Soda Pocket
Soda Pocket campground in Sugarite Canyon State park is surrounded by wildflowers. This feature alone would make it a nice campground. However, it also has trails, an amphitheater with weekend events, and pleasantly-spaced campsites. As I type this in the campground, I have also seen several species of birds. This campground contains trailheads for or is near the following hikes: Ponderosa Ridge, Deer Run, Grade Vista, Little Horse Mesa. |  |
Campground data:
| Controlling agency: | New Mexico State Parks; campground web site |
| Location in the state: | Northeast; Sugarite Canyon State Park |
| Waypoint(s): | SODAPKTCG |
| Elevation: | 7919ft; 2414m |
| Number of campsites: | 25 |
| When we visited it: | 2004-09-03. |
| Cleanliness: | 9/10 |
| Fee: | $10.00. |
| Water: | Yes. At the park visitor center and at the Lake Alice Campground. |
| Garbage cans: | Yes. |
| Fire pits: | Yes. With a cooking grate. Not all sites have fire pits. |
| Cooking grills: | No. Sites without fire pits have cooking grills. Some have both. |
| Toilets: | Vault. Very clean. |
| Showers: | Yes. Showers are available across from the visitor center from 7am to 8pm. |
| Handicapped accessible: | Yes. |
| RV info: | No electrical hookups. No water hookups. No sewer hookups. Only site 9 is pull-through. RV Hookups and a dump station are available at the nearby Lake Alice campground. |
| When to camp: | Apr--Oct. The actual date for closing the campground depends on the weather. On Labor Day weekend 2004, people were arriving Friday or earlier and holding sites for others to arrive later. Checking in the visitor's center, I was told that if you pay for the extra spot when you want to hold it, this is OK. |
| General comments: | They sell ice at the visitor center. Sites 2, 4, 7, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, and 23 have shades over the picnic table. These would also be useful when the summer thunderstorms roll in in the afternoon. Some of the other sites have trees that provide either morning or afternoon shade. Sites 2, 3, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, and 23 have bear-proof containers, presumably for storing food. Bring bug repellent; the mosquitos are hungry, especially at dusk. I was buzzed by a hummingbird while typing this; bring your hummingbird feeder. The park contains two lakes, which appear to be popular for fishing. The tables seem to have been designed for a very tall person. A sign said that the water was turned off, but the hydrants must have been well-hidden. Checking at the visitor's center, we were told that it is not known when the water will be restored. |
Maps:
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Getting to the campground:
Take exit 452 from I-25 in Raton. Head east on NM 72 for 3.5 miles; this is the junction with NM 526. Take NM 526 (go straight) for 1.7 miles to the park visitor center.
From the visitor center, continue 2.2 miles to the turnoff to the Soda Pocket campground. This road is steep; keep this in mind if you are in a heavy or underpowered vehicle. This did not prevent RVs (especially trailers) from making it. The campground is 1.5 miles up the road, and the road ends in the campground.
The campground:
 | On the Friday of Labor Day weekend, I arrived at the wrong time to get any
of the sites that have manufactured shade and rain protection. However,
this site (24) has nice shade until afternoon. Plus, shade from trees
has a nicer feel than artificial shade. Overall, I think that this is
one of the nicer campsites in the campground.
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Some of the sites might be considered "view sites", such as sites 9 and
10 pictured here.
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 | Here you can see sites 6 and (part of) 7. Note the manufactured shade.
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One of the most striking features of this campground is the profusion of
wildflowers; they are most anywhere that is not mowed.
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 | About half of the sites have these containers for storing food to keep
it away from bears. If you have a tent, you really do not want to be
storing the food in the open or in the tent with you. These containers
give you another option. In site 3, someone left the doors open;
maybe to show the bears that it was empty?
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Plants we saw in the campground:
Animals we saw in the campground:
Reader comments about this campground:
On Tue Mar 14 15:52:46 2006 Joel from Rio Rancho, NM said:Add your comments about the Soda Pocket campground.
Visitors since the counter started: 7962
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