Field note

Fourth of July Campground sits at the mouth of Tajique Canyon, on the east side of the Manzano Mountains, Mountainair Ranger District, Cibola National Forest. The Forest Service calls the trees at the head of the canyon the largest stand of Rocky Mountain bigtooth maple in New Mexico. Two loops of sites take tents and pop-up campers only. There is no water. The campground is open April through November. A night is $10; day use is $5 a vehicle. The Fourth of July Trail leaves the west end of the campground and climbs into the Manzano Mountain Wilderness toward the Manzano Crest Trail. The Albuquerque Trail and the Crimson Maple Trail start from the same complex. The maples turn red and gold in October. Tajique is the nearest town. This plate is Fourth of July Canyon in the Manzanos, not Fourth of July Lake in the White Cloud Mountains of Idaho and not Sandia Crest.

Fourth of July Canyon is the bigtooth maple stand at the head of Tajique Canyon, in the Manzano Mountains. The campground sits at the mouth. Tajique is the town. This plate is that Manzano canyon, not Fourth of July Lake in the White Clouds of Idaho.