Getting Oriented
Valle Vidal sits on the Questa Ranger District of Carson National Forest, a 101,794-acre basin in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains between Costilla and Cimarron, New Mexico. The land was part of the Maxwell Land Grant before it became a private hunting preserve; the Vermejo Park Corporation, then owned by Pennzoil, donated it to the public in 1982. In 2006, Congress barred mineral leasing in the unit after a company sought coalbed methane rights, closing off oil and gas development for good.
The forest manages Valle Vidal primarily for wildlife. Elevations run from 7,700 feet at the low end to 12,554 feet on Little Costilla Mountain, and the basin holds an elk herd estimated at 2,000 to 2,500 head along with mule deer, black bear, mountain lion, Merriam's turkey, and Rio Grande cutthroat trout in its streams and ponds.
Trail Overview
Forest Road 1950 crosses the unit from west to east, connecting the Costilla access on New Mexico 196 to the Cimarron access off US 64. The road is graded gravel, wide enough for two-way traffic and passable in a stock high-clearance vehicle when dry. It is not maintained during wet weather and can require 4WD after rain or snow. Two spurs branch off the main route: Forest Road 1900 crosses Costilla Creek, and Forest Road 1910 climbs about a mile to Cimarron Campground.
Points of Interest
- Shuree Ponds: a day-use fishing area near Cimarron Campground with two ponds; the smaller pond is set aside for anglers 12 and under, and the larger one is stocked with rainbow trout and popular for float tubing.
- Comanche Creek and the Rio Pueblo: home water for Rio Grande cutthroat trout, managed under special tackle and season restrictions.
- Ring Place Ranch: a historic ranch site across the road from McCrystal Campground.
- Little Costilla Mountain: at 12,554 feet, the highest point in the unit, rising above treeline on the west side of the basin.
- A scenic overlook along FR 1950 between Comanche Point and Shuree Ponds gives a clear view of the Wheeler Peak group to the south.
Where to Camp
Cimarron Campground sits at 9,300 feet among spruce, aspen, and fir, reached by a one-mile climb up Forest Road 1910. It has 32 sites, including 11 horse sites and 2 double sites, with vault toilets and a camp host on site; potable water is not currently available. The campground runs mid-spring through fall, with fees charged mid-May through mid-October.
McCrystal Campground sits at 8,100 feet in ponderosa forest across from Ring Place Ranch, about 36 miles northwest of Cimarron via US 64 and FR 1950. It has 55 sites for tents and trailers plus 6 horse-camper sites, vault toilets, and no potable water; McCrystal Creek is not recommended for drinking. It runs the same mid-spring-to-fall season and sits inside the eastside winter closure area.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Check the closure calendar before you plan a trip. Per the Carson National Forest's Valle Vidal Annual Closures notice, the east side of the unit, including Cimarron Campground, McCrystal Campground, and Shuree Ponds, closes January 1 and reopens April 1 to protect wintering elk. The west side then closes May 1 and reopens July 1 to protect elk during calving season. Forest Roads 1900, 1910, and 1950 stay open to through traffic during both closures, but stopping, camping, or leaving the road inside the closed area is not allowed.
- Dispersed camping is prohibited within a half mile of any forest road and within 100 yards of natural water or 300 yards of constructed water, under a standing forest order. Cimarron and McCrystal campgrounds are the exceptions.
- Fishing requires a New Mexico fishing license and Habitat Improvement Stamp. Comanche Creek's Rio Grande cutthroat water is catch-and-release, artificial fly or lure with a single barbless hook, and closed to fishing outside July 1 through December 31.
- Valle Vidal is managed in part for its elk herd, and the Forest Service and New Mexico Department of Game and Fish set special hunting seasons and bag limits for the unit. Expect more traffic on FR 1950 during the state's fall elk draw hunts, and check current Game and Fish rules before planning a trip.
- Neither campground currently has potable water. Carry what you need, and don't count on McCrystal Creek.
- There is no fuel, food, or cell service inside the unit. Fill up in Costilla, Questa, or Cimarron before heading in.
- The gravel surface floods and ruts in wet weather. Check the forest's current conditions page before a trip, especially in spring or after summer thunderstorms.
Fuel and Water
No fuel, food, or potable water is sold inside Valle Vidal. Fuel up in Costilla or Questa before the west access, or in Cimarron before the east access. Both Cimarron and McCrystal campgrounds currently have no potable water system in service; McCrystal Creek is not recommended for drinking. Carry all the water a trip requires.
Nearby
- Vermejo Park Ranch borders Valle Vidal's west side, a 500,000-acre former Ted Turner property now used for guided hunting and fishing.
- Cimarron Canyon State Park lies along US 64 near the east access, with the Palisades Sill rock formation and the Cimarron River.
- Eagle Nest Lake State Park sits a short drive south of the east access via US 64.
- Red River and the Enchanted Circle scenic byway loop through the mountains west of the unit.
- Wheeler Peak, New Mexico's highest point, is visible from a scenic overlook along FR 1950.
