BLM

Datil Well Campground

New Mexico

Socorro Field Office

Contact us at: Bureau of Land Management Socorro Field Office 901 South Highway 85 Socorro, 87801 enjoy...play...live. 505/835.0412 or Leave No Trace: Plan ahead and prepare - Travel and camp on durable surfaces - Dispose of waste properly - Leave what you find - visit our web page at www.nm.blm.gov Minimize campfire impacts - Respect wildlife - Be considerate of other visitors. elcome to Datil Well A scenic and popular pic- ground is open all winter. Snow accumulations of up to nicking and camping area, a foot of snow may be possible with temperatures in the Campground! W this campground has 22 40s during the day to a low of zero at night. individual campsites as well The Datil Well Campground is located about 1 mile as a group shelter for large west of Datil, New Mexico and is accessible from gatherings. The group shel- Safety Rules both Highway 60 and Highway 12. Managed by the ter and several campsites Photographs by Mike Bilbo ● The use of weapons Bureau of Land Management, it includes one of 15 are covered for shade. All sites have picnic tables, grills is prohibited within former water wells spaced every ten and adjacent to the miles along the historic Magdalena and fire pits. Drinking water, firewood and restrooms campground.

Livestock Driveway. The old cattle trail, Photograph by Susan Olin established in the 1800’s, stretched 120 are provided. An overnight camping fee is charged. ● Observe speed limits Datil Well Campground miles from Springerville, Arizona, to within the campground and Magdalena, New Mexico. There are 3 miles of hiking trails in piñon- keep vehicles on established roadways. The Magdalena Stock Driveway was juniper and ponderosa pine woodlands, born in January of 1885, when the with scenic views of the San Augustin Plains. The trail and vistas also offer an ● Nature trails are for hiking. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Motorized vehicles, horses, completed its branch line from Socorro occasional glimpse of wildlife in a setting of quiet and solitude. and mountain bikes are to Magdalena, and ranchers from prohibited. the surrounding area began driving Hiker rests in the cool shade. their livestock there for shipping. ● Keep pets on a leash. The Driveway was formally set aside in 1918 in response to a petition to The Very Large Array the United States Secretary of the The Datil Well Campground area (VLA), located 15 miles Other Important Information Interior following the passage of the has 3 miles of scenic hiking trails. east of Datil, comprises Endangered Grazing Homestead Act. 27 radio telescopes ● Firewood is not provided. Please The peak trailing year for the driveway was 1919, when in a “Y” pattern spread across the bring your own. The cutting of live trees 150,000 sheep and 21,677 cattle made the journey. plains of San Agustin 50 miles west is prohibited by law. of Socorro. The VLA has been used by more astronomers and has been ● Use grills, fire pits, and trash cans mentioned in more scientific papers provided at each camp site. than any other radio telescope in the world. ● Please respect the quiet setting of the campground, especially at night. Do not University Washington Photograph courtesy of run generators from 10:00 p.m. to Collard lizards Radio telescopes use radio waves instead 6:00 a.m. Photograph by Mike Bilbo Weather Conditions of light waves to make images of the sky. Temperatures at the campground ● Camping limit is seven days. vary greatly. During the summer, daytime highs in the 80s are normal, dropping to cool 50s in the evening. Refreshing summer rainstorms occur frequently in the Be courteous to other campers Photograph by Jim Bailey area; however, use caution since lightning often accom- and enjoy your stay at Mule Deer Crosby Canyon Overlook panies the rain. For the more adventurous, the camp- Datil Well Campground!

BLM/NM/GI-05-12-1220