USDA Forest Service · New Mexico
Cowles
USDA Forest Service · New Mexico, United States
- Cost
- Overnight Use: Single Site: $6 per vehicle per night Day Use: $6 per vehicle per day
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 8,255 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- NFSR 121A · native material · high clearance vehicles
- Nearest town
- Village of Pecos
Season dates aren't confirmed for this campground yet - opening and closing dates haven't been verified. Check the operator's page or call ahead before you plan a trip.
Site map
The imagery of the campground. Press and hold the map to drop your own pins and notes; the operator publishes no site points here. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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About
US Forest Service campground. Cowles Campground sits at thebase of the Winsor Canyon where it meets the Pecos Canyon and is in walking distance of Cowles Ponds, Winsor Creek, Pecos River, and Winsor Ridge Trailhead. Uses: tent camping, picnicking, fishing, and hiking. Facilities:1 vault toilet,9 camping units withtables, fire rings,and grills, 2 covered three-sided shelters with fire places, andtrash bins. No potable water, utility hook-ups, dumpstations or showers. Special Instructions: Users are encouraged to recycle and pack out trash. Not reservable through Recreation.gov, so plan on first-come, first-served; check with the ranger district for current conditions and fees.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38° | 20° | -10° | 54° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 41° | 22° | -3° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 46° | 26° | 11° | 70° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 55° | 33° | 18° | 68° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 64° | 43° | 29° | 76° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 76° | 54° | 42° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 79° | 56° | 50° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 76° | 55° | 48° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 71° | 51° | 33° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 62° | 40° | 27° | 72° | 3 of 10 |
| November | 51° | 33° | 2° | 65° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 42° | 23° | 4° | 58° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Trails nearby
- Winsor Ridge Trailhead · 0.2 mi as the crow flies
Winsor 24 mi Hike, Winsor Ridge 7.1 mi Hike, Cowles Pond 0.2 mi Hike · Drive there - Winsor Trailhead and Winsor Creek Fishing Area · 0.9 mi as the crow flies
Winsor 24 mi Hike · Drive there - Panchuela Trailhead · 1.3 mi as the crow flies
Winsor Ridge 7.1 mi Hike, Cave Creek 3.9 mi Hike, Pecos River 1.5 mi Hike · Drive there - Jacks Creek Trailhead · 1.6 mi as the crow flies
Beattys 14 mi Hike, Hamilton Mesa 12 mi Hike, Pecos River 1.5 mi Hike · Drive there - Iron Gate Trailhead · 3.1 mi as the crow flies
Hamilton Mesa 12 mi Hike · Drive there
All 227 trails in Santa Fe National Forest
Trailheads the Park Service and the Forest Service map, within 10 miles as the crow flies; each trail's page has its length, climbing and the Service's description.
Nearby campgrounds
- Panchuela · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 6 sites
- Jacks Creek Group Area · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 2 sites
- Iron Gate · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- Holy Ghost Group Area · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 1 sites
- Holy Ghost · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
All public campgrounds in New Mexico · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-06. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.