Trail Camps
Trail camps are those that do not have permanent staff. Trail camps typically contain several campsites, but are spread out over half a mile of trail or more, so that there is no sense of crowding. Each trail camp is identified by a map, attached to a tree or the side of a latrine at every trail which passes through it. Trail camps do not necessarily have a nearby water source. Camps without a nearby water source referred to as "dry camps".
Individual campsites are marked by a wooden sign nailed to a tree which indicates the campsite number. Signs are not supposed to be touched by anyone, in order to preserve them. Camps have a metal fire ring, which may be used for small fires unless a fire ban is in place, which is often the case, given Philmont's dry climate. There is also a sump; an L-shaped plastic pipe, with a partly exposed two-foot vertical section and a ten-foot perforated horizontal section underground. The exposed pipe is capped with a piece of mesh. Sumps are used to dispose of dirty dishwater.
Several campsites usually share a bear cable away from the campsite. This is a metal cable strung between two sturdy trees at least ten feet above the ground; it is used to hang bear bags containing items that might attract animals.
Campsites also share a latrine or toilet. Philmont latrines have the possibility of housing spiders below the seat, which is why campers are encouraged to remove possible pests on the underside of the boards with a stick. The latrines come in different configurations, but all of them are for excrement only, and are not to be urinated in, in order to reduce smell. The open-air style latrine with two adjacent seats is affectionately called the "pilot to copilot" design; this results from the joking conversation which often takes place between two campers using the toilet simultaneously. The other open-air configuration latrine, called the "pilot to bombardier", is generally preferred because its two seats are back-to-back and offer somewhat more privacy than the "pilot to copilot". Occasionally a "single pilot" - one open-air seat — may be found. The enclosed configuration, with walls and a red roof, is known as a Red Roof Inn, in joking reference to the hotel chain. Older Red Roof Inns contain two adjacent seats and no door, while newer models have two back-to-back seats, with a wall between. Portable toilets ("Time Machines") are rare in the backcountry and only found in places such as French Henry camp.
| Campground | Area | Coordinates † | Elevation † | Water | Comments |
| Agua Fria | South Country | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aguila | South Country | ||||
| Anasazi | North Country | This camp is a small, unstaffed camp located near an untreated water source, and is often used as one of the starting camps for many treks. | |||
| Aspen Springs | Central Country | 36°30′11″N 105°03′34″W / 36.50306°N 105.05944°W / 36.50306; -105.05944 | 7,900 feet (2,407.9 m) | ||
| Bear Caves | South Country | ||||
| Bear Canyon | South Country | ||||
| Bent | North Country | ||||
| Black Horse | North Country | ||||
| Black Jacks | North Country | ||||
| Buck Creek | South Country | 36°24′40″N 105°07′49″W / 36.41111°N 105.13028°W / 36.41111; -105.13028 | 9,200 feet (2,804.2 m) | ||
| Cathedral Rock | Central Country | 36°29′03″N 105°02′22″W / 36.48417°N 105.03944°W / 36.48417; -105.03944 | 7,350 feet (2,240.3 m) | Stream | A stream-side camp shadowed by Cathedral Rock. This campsite is close to other natural features including Hidden Valley and Window Rock. |
| Comanche | South Country | 36°26′50″N 105°09′40″W / 36.44722°N 105.16111°W / 36.44722; -105.16111 | 9,600 feet (2,926.1 m) | Stream | A stream-side camp with plenty of water. Not to be confused with Comanche Peak Camp. |
| Comanche Peak | Central Country | 36°28′50″N 105°08′14″W / 36.48056°N 105.13722°W / 36.48056; -105.13722 | 11,100 feet (3,383.3 m) | None | A dry camp located immediately to the east of Mount Phillips, Comanche Peak is spacious and well-shaded by ponderosa pines. Provides views of sunsets over Mounts Phillips and Baldy. Wildlife, including mule deer, elk and black bear, abounds in this area. |
| Copper Park | North Country | 36°38′31″N 105°12′06″W / 36.64194°N 105.20167°W / 36.64194; -105.20167 | 10,500 feet (3,200.4 m) | Spigot | This camp is hidden among the trees on the side of Mount Baldy, Copper Park is a beautiful campsite, and a common place for crews to stay two nights in order to ascend Mount Baldy. The nearest commissary is Baldy Camp. |
| Cook Canyon | North Country | ||||
| Cottonwood Trail | North Country | ||||
| Crags | South Country. | Crags is located on the banks of Rayado creek southeast of Fish Camp. | |||
| Deer Lake | Central Country | 36°30′35″N 105°01′42″W / 36.50972°N 105.02833°W / 36.50972; -105.02833 | 8,300 feet (2,529.8 m) | Seasonal | Many crews decide to hike to Deer Lake and come back down to Harlan in order to get water or participate in burro racing. |
| Deer Lake Mesa | Central Country | ||||
| Devil's Wash Basin | Central Country | 36°31′20″N 105°03′23″W / 36.52222°N 105.05639°W / 36.52222; -105.05639 | 8,500 feet (2,590.8 m) | ||
| Elkhorn | North Country | ||||
| Ewells Park | North Country | This camp is located near Baldy Town, and some treks stay here when attempting Baldy Mountain. | |||
| Greenwood Canyon | North Country | ||||
| House Canyon | North Country | Trail camp between Anasazi and Old Camp, opened in 2007. | |||
