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A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

Bureau of Land Management camping area

Diablo Canyon Recreation Area

Bureau of Land Management camping area, Santa Fe County, New Mexico. 13.2 miles from Santa Fe.

Managed by
Bureau of Land Management
Reservations
Not reservable Usually first come, first served. Confirm with the office
Stay limit
14 Days
County
Santa Fe County

The dramatic vertical cliffs of Diablo Canyon Recreation Area are a hiking and climbing destination located near the Río Grande. The eastern cliff walls are on BLM-managed land. The cracked basalt of Diablo Canyon offers some of the best multi-pitch traditional and sport climbing in New Mexico. Over one hundred routes range from 5.8 to 5.13 in difficulty. Winter Wall and the Solar Cave are located on the east side of the canyon. The western cliff walls and canyon trail are managed by the US Forest Service (USFS). The canyon trail (wash) is approximately 7.5 miles out and back and ends at the Río Grande. The canyon does get very warm and offers little shade so plan accordingly. The trail/wash may become impassable during inclement weather and after heavy rains. If there is flowing water stay off the trail/out of the canyon. Diablo Canyon has been featured in movies such as The Missing, 3:10 to Yuma, and Cowboys and Aliens.

The description, directions and fees are the Bureau of Land Management’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • bouldering
  • canyoneering
  • dispersed camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • photography
  • rock climbing
  • stargazing
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Diablo Canyon Recreation Area

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

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.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated June 4, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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