Nestled on the east side of the Organ Mountains is the Aguirre Springs Campground. It lies within the Organ Mountain Wilderness and the Desert Peaks National Monument. At an elevation of 5,000 feet, this campground is a cool relief from the hot desert summers.

Staying at the Aguirre Springs Campground involves paying a fee at one of the self-pay stations and choosing one of the 55 first-come, first-served spots. No electrical hookups are available, and the road to get to the campground is only recommended for vehicles 23 feet or less.

Once at the campground, there are a variety of activities you can do:

• Hiking
• Wildlife viewing
• Birding
• Stargazing

The beauty of this campground can’t be overstated. Dramatic mountains shaped like the pipes of an organ curve around the great Chihuahuan Desert. And below, the Tularosa Basin is sprawled out dramatically.

Ready to camp here? This article will go over everything you need to know about staying at the Aguirre Spring Campground!

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How To Stay At Aguirre Springs Campground

To stay at this beautiful campground in the Organ Mountains Wilderness, all you need is cash, check, or a tap-to-pay device (and a sense of adventure!).

Before we start, if you’d rather try your luck with dispersed camping, we have a fantastic article that is a beginner’s guide to dispersed camping. Check it out for tips!

Step 1: Get To The Campground

The Aguirre Springs Campground has two loops: Loop A and Loop B. A total of 55 sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. These sites are not reservable.

The beginning of Aguirre Springs Road is located right off U.S. HWY 70. From here, it’s a:

• 1.7-mile drive to the camp host and water station.
• 3.9-mile drive to the start of the one-way road.
• 5.8-mile drive to Loop A
• 6.1-mile drive to Loop B

As mentioned before, vehicles over 23 feet will not be able to make the turns and bends of this road. That said, the entire road is paved and in fairly good condition. Any vehicle of the proper length can make it up the road (winter conditions may vary).

A gate is present just after the camp host and water station area. It closes at night, and there is no re-entry after it closes. The times change depending on the time of year:

• April through September: 7 am to 8 pm
• October through March: 8 am to 6 pm

Step 2: Choose A Spot

Once you arrive at the campground area, it’s time to find the perfect spot! Sites are spread out between three main areas:

• Baylor Canyon Trailhead: There are two sites available at the Baylor Canyon Trailhead.
• Loop A: Sites 3-32 are located in Loop A.
• Loop B: Sites 33-55 are located in Loop B.

Depending on your setup, some sites are better than others in terms of levelness. Each campground loop has pit toilets, and each site has a covered shelter with a picnic table, a fire ring, a tent pad, and a grill.

You can view a map of all the different sites on the Bureau of Land Management website.

Important Note: The road to the campground is one-way. If you’re not sure where you want to park, park in Loop A and walk to Loop B. If you drive to Loop B and decide you want to go back to Loop A, you’ll have to drive all the way around again! (A 7.5-mile drive)

Step 3: Pay The Fee

After parking in the perfect camp spot, head over to one of the three pay stations to pay the fee for the number of nights you plan to stay.

Fee stations are located in three areas:

1. Baylor Pass Trailhead
2. Loop A
3. Loop B

It is $7 per vehicle per night to stay at the Aguirre Springs Campground. Accepted forms of payment include cash, check, or a tap-to-pay device.

Once paid, you will receive a small ticket with the loop, campsite number chosen, and the length of stay. This may be needed to show rangers proof of purchase if they inquire.

Step 4: Enjoy Your Stay & Respect The Rules

All that’s left to do is to enjoy your stay in this beautiful wilderness area. In the next section, I’ll go over some exciting activities you can enjoy during your stay. But for now, let’s go over some of the typical camp rules for Aguirre Spring.

• Pets: Leashed pets are allowed at all sites in the campground.
• Vehicle limit: Vehicles over 23 feet will not be able to navigate the narrow, winding road.
• Trash: Bear-proof trash cans are available on-site.
• Firewood: Cutting or gathering of wood is not permitted. Bring all the firewood you need with you.
• Quiet hours: 10 pm to 6 am.
• Whiz-bangs: No fireworks or discharging of firearms is permitted.
• Confetti: Not permitted. (Unofficial rule)

Funny story about the confetti. We spoke to the ranger who patrols the campground, and he recommended we stay away from the area around Easter if we want any peace and quiet. Apparently, so many people were celebrating and throwing around confetti that they had to ban it! It took them forever to clean it up!

8 Things To Do While Camping At Aguirre Spring Campground

While just kicking back at the campsite is an enjoyable experience, there’s so much to see and do in the Organ Mountain Wilderness area. One of the main attractions is hiking, as there are two trails very close to the campgrounds that provide outstanding views.

1. Hike The Pine Tree Trail

The Pine Tree Trail is a 4.5-mile hard-packed loop trail with a little over 1,000 feet in elevation gain. The trail is easy to follow with a few signs throughout the loop to point you in the right direction.

• Trailhead (Click for Google Maps): Between Loop A and Loop B
• Length: 4.56 Miles
• Elevation: 1,032 feet
• Pets allowed: Yes

It took us about 2 hours to complete this hike with our trusty furry sidekick, Pawdrick. The views were beautiful and well worth the elevation gain!

You can check out a map of the trail here!

2. Hike The Baylor Canyon Trail

If you’re looking for a more challenging trail, check out Baylor Canyon. This trail starts a little before Loop A and traverses from the east side of the Organ Mountains to the west via Baylor Pass.

Most people park vehicles at either end of the trail or arrange a pickup. If you hike out and back, the trail is over 10 miles long.

