A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

Forest Service campground

Coal Mine

Forest Service campground in Cibola National Forest and Grasslands, Cibola County, New Mexico. About 7,400 feet. 9.2 miles from Grants.

Managed by
Forest Service Cibola National Forest and Grasslands
Elevation
About 7,400 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
15 15 rv non-electric
Longest rig
45 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Cibola County

Overview

Coal Mine Campground is situated in the upper portion of the Cibola National Forest in west-central New Mexico. Visitors can enjoy hiking the Lobo Canyon Trail, as well as picnicking and scenic driving. This campground is located near the Continental Divide Trail as well as Mt. Taylor.

Recreation

The Lobo Canyon Trail begins in the campground and leads hikers access a network of trails in the area. Some trails are still under constuction.

Visitors also enjoy picnicking in the surrounding area.

Facilities

The campground offers more than a dozen sites for tent or RV camping. Each site can accommodate up to 10 people. Utility hookups are not available. Parking spurs are paved.

Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets are provided. Drinking water is not available in the campground; visitors must bring their own supply.

Natural Features

The campground is located northeast of the town of Grants at an elevation of 7,400 feet. It lies on the top of a hill, with campsites situated on gently sloping ground. A forest of mature pine, juniper and oak trees surrounds the campground.

Nearby Attractions

The El Malpais National Monument and Conservation Area can be accessed from various points within a short drive of the campground. Its extensive, ancient lava flow landscape and other scenic features draw tourists year-round.

Points of interest within the monument and conservation area include the Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center, Sandstone Bluffs Overlook and La Ventana Natural Arch. A portion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail parallels the Zuni-Acoma Trail as it passes through the monument.

The city of Grants is about 12 miles from the campground, offering dining and lodging options. The city also boasts a mining museum with gem and mineral displays and a self-guided tour into an underground world.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • camping
  • hiking
  • scenic drive

The land around Coal Mine

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.