July 16, 2008 – The Mills Canyon Campground construction project on the Kiowa National Grassland near Roy, New Mexico is essentially complete. While minor work is still in progress, the Rim Campground, the Mills Canyon Campground, the Mills Ranch site, and Forest Road 600 to the bottom of Mills Canyon are open for visitors.

The Mills Canyon Campground, in the bottom of the Canyon near the Canadian River, has been completely reconstructed. This Campground now offers 12 campsites, instead of the previous eight. Each site has a parking spur, table, tent pad, fire ring and grill. Two new vault toilets have also been installed. Trash receptacles are not provided, so “pack it in, pack it out” is still expected. All sites are FREE use.

The Rim Campground is a completely new site, built just south of Forest Road 600 above the top of the canyon rim. This campground is suitable for visitors with horse trailers. Three small horse corrals have been added as part of the development. The Rim Campground offers 6 campsites and one rest-room facility. Each campsite has a parking spur, table, tent pad, fire ring and grill. Trash receptacles are not provided.

The wooden bridge on Forest Road 600 has been replaced along with the addition of two traffic pull-outs along the road into the canyon for visitors who want to stop and enjoy the view. This road is still maintained to a level 2 standard for high clearance vehicles. A four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended during inclement weather. Vehicles pulling trailers cannot negotiate the sharp turns along the portion of the road descending into the canyon, and are not allowed.

Work to develop an interpretive site for the Mills agricultural enterprises is not yet complete. However parking areas, and walking paths to the historic structures have been constructed. Visitors to the canyon are free to visit the ranch ruins.

Please call the Kiowa National Grassland Office at (575) 374-9652 or stop by our office at 714 Main Street in Clayton, New Mexico if you have any questions.