BEST Van Life Camping: $18 a Month Rent at Heron Lake State Park 

Rolled out of bed with min pain, grabbed a cup of coffee, and woke up my phone...aww Brian's here, what a wonderful way to kick off the day! Thanks.

Love this series in NM, Brian! But most importantly, I GREATLY appreciate your reference to a trail that would work for the mobility-challenged. We ARE out there, trying to enjoy what these parks have to offer, but our needs are rarely addressed, and doable options are rarely noted. You can’t know how much your reference means to me and other mobility-challenged travelers! Even something as simple as noting the trail type (paved, packed dirt, natural with or without impediments [e.g. tree roots], gravel, boardwalk, etc.), can make all the difference in our ability to enjoy these lovely places. Thanks, again!!! 😊

Thanks for this series. I hadn't thought seriously about visiting New Mexico before this - but certainly looks like a great option, esp. as a senior nomad

love love love Heron Lake - great hiking and no jet skies allowed in the lake, so more quiet. Absolutely beautiful place.

Brian, thank you so much for doing this the series on New Mexico State Parks! I live in New Mexico now but I want to explore all the state parks. And luckily, I am old enough for the senior pass much $100 a year!

I really appreciate you doing this. Please keep it up. I'd love to venture here.

Thank you for these videos Brian! My family is absolutely getting the NM state park pass when we become a nomadic family. The park looks beautiful and my daughter and I love to swim in lakes. Camp showers can definitely suck depending on where you are staying but any shower while camping is luxury in my opinion!

Loving the N M State Parks series....keep up the good job👍😁💕

Up north is the grocery store in Chama. It can be on the expensive side. Heron is great in Autumn and Spring. It is now very popular. Propane is around the corner from the grocery store in Chama on US84. I think it's a Chevron station.

Rock Hound State park is our fav so far. Even if you’re not into rock hounding, it’s a peaceful and beautiful setting. The sites are well spaced and the skies at night are breathtaking. Thanks for sharing these NM state park options with your viewers!

Very well done, Brian. I spent a week at the Cotichi campground (close to Tent Rocks) awhile back. It was beautiful and very close to Sante Fe. Loved it!

Thanks for the information.👍👍👍😎

I really appreciate that you guys are doing this series! I am about to go full-time for at least a couple years, and have not come across any sort of in-depth Siri‘s about any states campgrounds. I have traveled “through“ New Mexico enough to know that I love the country there, and I love the towns and cities to, so I definitely was planning to spend a lot of the winter checking out both New Mexico and Arizona. Thank you again, and I really appreciate your contributions, Brian!

Well done! Thanks, Brian. Your extensive experience as a camp host shows through……meaning you give tons of truly helpful information, without a bunch of time-consuming fluffy stuff that is more about ego than helpfulness! Much appreciated.

Love these videos Brian. This is going to be one of the best series on this channel. Hopefully you get to explore them all.

Another wonderful video with a awesome choice of camping and entertainment! Bravo Brian. I can't wait to stay here.

Thanks Brian for the info. Very helpful.

Great Review Brian and CRVL Crew. I've never been to this park but It's on my list now. Thanks so much for sharing. 😊❤👍🏻

One caveat you needed to add is that since this is a water source for Albuquerque, occasionally they ask for a large dump of water which empties the lake by more than half, surrounding it with deep lake mud making the lake unable and ugly. So CALL ahead to the ranger station first to be there is water in the lake. I made the mistake of not doing that once and ended up just turning around and going elsewhere. There were literally no other campers there, too...same reason.

Thank you for creating this series regarding New Mexico State Parks. Very informative and I appreciate the link for the water filter.

Thank you so much. The dates & weather during you stay would be such a help. Thanks again.

Well done! Very informative and clear! Joan

Great video, very informative. Thank you

Thank you! I love New Mexico.

Love this series!

All of the sand you see in the middle of the lake and on the far side from where you were filming used to be covered by water (that 250' depth you spoke of.) We've (New Mexico) been under drought conditions for most of the last 10 years or more. You'll see this most clearly at Elephant Butte.

Great video Brian, it's on my bucket list. Thanks for the information.

great idea for a series. thanks.

Thank you Brian. Great review of Haron Lake State Park New Mexico. The annual pass is a no brainer for Mew Mexico camping.

Loving all the specifics of these parks- so helpful thank you!

This is amazing. I am getting an RV this week and am trying to figure out where to go in a few months when the winter hits. This is giving me a lot of good information. Thank you!

