Taos area camping - any public showers?

ArkPaddler · 05-29-2012, 10:57 AM

Going to be camping in the Taos area for a few days at a campground with no running water. Know of any places in the area that have showers available to the public?

TaterHarry · 05-29-2012, 11:13 AM

Someone will probably know of something closer, but you might consider a day trip over to the springs in Ojo Caliente to take the waters and use the shower facilities there. The day use rates are pretty reasonable..

Thebes · 05-29-2012, 05:36 PM

I believe that there are showers in the Orilla Verde BLM rec area south of Taos, from NM68 in Pilar take NM 570 west and procede along the river. I've never used them. There are several developed campgrounds and several primitive campgrounds down there, pretty area.

There are also public showers at the pool at the Taos Youth and Family Center at 407 Paseo del Canon E (US 64) a mile or two East of Paseo del Pueblo (NM68). Cost is $2 for a shower only, $3 to also use the pool. Locals without running water commonly use this as a showering hole. This would be a good choice if you camped up, say, Ski Valley Road at one of the free primitive sites in the National Forest.

There are also several free hot springs in the area. The best is Black Rock hot springs, located in the gorge west of Arroyo Seco, take B007 or B005 to John Dunn Bridge Road. This road proceeds across the river, park at the first switchback. One can continue West along this gravel road with steep switchbacks- because of recent Gorge Bridge construction and this gravel road's use for relief during closures, it is currently passable to even a tourist in a minivan, I would guess even a big bike can do it in even wet weather through the end of this year... then who knows.

ArkPaddler · 05-30-2012, 03:44 AM

Thanks, that gives me some good options.

Hair · 05-30-2012, 06:26 AM

Sipapu use to let their campers use the showers too. That is right in the heart of both trail and road riding in the area.
So if the BLM area doesn't have any check out Sipapu.

TNC · 05-30-2012, 08:39 AM

What's wrong with a solar shower? I just about refuse to crawl into my sleeping bag in the back of my van at night without a shower after a day's riding. I've been using the solar shower for many years. Even if there are some other people around, just slip on some baggy, quick-drying, athletic shorts or a swim suit. You can wash your hair and take a darned good shower with one of these things. Wear a pair of plastic sandals and even wash your feet separately later on before putting your socks on for the night. Now, if you're doing off-the-bike camping, I kind of understand the difficulty with the solar shower.

On that area around Taos for camping, there is running water in a great camping area just south down the road from the Sipapu ski HQ on hwy 518. You turn into the well-graded dirt road in Duran Canyon, and there is provided running water a mile or two down the road there...along with many excellent campsites right beside Duran Creek. The camping closer to hwy 518 is $6 a night with restrooms and trash pickup, but they're free as you drive further down Duran Canyon with no facilities.

05-29-2012, 10:57 AM	#1
ArkPaddler ^OP ArkPaddler Joined: May 2006 Location: Lavaca, Ar Oddometer: 10	Taos area camping - any public showers? Going to be camping in the Taos area for a few days at a campground with no running water. Know of any places in the area that have showers available to the public?

05-29-2012, 05:36 PM	#3
Thebes Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2011 Location: near Taos Oddometer: 151	I believe that there are showers in the Orilla Verde BLM rec area south of Taos, from NM68 in Pilar take NM 570 west and procede along the river. I've never used them. There are several developed campgrounds and several primitive campgrounds down there, pretty area. There are also public showers at the pool at the Taos Youth and Family Center at 407 Paseo del Canon E (US 64) a mile or two East of Paseo del Pueblo (NM68). Cost is $2 for a shower only, $3 to also use the pool. Locals without running water commonly use this as a showering hole. This would be a good choice if you camped up, say, Ski Valley Road at one of the free primitive sites in the National Forest. There are also several free hot springs in the area. The best is Black Rock hot springs, located in the gorge west of Arroyo Seco, take B007 or B005 to John Dunn Bridge Road. This road proceeds across the river, park at the first switchback. One can continue West along this gravel road with steep switchbacks- because of recent Gorge Bridge construction and this gravel road's use for relief during closures, it is currently passable to even a tourist in a minivan, I would guess even a big bike can do it in even wet weather through the end of this year... then who knows. Thebes screwed with this post 05-29-2012 at 05:43 PM Reason: hot springs info

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05-29-2012, 11:13 AM	#2
TaterHarry Fake N00b Joined: Sep 2006 Location: NNM Oddometer: 1,485	Someone will probably know of something closer, but you might consider a day trip over to the springs in Ojo Caliente to take the waters and use the shower facilities there. The day use rates are pretty reasonable..

05-30-2012, 03:44 AM	#4
ArkPaddler ^OP ArkPaddler Joined: May 2006 Location: Lavaca, Ar Oddometer: 10	Thanks, that gives me some good options.

05-30-2012, 06:26 AM	#5
Hair 10 fingers 10 toes Joined: Dec 2003 Oddometer: 12,012	Sipapu use to let their campers use the showers too. That is right in the heart of both trail and road riding in the area. So if the BLM area doesn't have any check out Sipapu.

05-30-2012, 08:39 AM	#6
TNC Candyass Camper Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Tejas Oddometer: 3,341	What's wrong with a solar shower? I just about refuse to crawl into my sleeping bag in the back of my van at night without a shower after a day's riding. I've been using the solar shower for many years. Even if there are some other people around, just slip on some baggy, quick-drying, athletic shorts or a swim suit. You can wash your hair and take a darned good shower with one of these things. Wear a pair of plastic sandals and even wash your feet separately later on before putting your socks on for the night. Now, if you're doing off-the-bike camping, I kind of understand the difficulty with the solar shower. On that area around Taos for camping, there is running water in a great camping area just south down the road from the Sipapu ski HQ on hwy 518. You turn into the well-graded dirt road in Duran Canyon, and there is provided running water a mile or two down the road there...along with many excellent campsites right beside Duran Creek. The camping closer to hwy 518 is $6 a night with restrooms and trash pickup, but they're free as you drive further down Duran Canyon with no facilities.