| Lambert's Mine | Central Country | 36°28′35″N 105°06′21″W / 36.47639°N 105.10583°W / 36.47639; -105.10583 | 9,000 feet (2,743.2 m) | An unstaffed camp relatively close to Cypher's Mine Camp with several abandoned mineshafts in the vicinity | |
| Lost Cabin | South Country | 36°23′02″N 105°08′10″W / 36.38389°N 105.13611°W / 36.38389; -105.13611 | 9,200 feet (2,804.2 m) | Located slightly east and south of Apache Springs, a staffed camp, Lost Cabin is the former location of a mining operation and cabin. It served as a staffed camp in 1963, but was flooded in 1965 and permanently replaced by Apache Springs. | |
| Lookout Meadow | South Country | 36°23′00″N 105°04′00″W / 36.38333°N 105.06667°W / 36.38333; -105.06667 | 9,400 feet (2,865.1 m) | ||
| Lovers Leap | South Country | 36°25′14″N 105°00′41″W / 36.42056°N 105.01139°W / 36.42056; -105.01139 | 7,400 feet (2,255.5 m) | ||
| Lower Sawmill | Central Country | Stream | Located just over a mile downhill and east of Sawmill, this camp is located near a beautiful alpine meadow. | ||
| Maxwell | North Country | ||||
| McBride Canyon | North Country | ||||
| Mt. Phillips | Central Country | 11,711 feet (3,569.5 m) | None | Mt. Phillips Camp, located atop Mount Phillips, the second tallest mountain on the ranch, this is the highest camp in Philmont and provides excellent views. | |
| New Dean | North Country | ||||
| North Fork Urraca | South Country | ||||
| Old Camp | North Country | ||||
| Ponderosa Park | Central Country | Located relatively close to Clarks Fork (albeit entirely uphill), it is the final camp on several itineraries. | |||
| Porcupine ("Porky") | South Country | Common camp for the day after Mt. Phillips, this camp features an abandoned cabin and campsites along Rayado Creek. This was once a staffed camp, usually comprising a single staff member that served more as a camp host than a program counselor. Also featured in the Philmont Ranger Song. | |||
| Pueblano Ruins | North Country | 36°37′44″N 105°08′06″W / 36.62889°N 105.13500°W / 36.62889; -105.13500 | 8,400 feet (2,560.3 m) | Satellite camp for the staffed camp located at Pueblano. Campers often take part in program activities and enjoy the evening campfire at nearby Pueblano. | |
| Rayado River | South Country | ||||
| Red Hills | Central Country | ||||
| Rimrock Park | South Country | ||||
| Santa Claus | North Country | 36°35′27″N 105°05′22″W / 36.59083°N 105.08944°W / 36.59083; -105.08944. | 8,400 feet (2,560.3 m) | Santa Claus was a staffed camp until the mid-1990s. One of the main reasons it closed was because the well stopped pumping enough water to sustain a full staff. The area suffered during the 2002 Ponil Complex fire, though the abandoned cabin still stands. In 2000, lightning struck one of the bear cables and the bear bags on the line exploded, leaving the trees charred from where the bear cables were attached. | |
| Shaefers Pass | Central Country | ||||
| Sioux | North Country | 36°37′18″N 105°03′18″W / 36.62167°N 105.05500°W / 36.62167; -105.05500 | 7,380 feet (2,249.4 m) | None | Located just above Ponil camp, this dry camp is a common starting camp for treks. |
| Stockade | South Country | ||||
| Tooth Ridge | Central Country | 36°27′16″N 104°59′50″W / 36.45444°N 104.99722°W / 36.45444; -104.99722 | 8,240 feet (2,511.6 m) | None | Camping sites: 18. Tooth Ridge Camp is often the last camp that backpacking crews use before a return back to Philmont's base camp. Tooth Ridge Camp sits immediately beneath The Tooth of Time (elevation 9,003 feet (2,744.1 m) feet) in the midst of tall, broad Ponderosa pines. It is a great location for bouldering and a good starting point for an early morning ascent of the Tooth. |
| Toothache Springs | South Country | ||||
| Thunder Ridge | Central Country | ||||
| Turkey Creek | North Country | ||||
| Upper Bench | Central Country | Beautiful dry trail camp with a series of seasonal lakes, and a large, rock formation on one end. | |||
| Upper Clark's Fork | 36°27′37″N 105°2′56″W / 36.46028°N 105.04889°W / 36.46028; -105.04889 | A camp up above the staffed Clark's Fork, this quiet and scenic camp is nestled in the Ponderosa Pines and sits along a fairly well-used trail. Not to be confused with Clark's Fork, however many campers day-hike down to Clark's Fork to get a chuck-wagon dinner and showers. | |||
| Upper Dean Cow | North Country | Spigot - untreated | It is a grassy camp near a river and is frequented by mule deer. It is also a common place to see a black bear. | ||
| Ute Springs | Central Country | Stream | |||
| Ute Meadows | North Country | This camp is located just below Baldy Town and is used as a layover camp for crews climbing Baldy | |||
| Vaca | Central Country | This camp has an unpurified solar well and is located on a large meadow of Black Eyed Susans, it is a short hike to Harlan staffed camp. | |||
| Visto Grande | Central Country | This large trail camp, which is on a steep hill, is near a fantastic view of Baldy Mountain. It also contains a spring for water. An abandoned building also sits in this camp. | |||
| Webster Lake | Central Country | ||||
| Webster Parks | Central Country | Not far from the large, staffed camp, Cimarroncito, it is located next to a beautiful meadow and crews have the option of day hiking down to Cimarroncito and catching rock-climbing lessons and water. | |||
| Wild Horse | South Country |
Read more about this topic: Philmont Scout Ranch Camps
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—For the State of Florida, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)