Any places to camp where fires are legal?

[DOUBLE H]

Originally Posted by mortimer

That is because it is so dry that all the rain that fell this morning ( and there was a lot of it ) evaporated before it hit the ground.

The entire state of NM is now in drought status and unless there is a real nice pacific hurricane that spins out and drops a huge amount of soaking rain into an already robust monsoon season, no one should be thinking of doing campfires anywhere in the state.

That being said, there is a tremendous amount of accumulated snowpack in the central Rockies and campfires should be OK there.

Mortimer is right. In central and northwest Colorado the snow levels are 150% of normal. A few ski areas have decided to reopen for the Memorial day weekend, believe it or not. They may as well ski, because at the 9500 ft. level they won't be camping, much less having campfires. The camping areas otherwise are fine, and also the eastern plains state parks are filling up as well. The one part of Colorado that is a concern is the San Luis Valley area regarding the snow level which I've read is only 75% of normal.

[ABQConvict]

While I would advise anyone wanting to camp in New Mexico to avoid fire building due to widespread drought conditions (really at any time as they are unnecessary and scar the land), if you do, use an established fire-ring, don't build a fire where there is not obvious evidence of one having been built before, i.e. a ring of rocks, ashes, etc. Use down wood, do not rip branched from trees, even the dead lower branches. Never leave the fire unattended, even a bed of coals. Put it out thoroughly enough that you would let your child plunge their hand in the ashes.

From the National Forest website:

FIRE RESTRICTIONS

Beginning Friday, May 20 at 8:00 a.m. the Santa Fe National Forest will enter Stage 1 Fire Restrictions due to severe drought conditions and increasing fire danger. Restrictions will not apply to the Chama River Canyon Wilderness, Dome Wilderness, Pecos Wilderness and San Pedro Parks Wilderness.

First level (Stage 1) restrictions limit campfires to Forest Service designated camp and picnic grounds where grills and fire rings are provided. Click here for a map that identifies where campfires are allowed. Smoking is permitted only in vehicles or buildings, in developed recreation sites, or in areas cleared at least three feet in diameter of all flammable material. Possessing, discharging or using any kind of fire work or other pyrotechnic device is also prohibited.

Gas and propane stoves, lanterns or heating devices are permitted providing such devices meet the fire underwriter’s specifications for safety.

[TexasGabe]

I just got back from camping up in the Carson National Forest between Questa and Red River. All the campgrounds are open and campfires are allowed. I stayed at Fawn Lakes and there was a big pile of wood free for the taking at the host site. Remember that the current fire restrictions do not explicitly ban campfires, they just restrict them to designated areas. Plus, don't forget that that restriction don't even apply to the Pecos Wilderness and certain other areas of the Santa Fe National Forest.

[caydriver]

TexasGabe, I bet they do now! As of Wednesday we were getting lightning strikes and saw one fire ignited west of Roswell.