Carrizozo, NM - Valley of Fires State Park

Valley of Fires Nature Trail

View across lava flow from campsite #11

Lava Flow

We took another trip this week, this time we headed south to the small town of Carrizozo and the Valley of Fires State Monument and then planned some day trips to Alamogordo & the White Sands National Monument, the town of Lincoln and Ruidoso.

So, first stop - Carrizozo, NM and the Valley of Fires. This lava flow is one of the youngest flows in the Continental US taking place about 1500 to 5000 years ago. This flow, however, didn't come from a volcano - the lava was extruded by vents in the earth and flowed south down the valley. The flow varies from 2 to 5 miles wide and 44 miles long and in places it is 165 ft thick.

The campground there at the park is now managed by the BLM. It is a really nice campground, 25 sites and a really nice bathhouse. Sites 2-13 & 15 have electric/water hook-ups, #1, 14, 16-19 do not have hook-ups and 20-25 are for tents only. All sites have covered picnic tables, BBQ grill and fire pit (although in that area that seems risky!!). The tent sites are situated right up against the lava flow and are very private, the developed sites are up on the ridge and offer amazing 360 degree views of the lava flow and surrounding mountains. We were in site 11 and the cost was $18/nite.

Camper from Nature Trail

Developed Sites of Valley of Fires Campground

The amazing thing we've noticed about the campgrounds here in NM is the quality of the sites - most of the ones we've been to in Washington & Oregon have been very cramped; sites are just crammed as close as can be with little privacy. There are, of course exceptions, but really that's the norm. Here - the sites are notably spaced well-apart, while privacy is still questionable at some site due to lack of vegetation - simply not being in your neighbor's camp is wonderful. Again, there are exceptions but so far I'd say 95% of the campgrounds we've visited have been nicely spaced and well-maintained.