r/NewMexico • u/madi_clare • 1d ago
Camping mid March
I’ve been to NM in April, mostly southern areas though. I’m looking to camp either Santa Fe National forest or Gila area around mid March. I’m fine with cold, but is there usually snow? I don’t have a 4x4 vehicle which is my biggest concern. I was really looking forward to Columbine campground specifically but saw some pretty snowy pics from someone who stayed early march. Any advice?
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u/fir_meit 22h ago
You might want to reconsider. People will warn you it's windy in Spring, but it's hard to know what exactly they're trying to convey unless you've experienced it. Here windy means sustained high winds anywhere from 15-30mph, with gusts that could be 40-50mph. The winds might be nonstop for 24-48 hours, or it could be every day from midday to mid evening for a week straight. Then a small break, then more wind. You could be lucky and be here for non windy days, but if you aren't it'll be a miserable camping trip.
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u/crittyhopper 1d ago
Camping pretty much anywhere in the Santa Fe NF mid March will be very cold at night, consider it winter camping. High elevation areas, which is most of it, will probably have snow. Columbine campground is in Carson NF and is closed for the winter per the USFS site, probably won't open until May I'd guess, like most of the campgrounds in the area. You'd be much better off aiming at the Gila, which will also be cold at night and may have some snow depending, but will be far more doable.
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u/Von_Bernkastel 1d ago
Never trust New Mexico weather it has a bi-polar problem in the winter time.
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u/Charlie_52020 21h ago
I’m a avid camper in the northern NM area. Even early June will be chilly (at night) in some areas. Consider mid June- august
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u/allflour 1d ago
Down south (silver), we occasionally get a weird light March snow, but it’s not predictable.
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u/Remarkable_Home_5554 17h ago
I have lived in Northern New Mexico for nearly 50 years. I disagree about the winds being bad in mid-March. March tends to be pleasant until towards the vert end of the month, when the winds start to increase in speed and frequency in preparation for April, which is the worst month for winds. However, keep in mind that NM often get some of the best snows of the season in March. It is windy in Northern New Mexico any time of year but April is when Arizona tries to blow NM into Texas. I always advise my friends not to visit NM April to mid-May.
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u/Spoonbills 1d ago
Mid-March is gritty windy and cold up near SFe.