Backcountry Camps

While in the backcountry, crews will likely encounter four different kinds of camps:

Camps

Starting Camps – The first backcountry campsite for each crew is a starting camp. Rangers are the only staff in starting camps. Crews will receive ranger training and become further oriented and acclimated to Philmont.

Staffed Camps – A camp director supervises each staffed camp, and one to seven program counselors are available to present unique program features. All staffed camps have reliable water supplies and two-way radio communications with the Philmont logistics services. Commissaries, trading posts, and showers are available at some staffed camps.

Trail Camps – Trail camps have water but no staff. Here you are completely on your own. All itineraries include several trail and/or dry camps. They are part of your Philmont experience.

Dry Camps – Dry camps have no water and no staff. They are used because they provide scenic vistas, pleasant campsites, and valuable training. You may need to carry water for several miles before arriving at your dry camp. Check your itinerary to determine the closest place to get water.

Campsites

Northern Areas

  • T Anasazi – ST
  • T Baldy Skyline
  • S Baldy Town – COM,TP,SH
  • T Bent – ST
  • T Black Horse
  • T/D Black Jacks
  • T/L Campos Heck – ST
  • T Cook Canyon
  • T Copper Park
  • T Cottonwood
  • S/L Dan Beard – P
  • S Dean Cow – P,E,SH
  • T Dean Cutoff – ST
  • T/L Dean Heck – E
  • T Elkhorn – E
  • T Ewells Park
  • T Flume Canyon – E
  • S/X French Henry – P
  • S Head of Dean – P
  • T/D House Canyon – ST
  • S Indian Writings – P,E,SH
  • T Maxwell
  • T/X McBride Canyon
  • S Miranda – P
  • T New Dean
  • T Old Camp – E
  • S Ponil – P,E,COM,CAN,TP,SH
  • S Pueblano – P
  • T Pueblano Ruins
  • T Santa Claus – E
  • T Sioux – ST
  • T/X Six Mile Gate – E
  • T/D/L Slate Hill Heck – P
  • T Turkey Creek
  • T Upper Dean Cow
  • T Ute Meadows

Valle Vidal

  • T/L Beatty Lakes
  • T/L Greenwood Canyon
  • T/L Iris Park
  • T/L McCrystal Creek
  • S/L Rich Cabins – P,COM
  • S/L Ring Place – P,COM
  • S/L Seally Canyon – P
  • T/L Upper Greenwood
  • S/L Whiteman Vega – P

Central Areas

  • T Aspen Springs
  • T Cathedral Rock – ST
  • T Cimarron River – ST,E
  • S Cimarroncito – P,E,SH
  • S Clarks Fork – P,EH,SH
  • S Clear Creek – P
  • T/D Comanche Peak
  • S Cyphers Mine – P, SH
  • S Cyphers Mine – P,SH
  • T/D Deer Lake
  • T Deer Lake Mesa
  • T/D Devils Wash Basin
  • S Harlan – P
  • S Hunting Lodge – P
  • T Lamberts Mine
  • T/D Lost Gap – E
  • T Lower Sawmill
  • T Martinez Springs – E
  • T/D Mt. Phillips
  • T Ponderosa Park
  • T Red Hills
  • S Sawmill – P,SH
  • T/D Shaefers Pass – EH
  • T/D Thunder Ridge
  • T/D Tooth Ridge – EH
  • T Upper Bench
  • T Upper Clarks Fork – EH
  • T Upper Sawmill
  • S/X Ute Gulch – COM,TP
  • T Ute Springs – ST
  • T Vaca – ST
  • T Visto Grande
  • T Visto Grande
  • T Webster Lake – ST,E
  • T Webster Camp – ST
  • T/D Webster Parks

Southern Areas

  • S Abreu – P,E,CAN,SH
  • T Agua Fria
  • T Aguila
  • S Apache Springs – P,COM
  • T Backache Springs – E
  • T Bear Canyon
  • T Bear Caves
  • S Beaubien – P,SH
  • S Black Mountain – P
  • T Bonita Cow
  • T Buck Creek
  • S Carson Meadows – P
  • T Comanche Creek
  • T Crags
  • S Crater Lake – P
  • S Crooked Creek – P
  • S Fish Camp – P
  • S/X Kit Carson – P
  • T Lookout Meadow
  • T Lost Cabin
  • T Lovers Leap – ST,EH
  • T Lower Bonito
  • S Miners Park – P,EH,SH
  • T North Fork Urraca – EH
  • T Old Abreu – ST
  • T Olympia – ST
  • S/X Phillips Junction – COM,TP,SH
  • T Porcupine
  • T Rayado River – ST
  • T/D Rimrock Park – ST
  • T RMSC
  • T Stockade – EH
  • T Toothache Springs
  • S Urraca – P
  • T Wild Horse
  • S Zastrow – P,E,SH

Key

Camp Types

  • D – Dry Camp, no water near camp
  • DT – Usually dry camp, water sometimes available
  • L – Leave No Trace Camping
  • P – Program available here
  • S – Staffed camp, water nearby
  • T – Trail camp
  • X – No camping 

Facilities 

  • COM – Commissary (Food Pickup)
  • E – Ending Point, bus pickup may be from this camp
  • EH – Ending Point, bus pickup may be from this camp
  • S – Staffed camp, water nearby
  • SH – Showers available 
  • ST – Starting camp 
  • S/X – Staffed camp, no camping
  • T – Trail camp 
  • TP – Trading Post 
  • CAN – Cantina 
  • X – No camping