Camping at Caja Del Rio Area

The Sangre de Cristo mountains at sunset

Van camping near cities is often difficult. We don't want to stealth camp within city limits, so finding legal camping can be a challenge. I’m not sure if Adam heard about this camping spot from a friend or if I found it on iOverlander. Either way, camping in the Caja Del Rio area of the Santa Fe National Forest is perfect for when we visit Santa Fe, New Mexico. Not only is it close to the city, but it is free dispersed camping with amazing views of the southern end of the Sangre de Cristo Range, a chain of mountains that run from Salida, Colorado down to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

We first camped in Caja Del Rio in November of 2023. As we drove from the Georgia O’Keefe Museum to the campsite, we watched a massive cumulonimbus cloud blow up over the mountains. Once we got to the site, we watched these storm clouds move to the north and then dissipate. This happened at sunset over snow-capped peaks, so the skies just lit up. I set up my tripod and telephoto lens and started shooting.

We camped again at Caja Del Rio in May 2024. Because of the time of year, the snow on the peaks was gone. However, the late spring weather caused cumulus clouds to grow into cumulus congestus clouds threatening to unleash afternoon thunderstorms on the area. Similar to the previous November, the clouds danced their way across the Sangres from south to north.

The temperature was perfect for leaving the sliding door open, so I watched the clouds build while Adam and I made dinner in the van. I left my tripod and telephoto lens set up outside while we worked, just in case. Once I got a round of pancakes started on the griddle, I would turn to look out the door and see what the clouds were doing. If I saw a composition that looked interesting, I would go to my camera and take a few pictures.

Unfortunately, once we finished eating, the clouds petered out. There wasn't much color available at sunset, so the skies quickly turned dark and blue.

But the lack of clouds did allow for a clear shot of the waxing gibbous moon.

Cheers.