The towns of Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Jemez Springs and Espaéla all have hotels and motels; see the WikiTravel sites for those places for more. Few of the smaller towns in the area have much in the way of lodging.

Camping

There are a total of 29 campgrounds in the forest. Several are free and available on a first-come-first-served basis (no reservations). Most of the busier campgrounds do have a fee; see the site below for details. A few have the capability to accommodate large groups at sites that can be reserved. Historically, there have been intermittent problems with theft from and vandalism of vehicles left at a few campgrounds, particularly around Coyote and Truchas. Some anecdotal evidence suggests that this problem may have diminished in the last few years. Inquire locally and take sensible precautions.

Backcountry

The Pecos Wilderness and San Pedro Parks Wilderness are both superb backpacking destinations. No permits are required. Seasonal restrictions on campfires are common; pack a stove. Most campsites are close to streams, so there is no need to pack in excessive quantities of water, but stream water should be purified as Giardia parasites are present in both wildernesses. Hang food, etc., although bear problems are rare. An unusual problem for backpackers in the high country of the Sangre de Cristos is the presence of bighorn sheep. Their diet is salt-poor, they are not shy, and they have been known to pass through campsites simply licking anything handy that has salt on it. Of course, they don't put the utensils back where they found them after licking, so a campsite can be thrown into complete chaos when the sheep come through. Wash and secure dishes after meals, not just the foodstuffs.