Clear Creek Campground sits in the Jemez Springs area of New Mexico, listed at coordinates roughly 35.9966 north and -106.8268 west within the 87025 postal area, and it is catalogued as a Camping Ground. Across 70 ratings the listing holds a 4.6 average, and the written reviews gathered here lean heavily toward descriptions of a small, tree-shaded camp with clean restrooms and a well-liked host.
This review is built entirely from the listing data and from what past campers have written. It does not describe a personal stay, and it does not fill gaps with guesses. Where reviewers disagree, both versions are reported as the opinions they are.
Clear Creek Campground at a Glance
The campground is administered under the Santa Fe National Forest recreation pages hosted on the US Forest Service website, and the listing points travelers to that page for official information. It is categorized as a Camping Ground, and the activities data specifically notes that RV camping is allowed, which lines up with the many reviews describing trailer and motorhome use. Contact details on file include a phone number at +1 575-289-3264, and the location record places the site in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, 87025, in the America/Denver time zone.
The amenities data attached to the listing covers accessibility, parking, pets, activities, and facilities: wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance are both recorded, on-site parking is noted, dogs are allowed, and the facilities group lists Wi-Fi alongside public toilets. Those columns describe what the listing records, not a guarantee of day-to-day conditions, and the reviews below add practical texture that the structured data alone does not carry.
What Do Visitors Like About Clear Creek Campground?
Sentiment across the reviews collected here is overwhelmingly favorable. Of the fifteen separate reviews recognized in this set, thirteen are five-star and two are four-star, with no outright negative write-ups. The recurring praise centers on cleanliness, quiet, greenery, and the camp host, while the recurring friction points are narrower: one camper's tent reservation did not match the site assigned, one arrival route was rough and unmarked, and one reviewer found no potable water on site. Reviewers also differ on connectivity, with several stating there is no cell service at all, which is worth weighing against the Wi-Fi entry in the facilities data.
1. A Small, Green, Quiet Camp
The most repeated impression is of a compact campground wrapped in shade. Bill Watkins called it a beautiful and quiet campground with lots of space between sites, noting that ATVs are not allowed there and that he values the resulting quiet. C G described abundant greenery and shade, Mark McKenzie framed it as a nice small campground suited to getting out of the city for a few days, and Candice Soils simply rated the setting as beautiful and peaceful. Lydia Long also emphasized quiet and small scale.
The setting details reviewers mention include tall trees, a creek running through the campground, and wildlife. Sean Marshall wrote about the sound of running water through the site, Jackie Massey mentioned hummingbirds, deer, squirrels, and chipmunks around camp, and Andrea Juarez Gutierrez noted that a modest creek still draws hummingbirds, butterflies, and robins near the sites.
2. Restrooms and Water: The Practical Basics
Restroom condition is the single most consistent compliment in this review set. Bill Watkins described the restrooms as very clean, Martinez wrote that the bathrooms were clean and smelled good, Ray Runyan called them super clean, DUCT WORX LLC said they were stocked and clean, and Andrea Juarez Gutierrez rated the outhouse the cleanest campsite facility of that kind she had used. Lydia Long specifically described clean pit toilets.
Water is where the accounts diverge. Bill Watkins, Martinez, Dwight, Sean Marshall, Lydia Long, and Jackie Massey all describe potable water being available, with Martinez filling a five-gallon cooler on arrival and using it for the week. Terry Rostro, by contrast, stated that there is no potable water on site and that only a non-potable pump sits at the campground entrance. These are conflicting visitor reports rather than a settled fact, so travelers should confirm the current water situation through the official Forest Service page before relying on it.
3. The Camp Host Leaves a Mark
No other subject comes up as warmly as the on-site host. Martinez wrote that the host, Joe, treated the family like old friends, checked on them through the week, and was the main reason they plan to return. Josie Cooley said Joe made the stay special and shared information about area trails. Bill Watkins, returning across seasons, described Joe as a very good host who kept a close watch on everything. Ray Runyan called the caretaker very nice and hospitable, and Andrea Juarez Gutierrez noted that hosts checked on all sites regularly and offered advice on hikes and attractions.
Jennifer's four-star account is the exception, describing an arrival with no campground hosts present and a reservation that was not posted at the site. Host presence can therefore vary by visit and season, and the reviews span several years, so the friendly-host experience should be treated as a common report rather than a permanent fixture.
4. Site Layout: Privacy, RV Pads, and One Tent Mismatch
Reviewers describe a layout with breathing room. Martinez wrote that sites are spaced far enough apart for privacy while still close enough to chat with neighbors, and Bill Watkins said the same about the individual sites, adding that the group areas are the exception. Andrea Juarez Gutierrez praised privacy and spacing between sites as well.
For rigs, Bill Watkins described most sites as RV and trailer ready with asphalt pads that are mostly level, and noted there are no pull-through sites, so backing in is required. Terry Rostro mentioned picnic tables and fire pits at each site, Bill Watkins described metal fire rings, and Jennifer listed fire grates and picnic tables along with paved pull-in driveways. The cautionary note comes from Martinez, who booked site #12 online for a tent and found it was not tent friendly, a mismatch attributed to unclear website communication. Dwight's account adds that the group campground was used for a family of ten and, per that reviewer, can hold up to seventy people.
5. Trails, Wildlife, and Nearby Exploring
Several reviewers treat the campground as a base for walking and driving in the surrounding Jemez area. Dwight mentioned hiking trails including one to San Gregorio Lake. Andrea Juarez Gutierrez noted that reaching trailhead #51 and San Gregorio Lake takes a car, that the lake was low on water at the time of that visit, and recommended a scenic drive through Jemez with a picnic lunch. Josie Cooley reported taking some of the trails recommended by the host.
Wildlife sightings recur in a low-key way: deer near camp, hummingbirds drawn to the creek, plus squirrels, chipmunks, butterflies, and robins. Jennifer highlighted dark skies and strong stargazing. These are individual observations rather than guarantees, and the surrounding terrain described by reviewers is seasonal in character.
6. Access, Connectivity, and Occasional Noise
Getting there and staying connected are the two practical caveats reviewers raise most often. Jennifer arrived via a route from the east that Google Maps selected and found the dirt road slow and rough, with no campground map at the entrance, no host present, and no cell phone reception. Jackie Massey also stated plainly that there is no cell service there, which sits awkwardly beside the Wi-Fi entry in the facilities data. Terry Rostro noted occasional logging semi-trucks audible from the nearby road and suggested camping further into the site for maximum quiet, while Bill Watkins described dispersed camps nearby as decent alternatives.
Reservations are another practical wrinkle. Terry Rostro stated that an overnight stay requires booking through the Recreation.gov phone app, and Martinez's experience suggests reading site descriptions carefully, particularly about tent suitability. The listing itself points to the official Forest Service recreation page as the authoritative source.