Summary: Overpriced grassy lot that calls itself a campground, in a stunning location
Disclaimer: The two RV areas in the campground were chock full of satisfied campers. Seems like that side of the business is running smoothly. Tent camping, not so much. This is a review for those considering tent camping at this location.
PROs: View, proximity to AngelFire, the strangers you share a camping space with might give you s'mores, clean wash house.
Cons: Unreasonably priced, lacking basic components of a tent campsite.
Monte Verde RV Park has a stunning location, sharing a valley of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains with Angel Fire, NM. The area offers day and night awe inspiration, including a wonderfully dark night sky, and a palette of sky art in sunrises, sunsets, and far away rain storms over the mountains. The beauty of the area doesn't disappoint.
But, the campground sure does.
First, it's not a campground.
It's a plot of grass, in front of the owner's home, with a community rain shelter. A lovely storage yard shares in a good chunk of that view. With no marked trails leading out of the campground, you can't really get around that obstruction without violating LeaveNoTrace.
While not listed as a walk-in campsite, the designated parking is a good 40 yards away, so lots of hauling at cooler back-and-forth from the car to the two picnic tables shared with all tent campers. You can trade proximity to the rain shelter for proximity to your car, if you don't mind being right across the gravel path from the owners' front window.
The wash house was actually quite nice. Having to carry around a key for it at all times was kind of a hassle. The ladies side was a well-lit single shower, toilet, and separate sink areas all with no odor whatsover. (Although time to replace that bath mat. Ew.)
Now, let's talk about how they charge for all those amenities.
$15 PERSON/NIGHT. That's right, per-person. If it were a party of six, that would be $90 per night. Three times as much as a comparable campground at some of the US' most popular and sought-after camping destinations. Except they're not really comparable. Those campsites have their own picnic table, a parking spot right nearby, at least one or two trees or shrubs to designate your area from your neighbors.
- Canyon / Grant Village in Yellowstone: $28/night, for a limit of six people.
- Estes Park campground near RMNP: $30/night, also for a party of six.
References:
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
http://www.evrpd.com/district-facilities/campgrounds/274-rates-reservation-guidelines
Overall, it seems like this is a successful RV camp that tried and failed to add tent camping as an afterthought. Angel Fire and the surrounding area is beautiful and enjoyable enough, even on a rainy day, to make up for the disappointment that was this camping location. But I'll be looking elsewhere to pitch my tent when I return read more