How Not to be a Disruptive Force In the Cosmic Campground, New Mexico!

The Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary (CCIDSS) in the Gila National Forest in New Mexico is an international dark sky sanctuary which nearest light source is more 40 miles away. It was created to allow those that visit the opportunity to have a 360 degree unobstructed view of the night sky.

But I was there in April 2022 for an evening and so many people made that not happen. One guy arrived as loud as you can be with full headlights on, another camper was using a flashlight, several different campers were opening car or van doors with lights that came on automatically with one that did not even bother to close his door for over 5 minutes, and just other campers that did not care about the rules. They became a disruptive force for all of us that were trying to watch the night sky.

How to ensure that you are not a Disruptive Force?

• Arrive before night fall so you don’t use your headlights or don’t use your headlight after leaving the highway and just have your running lights. (But go slow as cows might be on the road!)
• Stay overnight so you don’t have to use your headlights to leave the campgrounds after dark or don’t use your headlights before getting to the highway
• Don’t park or start campfires on the observation/telescope pads
• Use a red filter over your flashlight lens or get a red light flashlight
• Turn off your vehicles overhead lights and door lights (If you can’t, don’t plan to get anything from your vehicle until sunrise.)
• Don’t use cell phones
• Quiet times are from 10 pm to 6 am, i.e. no music, yelling, or other loud noises
• Dogs on leashes!

For my van, I know that the headlights and inside lights come on when I use the key to unlock my doors remotely. Therefore, I made sure that I locked the van before dark and left a door up when I left the van. I did not use a flashlight but it had a red cover. I put my phone and computer away for the evening.

The night that I camped here, a lot of people did not follow the rules! It was very disruptive and made the night very difficult for those of us that wanted to watch the sky!

Why are the rules so important?

Night Vision is important for those that are enjoying the night sky. It can take 30 minutes or more for your eyes to get back their Night Vision after you get flash by headlights, a cell phone, flashlight, or other white lights. The night vision helps you see the stars so much better!

The other rules are just come common sense for everyone in the camping area.

Where is the Cosmic Campgrounds Located!

The Campgrounds is in the Gila National Forest about 8 miles from Alma, New Mexico. If you are going down U.S. Highway 180, it is between milepost 37 and 38. It is very isolated with a few farms and a lot of cows around. They have so great signs along the highway but watch close because you could miss them. Once on the dirt road, it is about 1.3 miles in across a cattle guard.

Keep a close eye out for cows and their calfs. They are running all around the campgrounds but not inside. They are great to watch during the day!

Cost and Reservations!

The cost to stay is FREE and you can stay up to 14 days free in a 30 day time frame. It is first come first serve. It only has toilets with no running water! A bit rustic but so wonderful.

What to do while at the Cosmic Campgrounds!

Plan to get up early or stay up late. The view of the sky is just incredible. The sky is just so brite with stars with the lack of light from outside sources. If you have a telescope, then it is a great place to set it up. If not, you can see so much of the sky without one. I actually laid a blanket on the table and laid down to watch the stars for a long time.

During the day, the area has great hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activities in the Gila Forest National Park. Down the way is the Catwalk Recreational area and the ranger station which is wonderful for information on hikes in the area and other information about the forest.

About 2.5 hours away is the Gila Cliff Dwellings which is a great day trip while staying at the campgrounds. It is just past Silver Springs so a great place to stock up on things. Or stop by on your way in and out of the area!

Bring Water!!!

The closest store is about 8 miles down the road in Alma which is has a gas station and a little convenience store. If you are looking for more stores the Silver City would be the closest which is about an 1 1/2 hours away. The Campground is out in the middle of nowhere for the best view of the sky but that means that all it offers is pit toilet which was very clean when I was up there. But it means that you have to bring in all your water and all supplies.

Water is the most important because it hot up here with little shade. If you need a shower, then you will be doing without or have a portable shower. Whatever water you think that you might need double it!

The most important thing is to enjoy yourself and relax but be respectful of those around you!

Brief History

The Cosmic Campground is the first International Dark Sky Sanctuary located in North America. It was opened in 2016. International Dark Sky Sanctuaries are lands that possess an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights. The Cosmic Campgrounds is only one of fourteen certified IDA Sanctuaries in the world. Because the Cosmic Campgrounds is located on Federal Land which is a National Forest System, it is unlikely to become to overall costly or overly developed.