

[quote source="/post/13427/thread" timestamp="1437515301" author="@david"]How does that fireplace work? It looks like it hasn't much of a stack and the smoke could back up in to the lean to if the wind were out of the right direction. I have camped in a lot of USFS sites but have never seen that type of shelter/fireplace.

David[/quote][p]Works great. I've used it in all kinds of weather even windy conditions. No issues ever with it.[/p][p]When it is windy or raining it sure is nice and warm and dry inside the shelter. [/p][p]Size is about 8' wide by 12ft deep and a decent height ceiling. Plenty of space for chairs and even a portable table. I always seem lucky to grab one of the two in the trailer sites but camping during the week helps allot.[/p][p]Here is the Shelter at site #13 that I was using, shows the size better w/the atv in the Pic.[/p][p]
[/p][p][a href="http://s774.photobucket.com/user/SWBF750/media/Jemez%20Mountains%20Campouts/Size%20of%20Camp%20Shelter_zpsf2tqezq7.jpg.html"]

[gnies]

Nice! It's the first time I see a shelter with a fireplace like that too!

[swbc150]

Just got back from another return campout to the same area.
I'll post some Pics of the area next.

https://youtu.be/j3YEfcp7ATQ

[swbc150]

[p]The next two Pics were taken at the Cerro Pelado Fire Lookout Tower(10,109ft Ele) on Forest Road 270 off of FR10, Santa Fe National Forest.

1st Pic shows the Valle Caldera National Preserve in the background located along State Highway 4. The VCNP will be a US National Park soon.[/p][p]
[/p][p]2nd Pic is Sandia Peak in the Background, Albuquerque.

[a href="http://s774.photobucket.com/user/SWBF750/media/Jemez%20Mountains%20Campouts/July%2015%20Caldera%20N%20Preserve_zpsyfna6ftg.jpg.html"]

[swbc150]

A nice treat for outdoor cooking and on a campout is "Pizza on the grill".
This thin crust Pizza took only 3 minutes to cook and it was done and ready to be consumed,  umm Good.

[swbc150]

What looks Different?

[ammobob]

[quote source="/post/13875/thread" timestamp="1438468030" author="@swbc150"]What looks Different?
[a href="http://s774.photobucket.com/user/SWBF750/media/Jemez%20Mountains%20Campouts/July%2015%20whats%20different_zpsiy6peous.jpg.html"]
[img src="http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy25/SWBF750/Jemez%20Mountains%20Campouts/July%2015%20whats%20different_zpsiy6peous.jpg"][/a]
[/quote]You didn't get a site with a shelter.

[swbc150]

Nope, try again. (the Shelter is hidden in this Pic)

[leslie]

You've got Pop-up Gizmos on the tip-out bunk that weren't there in your previous picture.