N.M. Admin. Code § 19.5.2.12

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 19.5.2.12 - [Effective 1/1/2025] CAMPING

A. Visitors may camp in parks in designated areas, provided they obtain a valid camping permit. Visitors shall obtain permits upon entry by paying appropriate fees. See 19.5.6 NMAC. Use of park properties and facilities between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., or as posted by the superintendent, is camping. Check out time, the time the campsite is to be vacated, is 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise posted; however, the camping permit allows day use of the park until 9:00 p.m. or as posted by the superintendent, on the day the camping permit expires. Camping is not available at Cerrillos Hills state park, Living Desert Zoo and Gardens state park, Rio Grande Nature Center state park, Mesilla Valley state park or Smokey Bear historical park.

B. Campers shall not leave unoccupied any type of vehicle, motorized camper, trailer, tent or other sleeping unit or facility or otherwise leave a campsite unoccupied for more than 24 hours without the superintendent's prior approval. Unoccupied means the camper is not present at the campsite for more than 24 hours.

C. Campers shall always maintain campsites in a clean and sanitary condition. Campers shall clean campsites and place litter only in appropriate disposal containers.

D. Campers in areas or parks designated and posted by the superintendent as pack-in, pack-out, shall carry out supplies and solid waste or other refuse, including human bioproducts, and properly dispose of these items in appropriate waste receptacles outside of the designated area or park.

E. From October 1 through April 30 campers may reside in a park for a maximum of 14 calendar days during any 20-calendar day period unless the director extends, decreases or waives this limit. From May 1 through September 30 campers may reside in a park for a maximum of seven calendar days during any 20-calendar day period unless the director extends, decreases or waives this limit. Campers shall completely remove camping equipment and gear from the park after reaching the maximum stay limit.

F. The division shall charge fees according to the facilities provided at each campsite, as provided in 19.5.6 NMAC, regardless of whether the camper uses the facilities at the campsite. For example, camping at a site with electricity requires payment of the fee for a developed site with electrical hookup even if the camper uses no electricity.

G. Vehicles in a park between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., or as posted by the superintendent, are individually subject to the appropriate camping fees. The division considers motor homes towing a vehicle or vehicles towing a camper a single vehicle for 19.5.2.12 NMAC's purposes.

H. The division may require visitors to pay fees for their entire stay in advance (rather than daily) for weekends, holidays or special events.

I. Anchoring a boat or vessel overnight within a park constitutes camping and requires a valid camping permit for the anchored boat or vessel unless the visitor has paid camping fees for the towing vehicle.

(1) Visitors may not leave anchored boats or vessels vacant for more than 24 hours without the superintendent's permission. From October 1 through April 30 anchored boats or vessels may remain within a park for a maximum of 14 calendar days during any 20-calendar day period unless the director extends, decreases or waives this limit. From May 1 through September 30 anchored boats or vessels may remain within a park for a maximum of seven calendar days during any 20-calendar day period unless the director extends, decreases or waives this limit. Visitors shall completely remove boats or vessels from the park after reaching the maximum stay limit.

(2) Subsection I of 19.5.2.12 NMAC does not apply to boats or vessels only while they are moored overnight at concession operated facilities such as marinas or buoy lines. Boats or vessels are subject to division camping permits and camping fees when moored overnight at any other location in the park. Time limits do not apply while boats or vessels are moored at the concession facilities.

J. Reserved campsites shall become available to other visitors if the visitor holding the reservation does not occupy the reserved site or contact the reservations contractor or the park by 4:00 p.m. the day after the scheduled arrival date. At that time the site will be available to other visitors and reservations. The visitor holding the reservation who failed to file a cancellation is not eligible for a refund.

N.M. Admin. Code § 19.5.2.12

19.5.2.12 NMAC - Rp, 19.5.2.12 NMAC, 1/1/2008; A, 1/1/2013, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXIX, Issue 09, May 15, 2018, eff. 5/15/2018, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXV, Issue 23, December 10, 2024, eff. 1/1/2025