U.S. Forest Service - Carson National Forest

05/22/2026

A new forest thinning unit near San Cristobal is now underway!

Carson National Forest and the State of New Mexico broke ground May 19 on a 374-acre thinning unit between Gallina Canyon and D.H. Lawrence Ranch. An Albuquerque-based contractor hired by the New Mexico Forestry Division is currently thinning the unit, which mostly consists of piñon-juniper tree stands.

The work is part of the Kiowa-San Cristobal Wildland Urban Interface Project, where thinning and prescribed fire has been ongoing for several years to reduce the threat of wildfire to neighboring communities. Other project work planned for this summer includes sagebrush mastication for grassland expansion to the south of San Cristobal and thinning to the south of Lama.

Firewood collection by permit is expected to be available in accessible areas after thinning is completed. Permit holders should check with local ranger stations for details.

Pile, jackpot and understory burning during appropriate conditions are planned to remove remaining slash.

05/19/2026

A great way to stay active, meet fellow trail enthusiasts and build/grow skills with our Enchanted Circle Trails Association pals.

Come celebrate National Trails Day with us!

🎉To celebrate National Trails Day, ECTA and the Carson National Forest will be hosting a trail maintenance day on the East Fork of the Red River trail on June 6th from 9:30 AM - 4 PM🎉

What is National Trails Day? NTD is a national event started by the American Hiking Society that takes place annually on the first Saturday in June.

Tens of thousands of hikers, bikers, paddlers, horseback riders, trails associations, federal and local agencies, land trusts, and businesses come together in partnership to advocate for, maintain, and clean up public lands and trails.

Head on over to our public calendar here https://enchantedcircletrails.org/calendar/ for more details

Please email [email protected] to sign up, we hope to see you there!

😎

05/18/2026

A reminder that we are in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, and with fire danger status between "High" and "Extreme" depending on where in the forest you are. Please practice caution when recreating out there!

We monitor conditions daily and you can always find up-to-date fire danger status on our homepage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/carson by clicking the "Alerts and Fire Danger Status" banner.

05/15/2026

🔥 Warming Fire Causes Small Wildfire, Suspect Caught 🔥

Fire crews responded Wednesday morning to a wildfire off Forest Road 437 near Taos, fully containing the tenth-acre low-intensity blaze by the afternoon. The fire was caused by a warming fire with no rock ring that traveled upslope.

Forest Service law enforcement identified the suspect and is continuing the investigation.

This is as good of a reminder as any that Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in effect. Dispersed camping with a fire is currently prohibited. The fire danger is currently at high and very high, depending on the location within the forest.

Review the fire restrictions at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/carson/alerts/current-fire-restrictions-and-related-prohibitions.

05/13/2026

A great opportunity to build skills and network with one of our wonderful partners. Hope to see y'all there!

Happy Monday😎
The forecast for the week looks awesome, so don't forget to get outside and enjoy that 🌞

We have some great FREE trainings coming up, check out the details below and email [email protected] to secure your spot✅

05/11/2026

🔥 Fire Restrictions Reminder 🔥

Fire restrictions are currently in effect across the forest. As temperatures continue to rise and humidity levels drop, fire danger is increasing—making it more important than ever to follow restrictions and help prevent human-caused wildfires.

What is prohibited:
🔥 Campfires
🚬 Smoking

There are some limited exemptions, including campfires inside a Forest Service-provided fire structure within developed recreation sites.

Please do your part to protect our forests, communities, and firefighters.

A full list of exemptions and permanent prohibitions is available here:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/carson/alerts/current-fire-restrictions-and-related-prohibitions

05/07/2026

🌲 Campgrounds Opening May 8 on Carson National Forest 🌲

Warmer weather is here, and more campgrounds across the Carson National Forest are opening for the season starting tomorrow, May 8!

🏕️ Opening May 8:
Agua Piedra, Amole Canyon Group Shelter (reservation only), Columbine, Comales, Duran Canyon, Elephant Rock, Fawn Lakes, Goat Hill, Junebug, and La Junta.

💧 Know Before You Go:
Some campgrounds will not have potable water available yet (testing in progress). Please plan ahead and bring your own water where noted.

✅ Many other campgrounds are already open, with additional sites scheduled to open later in May.

🔎 For full details, campground amenities, and reservation info, visit:
Carson National Forest Campgrounds Page: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/carson/recreation/campgrounds-begin-open-season

Enjoy your time outdoors and help us keep public lands safe and clean! 🌄

With the arrival of warmer weather, campgrounds are beginning to reopen around the Carson National Forest. Here's the latest for spring 2026:Not all campgrounds offer potable water. Check the campground page for water and other amenities.

04/30/2026

🔥 All Prescribed Fires Declared Out on Carson National Forest🔥

Fire managers on the Carson National Forest have officially declared all prescribed fires from last fall and winter as out after months of careful patrol and monitoring. Crews confirmed there is no remaining heat on any sites, using tools like drones and infrared-equipped aircraft to ensure thorough results.

This season, fire crews successfully treated nearly 14,000 acres across the forest—helping reduce wildfire risk to nearby communities, watersheds, and wildlife habitat.

Highlights from this work include:
• Kiowa–San Cristobal WUI Project: 1,818 acres treated between Arroyo Hondo, Kiowa Village, San Cristobal, and Turley Mill, following years of thinning work.
• Pueblo Ridge Restoration Project: Initial prescribed fire activity treated 52 acres of thinning piles to help protect Taos Pueblo and important water sources.
• Tres Piedras Area: Over 10,000 acres treated to restore forest health and reduce the risk of large, high-severity wildfire.

“While no heat has been detected for some time, our approach has been to patrol and monitor longer and more thoroughly, using tools like drones and infrared detection,” said Fire and Fuels Staff Officer Jamie Long.

No prescribed fires are currently planned this spring, but fire managers will continue evaluating future opportunities based on weather, conditions, and approvals.

🌲 Thank you to our fire crews and partners for their dedication to keeping our forests and communities safe!

04/24/2026

Fire restrictions are now in effect!

What is prohibited:

🔥 Campfires
🚬 Smoking

There are some limited exemptions, including campfires inside a fire structure that is provided by the Forest Service within developed recreation sites.

A full list of exemptions and permanent prohibitions are listed at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/carson/alerts/current-fire-restrictions-and-related-prohibitions.

04/22/2026

Fire restrictions to begin April 24!!

Recent storms have kept conditions at bay, but the time has come when extra precautions are needed.

What will be prohibited:

Campfires
Smoking

There are some limited exemptions, including campfires inside a fire structure that is provided by the Forest Service within developed recreation sites.

A full list of exemptions are listed in the forest order on our fire restrictions and prohibitions webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/carson/alerts/current-fire-restrictions-and-related-prohibitions.