New Mexico recreation areas, especially mountains, can be hot during the day and much colder at night, so bring layers. Wear whatever you are most comfortable in during the day and bring a warm jacket and pants for nights and mornings. Use unscented products so they don’t attract animals or bugs, and avoid causing a reaction to folks with a fragrance sensitivity/allergy.

We recommend the following equipment and clothing. REI also has great advice on how to go camping for beginners.

Clothing

In addition to enough clothes for the number of days you are camping, we recommend bringing the following:

• warm coat, sweater, or pullover
• warm pants or thermal leggings
• raincoat/poncho
• warm hat/stocking cap
• hiking socks
• weather-appropriate shoes
• sun hat/cap
• sunglasses
• bandana
• any outfits and costume items you’d like to wear or share

Food & Water

• MINIMUM one (1) gallon of water per person, per day. The site does not have any drinking water!
• enough food for the number of days you are attending
• snacks
• cooking gear: anything you need to prepare the food you are bringing (camp stove, matches, utensils, plates, a cup)

Personal Items

• personal toiletries (unscented & small containers)
• sunscreen
• towelettes or bath wipes
• lip balm
• personal medications as needed
• headlamp/small flashlight (with extra batteries)
• portable phone charger if you’ll use your phone flashlight
• bugs are sometimes a problem; consider bringing insect repellent

Camping Equipment

If you have your own equipment, we recommend bringing it since it’s always nice to work with gear that you know. Some folks may have gear available to lend if you don’t have camping equipment (use our forum to coordinate lending/borrowing camping gear with other queer campers). Click here to find where you can rent or purchase gear locally or online.

• tent/shelter with rainfly
• sleeping bag or blankets
• sleeping pad, cot, or other soft layers

Optional Items

• small basic first aid kit/items (band-aids, antihistamine, aspirin, antiseptic wipes…) — we’ll have a fully-stocked first aid kit at the campground
• groundsheet/tarp (for sleeping outside your tent or using below your tent)
• hammock
• string lights to decorate your campsite
• canopy or shade structure
• arts & crafts supplies
• tabletop games, lawn games
• food & snacks to share