Cedro Peak - 542DC4 | Wild Camping

March 8th, 2024 by fairtechnician82

We always stay here when traveling through the area. Easy to get to, roads aren't too bumpy, some ruts but easy to get through with 4x4, saw some 2wd cars make their way through the area too. Nice trees surrounding the spot for privacy. Full AT&T service. When you're headed out make sure to stop by Roots Farm Cafe and grab a breakfast burrito and coffee for the road.

February 16th, 2024 by mrohloff95

closed. they put rocks so you cannot go by car. motorcycle should fit.

August 17th, 2023 by daninja117

Definitely bumpy and rough on the way in.. came in late but still found a spot. full AT&T bars

June 30th, 2023 by cargilejeff

There is an RV/camper abandoned or permanently parked in this site. We ended up setting up camp in the small pull off about 100’ North of this location. Good flat tent sites. Had no trouble getting there (going CCW) in my stock 2010 2WD CRV, dry conditions.

May 4th, 2023 by cinskeep85

Tight spot off the exit trail to the 542DC4 sites. I backed my Tacoma/GFC setup in and it was perfect. You could probably fit a full size in but not much bigger. There’s a fire pit and level surface for the camper!

April 12th, 2022 by zippididou

We got to a few spot before this one: all busy. So we went in this rough road and found a lot of sites. We didn’t very far because of the tricky road and we are in a 2 WD. We wouldn’t come here in wet conditions. Very quiet. No body else in this area. Fire pit but couldn’t make a fire because of the windy conditions. The ranger went by and waved at us.

November 9th, 2021 by Kevin Stotz

this is a large area with many sites to pick from. not big rig friendly. a bit rough, but not bad. go slow and you will find a spot to your liking.
the views are only great in a few sites, the rest are in the trees. but still good.

October 24th, 2021 by tinonw01

Route up is rutted but I was able to make it up with my AWD Subaru Impreza. There’s another group up here with a FWD sedan. The place is nice, fire pits are spread out well so you get a lot of space. Google Maps took me to the right place.

July 14th, 2021 by flinnch

Lots of spaces to pull over for the night. I didn't see anyone but I could hear some campers nearby. Beautiful sunrise.

June 19th, 2021 by R Thompson

This is one of the few places near Albuquerque you can dispersed camp, and most of the developed campgrounds are commercial so it's pretty popular in the summer (I used to live nearby). When I was there it was the tail end of a heat wave so everyone was seeking higher elevation. This is at 7,400 ft so relatively cool even if it's over 100 in Albuquerque.

The various spots are pretty close together. I was there on a Saturday night and as expected there were a lot of people close by partying so I ended up camping down the road to the west about 200 yards, which was super quiet and had a good view. Verizon was 3 bars with good internet.

April 14th, 2021 by fotgrid

Stayed here a few nights! Road was a little rough and washed out from people driving through when it's muddy. Nice open spots once you get back into them. We made it in our 170 extended Sprinter relatively easily (without 4WD/4x4). Took it slow and scouted the road before driving down it.

April 11th, 2021 by busbusbus

After getting shutdown at a few other spots, we tried to get here but were shutdown again by the rough road. We're in a 2wd 22ft shuttle bus and have decent clearance, but arrived in the dark and didn't feel confident we could make it down the road into these sites. A lot of deep ruts and high banks about 50ft in. The road down to DC3 looked bad too with some big rocks. Seems like someone came through when it was really wet and dug some deep ruts over the winter.

March 29th, 2021 by ahlenius

There is a maze of tight trails in and amongst the pinyon trees. We are a short way off the road in a nice little spot. Would not take something not 4x4 in further because of mud, rocks, and overhanging trees.

Snowed in the last day, some still around.

December 30th, 2020 by michaelwhite1029

Great spot in the trees. full Verizon LTE signal which was surprising. Very cold up here! If you go about 1/2 mile past this campground, there is another with slightly better views but less wind protection. also past this campground heading west, the road gets a lot trickier, so 4x4 only and keep an eye out for the other campground on the left.

November 12th, 2020 by whitneybeck80

Nice Forrest biscuit close to Albuquerque, but quite and hidden. Lots of different pull outs for camping options, had a few neighbors but out of sight behind trees. Fire rings, bit of a rough road, but we did see an RV make it.

August 31st, 2020 by 4runnerwde

Quiet getaway from the city. Road can be slick after a good rain, so use a tad bit of caution.

July 18th, 2020 by timothy.pat.ryan

Dusty ground campsites. Fire rings are there, but fires are currently banned in the National Forest, so they’re roped off. We had an old 4x4 Sierra, Wrangler, and a newer Forester. Saw an old 1960s car up there too, so it’s not too bad. The developed sites are gated and closed.

June 17th, 2020 by mhonan

There are several rough campsites back in here with fire pits, and boulders arranged for nice lounging area. Overall lovely little campsites, with no mosquitoes or many other bugs to speak of so we slept in the open air. We were here in June so no burn permits. There were two other groups camping back in the area , one in DC3 and another in DC4 but we never saw them except on the way in. No water, no toilets (but some pit toilets down the hill at the dispersed camping parking area) so come prepared. Road is no joke. I would not want to drive up here in anything low to the ground. Also there was a large coyote trotting between sites so if you have a dog, keep them on leash! 

March 14th, 2020 by vaughncb

The gate to both entrances is locked

August 13th, 2019 by mabertozzi

Fantastic campsites! Not that bad of a road when dry. I don’t know how many spots there are, we chose the second one but it was beautiful and secluded, would definitely come back! Great Verizon LTE, full bars but slower AT&T.

March 30th, 2019 by Pedalnomad

Really nice campground with no amenities besides fire rings. There are some trees that help if its windy. I camped here a few nights while Mountain biking the area. Small rigs only, No clearance for RV's. Please pack out your trash.

June 7th, 2018 by thisbigroadtrip.com

This area seems to have just been cleared of overgrown in a few areas. It is a loop, kind of, that contains a number of wild camp sites and a couple of iron fire pits. Quite nice, tucked in the tree. Very quiet and completely empty when we walked through. Decent ATT service, poor-ish Verizon despite claiming full LTE.

Look for the 542DC4 signs (service road 542 dispersed camping 4 I guess)