Carson National Forest Camping

Columbine Campground is on NM 38, the road between the towns of Questa and Red River. There are a number of USFS campgrounds on this road, Columbine is one of the more popular places.

There are a mix of reservable and first come first serve sites. We recommend reserving if you're set on staying there. There are two loops. The lower loop has sites that are paved, not very level and without overhanging trees. The upper loop has a mix of sites that are treed and generally level. We've mostly stayed on the lower level.

Columbine is all dry camping with no hookups. There are shared water spigots and vault toilets. Columbine Creek runs through the campground. Cell service from Verizon is excellent.

Both Columbine Creek and the Red River are fishable. The Red is a put and take fishery above Questa with rainbow and brown trout. Columbine harbors Rio Grande Cutthroats in its upper reaches. These fish are rare, stunningly beautiful and subject to special trout water regulations: fly or lure with single barbless hook and catch-and-release only. The lower reaches are brown and rainbow trout only with no special regulations.

Hiking is easy from Columbine. The trail follows the creek for several miles and ends up in wilderness. It's possible to hike to various high country locations from the campground. Backpacking is popular in those areas.

Red River and Questa are, of course, the nearest towns. Red River is both a summer and winter destination and is very much geared to tourists. There are a number of good, very casual, restaurants. Questa is a sleepy town but it does have a supermarket and a good hardware store. Dumping is available for a fee at the RV park in Questa.