Jemez Falls Campground in New Mexico’s Santa Fe National Forest remains closed because pavement work is still unfinished, though the U.S. Forest Service is now taking reservations for stays beginning Aug. 1, according to the campground’s status.
The delay stretches a timeline first outlined in a May news release that anticipated the popular site would come back online by July 30 as part of a district-wide pavement-preservation program. The forest had been under Stage 1 fire restrictions earlier in the season, but those restrictions were lifted on June 6, 2025.
That same program is sequencing work across the Jemez/Cuba Ranger District. Jemez Falls will reopen first, after which Redondo Campground is slated to shut down for similar repairs, while Vista Linda remains open but may close later in the season, the release states.
The staggered closures keep at least one developed campground available in the corridor at all times, but they also compress demand into fewer sites and shorten booking horizons for private operators that rely on overflow traffic from the forest.
When Jemez Falls does reopen, visitors will find 52 paved campsites with picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets and potable-water spigots, all suitable for trailers and RVs up to 40 feet, the Forest Service’s official listing shows.
A nightly fee of $20 per vehicle for single-unit sites took effect May 9, and guests can pay online through Recreation.gov or via the Scan & Pay system the Forest Service is encouraging throughout the forest.
The campground’s operating window runs May through November, with a 3 p.m. check-in, noon check-out and 14-day stay limit. Dogs must remain leashed, and visitors are urged not to approach wildlife, details spelled out under the site’s campground rules section.
What operators can learn: slot major pavement or utility work into shoulder seasons when occupancy and average daily rates are already lower; publish a 12- to 24-month maintenance calendar that guests and staff can see; push real-time status updates to every channel; and default disrupted reservations to voucher credits rather than refunds to keep revenue on the books.
There are presently no special limitations on open flames beyond the forest’s standard regulations. Managers continue reminding campers to explore nearby Valles Caldera National Preserve and Bandelier National Monument if sites at Jemez Falls are unavailable, according to the release’s outline of Stage 1 restrictions.
Until paving crews finish, overflow demand is shifting to Redondo and Vista Linda, tightening inventory and exposing how quickly guest sentiment can sour when closure dates slip without clear communication.
When the gates finally swing open Aug. 1, managers have a chance to treat the return as a grand reopening—countdown clock on social media, limited-time promo codes, and a soft-opening tour for local influencers.
Dynamic pricing for the first 30 to 60 days, bundled add-ons such as firewood or guided hikes, and a text-message waitlist for displaced campers can all help recoup income lost during the shutdown while showcasing the freshly resurfaced access roads.
Pros also can gather post-stay feedback on the new pavement and tout reduced dust and improved runoff control as sustainability wins that resonate with today’s eco-minded guests.
Visitors and operators alike should confirm reservation status through the forest website or Recreation.gov, because Redondo is expected to close for its own pavement project once work at Jemez Falls is complete, the Forest Service notes on its page offering current information.