Great series Brian; very informative and I’m sure will be helpful to many of us. Thank you!

It's great like it's nice and quiet and peaceful

Fantastic information!!!

Thanks!

Good review!

Love the video. Very informed. Thank you for sharing. Throughly enjoyed.

I love New Mexico so much. I've always wanted to live there, just never got that chance. I love Northern New Mexico and, Taos is my favorite town. Talking about winter sports there, my father took me cross-country skiing on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon back in the 1960s with some of his friends, one of our long-time family friends was Olympic cross-country skier, Lars Larsen. I was so little, that they didn't make cross-country skis for four-year-olds, so I was on downhill skis, which made it really difficult to keep up with the adults, so I'd cry, and then someone would pick me up and put me on their shoulders. I have a picture somewhere in my albums of me on the shoulders of one of my dad's friends with my skiis dangling and a very happy me, not having to struggle anymore. I know, I know ... the Grand Canyon is in Arizona, which is another state I really love.

great information, brian. i especially like the drive-around portion. it gives a good feel for the place.

Come to Conchas Dam! 4200-4300' Largemouth, Smallmouth, and White Bass! CRAPPIE, bluegill, Walleye, Channel Cats, Mudcats and Carp!

Thanks Brian. I am looking forward to getting out that way maybe by next fall.

Excellent video

Looks cool. I am excited to visit

Thank you. This is both good information and information I can use. Stay safe.

Great review! Thank you so much.

It's beautiful!

It sounds amazing! thanks!

I have not been there yet but the fact that there is ice fishing appeals to me.

Excellent!

Thanks for the information. I'm seriously considering this for my 1st year out full time

Looks great

Great video with a lot of useful information!

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing 🙏

Love it!

It's June '23. Currently I'm at El Vado State Park and will be going to Heron State Park in a week. El Vado Lake has been drained because of work being done at the Dam. They are trucking in water every ten days and only have water available from 4pm to 6pm. Heron Lake is the same story with the Dam with the addition that there is NO WATER AVAILABLE at Heron Lake. You need to bring your own water. The work being done at these Dams could take years to complete. They estimate 2 years but you know how that goes. I wouldn't be surprised if it was 4 years. They are already behind schedule I hear. I would like to clarify the dump situation at these parks and the annual camping pass and day use pass. You can only use the dump station if you stay at the particular park. You can't just drive in and use the dump stations at these parks if you are not actually spending a night there, even if you have the annual pass. The annual pass only gives you access to the park for camping if you are staying over night, it is a camping pass, it is not a Day use pass. The Day use pass to enter a park is $40 / year. If you are camping then the annual camping pass covers the day use pass entrance fee. I was a bit confused at first but got educated by a Ranger.

Good stuff. Thank you!

Good info.

Thank you Brian ,This sounds like a place I would like to try

Thank you Brian! Another excellent video! 🙌😊🙌 I would love to see this continue after you finish your New Mexico tour. Are there other states that have similar camping passes? God bless you and happy trails! 🏕️

Native New Mexican here; Heron Lake is a fav for sure!

😊 thanks

👍 informative good presentation

Just had a look at the weather there over the next couple days. 103 degrees and 75% plus humidity. Yikes! I'll definitely check this out at another time of year.

In 2019 I got a NM state park pass for an extended winter trip but only got to do about 6 months when Covid hit but got to do several of them. Navajo Lake, Ute Lake, Brantley Lake, Bottomless Lake, Oliver Lee, Elephant Bute Reservoir, City of Rocks, Rock Hound and Pancho Villa SP. City of Rocks and Pancho Villa I enjoyed the most but none where bad.

Emphasis on recreating. Bravo buddy. You did it again.

A beautiful peaceful lake with awesome views of the Brazos (peaks). You can also hike to the river below the dam for river fishing. I do think the fee system will be experiencing an upcoming change tho.

I really like that you are doing a review of all the state parks in NM. I'm Canadian and hope to travel there next winter in my Sprinter camper van that I build out. Are Canadians allowed to purchase the yearly pass? is is OK to bring my dog to the camp site as well as on the trails? Thank you for taking the time to share this information with us.

Great video! That campground looks nice but the roads look rough.

Great video review of Heron Lake State Park. It looks huge ! Did you see Herons there too ? Herons are SPIRIT messengers 💜

Sounds like a nice place to visit.

I want to go there as many more places

Thanks for the informative video, just one thing Carlsbad is in the southern part of the state quite a long ways off.

