Tuesday – April 21, 2015
Aquirre Springs Campground
Las Cruces, New Mexico
We departed Katchner Caverns State Park, near Benson, Arizona, at 11:00 a.m. We arrived at the Aguirre Springs Campground, a BLM campground near Las Cruces, at 3:15 p.m.
We will spend a few days exploring Las Cruces while sampling a couple of New Mexico’s world famous "green chile cheeseburger" restaurants.
The Aguirre Springs Campground is the only high-country campground in the Las Cruces area. The campground has 28 campsites. Each campsite has a ramada with a picnic table and barbecue grill. There is no water, electric or dump station. There is a fresh water spigot at the camp host site (about 4 miles from the campground). There are two vault toilets. The road into the campground is paved. The campsites are gravel. What the campground lacks in amenities more than makes up for that with its scenic beauty.
The high wall, needle-like spires of the Organ Mountains curve dramatically around a semicircle of Chihuahuan Desert habitat at the Aguirre Springs Campground. The campground, nestled at the base of spectacular cliffs, overlooks the Tularosa Basin and White Sands National Monument. Alligator juniper, gray oak, mountain mahogany and sotol are a few of the abundant plant species here.
The Aguirre Springs Campground is located on the east side of Organ Mountains, east of Las Cruces in Dona Ana County. Take U.S. Highway 70 for 14 miles east of the I-25/U.S. 70 interchange in Las Cruces, then turn south on the Aguirre Springs Road. It is 6 miles to the campground on a steep, winding road. At mile 4 the road becomes a one-way loop and climbs steeply. There is a sign posted at the entrance to Aguirre Springs Road stating: "Not Recommended For Trailers Over 23 Feet Long." We were 34 feet in length (17 feet for the tow vehicle and 17 feet for the trailer) and we had no problem managing the tight curves on the road and finding a suitable campsite.
Camping Fee: $7:00 per night ($3.50 with Golden Age Pass)
Campsite: 18
Total miles traveled today: 262
Route Traveled:
North on Arizona Highway 90
East on Interstate 10 into New Mexico
East on U.S. Highway 70
South on Aquirre Springs Road to Campground
Tomorrow another adventure begins.
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