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

Forest Service group campground

Slide Group Area

Forest Service group campground in Lincoln National Forest, Otero County, New Mexico. 9,201 feet. 10.6 miles from Alamogordo.

Managed by
Forest Service Lincoln National Forest
Elevation
9,201 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
1 1 group standard non-electric
Longest rig
35 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Otero County

Overview

Just two miles from the village of Cloudcroft is this idyllic campground accommodating groups up to 90 visitors. Take advantage of the views of the Tularosa Basin or bask in the sun on the wildflower-dusted mountain meadow. A network of trails surround the campground, where you can look for deer, elk, and many types of birds. The region is part of the 1.1 million acres of Lincoln National Forest, where the original Smokey Bear was rescued as a cub from a forest fire. There's no shortage of beauty in the area, with expansive blue skies, clear nights for stargazing, and hikes to several peaks and overlooks. Attractions in the vicinity include White Sands National Monument, the Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, and the Sunspot Museum - home to the national solar observatory.

Recreation

Slide Group Area backs into the Rim Trail, offering epic views, rocky hills, and switchbacks. Head north on the trail for mountain biking, hiking, and horse-back riding. Head south for the part of the trail that allows motorcycles. An open meadow, perfect for sports like volleyball, corn hole, or football, is connected to the campsite.

Facilities

The picturesque overlook and convenient road access are unique, convenient features of this group site. Parking can accommodate approximately 12 trailers or 50 automobiles.

Natural Features

The campground is located on the rim of the Sacramento Mountains with a view of the Tularosa Basin. Mixed evergreen and aspens surround the 9,000 ft. elevation site.

Nearby Attractions

Drive along the Sunspot Scenic Byway to catch phenomenal views of the Tularosa Basin, White Sands National Monument, and colorful desert sunsets. Cloudcroft, a quaint mountain village nearby, is also worth a visit.

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

What people do here

  • camping

The land around Slide Group Area

The ringed pin is this group 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 March 11, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.