But boy howdy are the views worth it! Baylor Pass offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the Tularosa Basin. A sturdy pair of trekking poles is a game-changer for this elevation-gaining trail. We like the REI Co-op Trailmade Trekking Poles. They’re light enough to carry but sturdy enough to handle the trail.

• Trailhead (East Side): Starts a little before Loop A
• Length: One-Way 5.4 miles. Out and back: 10.9 miles.
• Elevation: 2,380 feet
• Pets allowed: Yes, but be aware of rocky conditions and consider paw protection.

Another popular way to enjoy this trail is to hike to Baylor Pass and turn around. This involves a 4.2-mile, 823-foot elevation gain hike to Baylor Pass before returning to the Aguirre Springs Campground.

Check out a map of the Baylor Canyon Trail here.

3. Summit Baylor Peak

At the Aguirre Springs Campground, you are surrounded by mountains. Why not summit one while you’re camping?

The only mountain that can be summited from the east side is Baylor Peak. And it’s a doozy! But once you reach the top, it’s all worth it for otherworldly 360-degree views.

• Trailhead: The same trailhead for Baylor Canyon.
• Length: 5.70 Miles
• Elevation: 1,960 feet
• Pets allowed: Yes, but caution is recommended due to scree and steep elevation climbs. Only athletic hiking dogs should attempt this hike. Consider a pair of booties to protect your dog’s paws from the sharp rocks.

Once you reach Baylor Pass, the trail is all uphill with steep climbs and loose rocks. There are a few different paths carved out by hikers, but all lead to the same place. It took us 3.5 hours to complete the trail.

Check out our day hiking gear list to ensure you have everything you need to conquer this peak!

4. See The Sights

There’s no lack of beautiful sights to see near the Aguirre Springs Campground. The campground sits at around 5,000 feet in elevation, so not only can you see the surrounding Organ Mountains, but the Tularosa Basin is also sprawled out below, offering unparalleled views.

• Organ Mountains: The most prominent peaks near the campground are the Rabbit Ears, which stand out as jagged peaks against the sky. You can spot Baylor Peak and the dip that indicates Baylor Pass. Because the mountains are west of the campground, sunsets are particularly stunning.
• Tularosa Basin: The basin below the campground includes White Sands National Park, which looks like a strange, alien-like landscape with all of its white gypsum sand.
• Plant Species: Alligator juniper, gray oak, mountain mahogany, yucca, agave, creosote bushes, ponderosa pine, and sotol are just some of the plant and tree species you may encounter. Some of which are not found on the desert floor.

5. Spot Some Wildlife

While hiking and camping at Aguirre Springs Campground, you may spot some high mountain and desert critters that call this area home. To keep wildlife wild, it’s important never to feed animals, no matter how cute they are.

Here are some animals you may spot in the area:

• Desert mule deer
• Colorado chipmunk (rare)
• Coyotes
• Rock squirrels
• Foxes
• Mountain lion (rare)
• Bobcat (rare)
• Jackrabbit
• Ringtials
• Piccory (wild pig)
• Rattlesnakes

If you’re concerned about encountering wildlife in the area, head over to our article on what to do if you see a wild animal for tips on how to handle the situation.

6. Spot Some Birds

If you’re 35 or older, chances are you’re into birds. No one knows why we’re fascinated with birds, but we are, and there’s no shortage of interesting feathered friends near the Aguirre Springs Campground.

Here are some interesting avian species you might spot in the Organ Mountains Wilderness:

• Red-tailed Hawk
• Scaled Quail
• Cooper’s Hawk
• American Kestrel
• Canyon Wren
• Peregrine Falcon
• Scott’s Oriole
• Black-chinned Sparrow
• Hummingbirds

Remember to bring your binoculars to spot these winged beauties while exploring the area! 

7. Stargaze

At such a high elevation, the Aguirre Spring Campground is the perfect place to do some stargazing. Light pollution is minimal, and the towering Organ Mountains block the lights of nearby Las Cruces.

Stargazing can be done anywhere, even right from your campsite! However, there are some areas that are better than others for viewing the beautiful, unobstructed night sky.

• Loop A: Loop A is at a slightly higher elevation than Loop B (5,700 versus 5,500). This 200-foot elevation gain offers better views of the sky.
• Group day-use area: While this area is only for day use, you can walk to it in the evenings to stargaze. The group sites are more open, offering views of the sky that are unobstructed by pines and junipers.

8. Camp

This may seem like an obvious one, but if you’re only intending to go to Aguirre Springs during the day, consider staying a day or two in the campground. The fee is cheap, the views are beautiful, and the elevation means cooler temperatures in the sweltering summer.

With 55 sites available, it’s fairly easy to find a comfortable spot to call your own for a few nights. Camping also allows you to hike the trails, spot some wildlife, and immerse yourself in nature.

Aguirre Springs Campground: Wrap-Up Session

Whether you’re traveling the country or a New Mexico local, Aguirre Springs Campground is definitely a worthwhile visit, even if it’s just for a day. The views are unparalleled, and the hiking trails are superb.

To recap, if you want to stay at Aguirre Springs, here’s how to do it:

1. Get to the campground: The beginning of the road is located right off Highway 70.
2. Choose a spot: Pick from one of 55 sites at three different locations.
3. Pay via cash, check, or tap-to-pay device: Three pay stations are available in the area.
4. Enjoy your stay & respect the rules: Be considerate and leave your campsite better than you found it.

Once you settle in, there are plenty of things to do, such as hiking, wildlife viewing, birding, and stargazing. Remember that collecting downed firewood is not permitted, so bring all the firewood you’ll need for your stay.

Until next time, give your furbag an extra pet from us and keep exploring this beautiful world! For more travel-based articles like this, check out the Dirtbags with Furbags blog!