Thank you so much, Brian, for the New Mexico State Pass series. It is calling to me. I'm on the fence about selling my home and full timing, or keeping my house and part timing. About half of my friends and family think I should keep my home at all costs and others are saying full timing sounds like fun! There's a lot for me to weigh. Maybe see you all soon!

There is a grocery store in chama. 25 minutes north of park

Trolling motor only!

I love Bob but you're doing what I needed Bob to do. Please keep up with extensively reviewing areas. I'm not houseless so I'm not in need of how to prepare ramen :))

Great vid, thanx for the effort. Btw do any of these parks have laundry facilities.

Be nice if you could provide video of what you're describing and even drone shots would be good. Get out there and show us😊

Brian great review two questions #1 How did you get the electric hook up site without a reservation #2 Can I bring my dog on the trails Thanks for this series I'm traveling in Oregon on the coast now, but New Mexico is very inviting!!!

I appreciate this. I’m disabled and recovering and I need a place to go put my kayak in the water. I need to find out if I can camp or not.

Thanks for doing the state parks it's great to see! My understanding with getting a your pass you pay half of the fee and not getting camp sites for free

Thank you for the info on state parks in NM. I live in Southern NM and I would love to see what part of the state you're in as you share your information, if that's possible. Your series is very helpful otherwise.

Interesting information Brian! I've stayed at some BLM properties in NM but no state parks, so with the pass, I might stay longer.👍👍

Hi there 👋 I've been on again off again living out of a car just on road trips and such for probably three decades or more so I know about minimal living and how to pack things and how to utilize my space. Now I'm retired, alone, on a fixed income comfortably, and I would really appreciate a bullet point list of what to prioritize to prepare for the 'bug out'. Since 2020 I've been wanting to get a vehicle and out of the general population of renting, etc. Obviously first I need to purchase. But then what? I'll give an example of my brainstorming: set a date for take off. Pick a direction. Map out how long I can drive for a day and pick a stop over for the night, week, whatever. In the early 80s I had a AAA membership and I would book bed-and-breakfasts for my husband and I when we wanted to do a weekend away. Now I'm alone and I'm having trouble making decisions for myself 🤔😵🤦‍♀️. Currently I have no credit cards so I'm thinking one or two might be a good idea for emergency and so I'm not carrying a lot of cash? When I find a unit I like do I have to have one of those solar panels and an energy charger other than maybe for my car battery and inflating tires if I get a flat? I'm thinking I will just plan my routes according to how long I can stay wherever I set for the night. When I'm finished or bored wherever I am I'll just pick a new dot on the map and head on to that one. Am I thinking too simply here? I have one friend in New York, one friend and Alabama, and a couple friends in California. That's it. I currently live in Oregon and am ready to leave the rain behind in search of friendlier outdoor climates. I hope I get a reply from you 😸 thanks for providing this channel

Great series. I would like to know something about the seasonal weather patterns in each of these state parks in order to determine the best time for me to visit them.

Good informational video. How long does it take you to get use to the elevation?

New sub! Liked 🙏🙏😃👍

New sub! Liked 🙏😊😀😀

New sub! Liked 🙏😚😌😀

Thanks, Brian! I’m wondering if there is a concessionaire who rents canoes, paddle boards, etc.

Brian, what is the windshield cover you have on your RV? 😆 Is it for the outside but you use it on inside? Great videos!

I guess five stars equals two thumbs up! LOL sorry just had to. Great series.

i am so homs sick. iused to live there

Thanks for Herring Lake State Park..LoL

Brian, weather wise May, June, mid to late August and September not too hot or cold?

Can you include cell phone service & access to nearby stores in a summary video of your State Park visits? You're very good , ,

Thank you for this information but I'm confused....On top of the yearly pass, there is a $24 reservation fee if you stay 4 nights or more, correct? On top of the reservation fee, if you want power/water you also pay extra for that... Am I understanding this correctly?

Maybe you can give me some ideas. I'm looking to head over to NM in the next 6 months to do something called Mold Avoidance for my health. I'm trying to find cheap or free camping that's not insanely far from a grocery store. I need to be somewhere where I'm mostly secluded from other people to heal. I am drawn to Santa Fe because the grocery stores will have the kind of food I need but I'm open as I'm not super familiar with NM. Thanks very much.

Where do you make reservations at at these places in New Mexico

So it is NOT $18/month because you then have to pay/night on top of the pass? I also need to call and make a reservation even if I have a pass? I'm confused please clarify. Thanks for the series, love it & very helpful.