Rockhound State Park — Attraction in New Mexico

I enjoyed my 14-day stay at this Deming, New Mexico State Park. Other than songs from birds this park was quite. Cacatu were in full bloom, the sky clear, and mountains visible from all camp site angles.

All camp sites includes a cover roof over a picnic table and bench which is bolted to a concert slab floor. As well as grills a short distance from the picnic table area which allows campers to grill foods out doors on none windy days. Also, personal trash cans are present on each site because there are no dumpsters on this campground.

I found Rockhound grounds staff to be friendly and helpful. All you need to do is ask if you need help. Although, the grounds are gravel and rocked, this park is extremely clean because staff manually rake sites when campers checkout and/or early before guests exit his/her tents, trailers, vehicles, or motorhomes to begin another day of activities.

During my interaction with the concierge and rangers, I discovered Rockhound is a popular destination for hikers and rock collectors, who travels from everywhere to do the before mentioned activities. Further, rock collectors are encouraged to take souvenirs from the park.

I don't collect rocks or hike mountains, but I respect the folks, who do and spent a lot of time watching and praying for hikers.

My motorhome is a self-contained vehicle, so I do a lot of boondocking (also known as dry camping). But, you can reserve a campsite with utility hookups which are usually crowded by families...

Dates of stay: 22-24 Jan 2020. Very nice park. 6 non-electric sites. 24 or so electric and water sites. I prefer non-electric sites, so that is what I ended up with. I think the popular time for this park is Oct-Apr. After that it would be pretty hot. During the popular time, I think it would be pretty hard to get an electric site (quite a popular place). The camp host (Karen), is probably the most engaged camp host I have come across...she is dedicated to making sure folks enjoy their stay. In fact, all of the advertised camping spots were full shortly after I arrived...several folks came in and she made it work out. She put some folks in the group camping area and put some folks in the day use area. A couple of odd things that I noticed. I didn't see a community water spigot (other than in front of the visitor center which is a couple football fields from the park). Secondly, only one vault toilet in the camp. That vault toilet is in the day use area. If staying at the non-electric sites you will hike a little more than you may be use to, but you get a very, very nice shower and toilet facility. The walk to the vault toilet takes you down a 12 ft ravine and back up (or you can take the longer route by staying on park roads). Two nice trailheads located at Rockhound (.5 mile trail and a 1.1 mile). Short drive to Spring Canyon State Park (day use only) that has other (more challenging trails)...also very nice views that you can't get from Rockhound. Great stay,...

At the edge of the Florida Mountains in Rockhound State Park, where the wind whistles secrets through the agate-covered hills, campers whisper about a creature not quite of this world—the Rockhound.

They say it rises at twilight, a hulking figure half-born of earth. Its lower body is jagged stone—raw geode veins pulsing faintly with purple light—while its upper half is something else entirely: part mist, part shadow, with glowing amber eyes that never blink. It lumbers through the park, dragging echoes behind it like chains, searching.

No one knows what it seeks, only that it’s drawn to clinking rock hammers and laughter. One night, a geologist swore he watched it lean over a pile of jasper fragments, gently scooping one into its smoky hand before vanishing into a tumble of loose gravel like it was never there.

The locals say if you leave a polished stone near the visitor center under a full moon, it might disappear by morning—and you’ll find a strange new specimen in your pocket the next day. Something not on any chart.

No one’s sure if the Rockhound guards the mountain or if the mountain made it just to keep itself company.

But everyone agrees: never take more than you need… and never, ever go...