Upon entering, the visitor center and lodge area will be on your right.
The lodge is a beautiful wood and stone structure that can be rented for weddings, receptions, or other gatherings. In the winter, the hill behind the lodge is popular for sledding.
Shelter One:
Shelter Two:
Shelter Three:
New this year are three yurts. I have never camped in one but they look like fun.
There is also a nifty playground for the kiddos near group shelter three.
The campground itself straddles the road.On the right, just past the visitor center, is the main camping loop entrance. This road is not advised for trailers over 18 feet long. Vault toilets and water spigots can be found throughout the park.
Some of the 40 or so sites here have shade shelters, the rest are basic mountain spots.
Next to the upper boundary of the park on the left side are the RV sites with electricity.
There are just seven of these, the first three being first come first serve and the other four are available for reservations.
If you continue up the road into the national forest there are several pull outs with views towards Santa Fe.
There is an extensive trail system throughout the park but be aware that the west circle trail tops out at 9440 feet and is quite strenuous. Kid friendly trails can be found closer to the campground.
I had timed my visit here to coincide with the ribbon cutting ceremony for the yurts, but the forest service decided to close down the Santa Fe National Forest due to the possibility of wildfires. Hyde is within the confines of the forest so the ceremony will be rescheduled and all the campers had to leave.
Ironically, when I arrived a few days earlier, the weather was distinctly not fire friendly.
And where was brave Freddy the Wonderpup during this late May storm?
Well, he is a smart dog. He just grabbed his ball and curled up on my bed, leaving me a nice wet place to sleep.
Regards,
Greg and Freddy
