Bluewater Lake State Park
28 miles west of Grants via I-40 and New Mexico 412
(505) 876-2391
Rolling hills studded with piñon and juniper trees encircle the lake,
which is stocked with trout and catfish and is popular for year-round fishing.
Elevation: 7,400. Land Acres: 3,000. Lake Surface Area: 1,200.
16 miles SE of Roswell on US 380
(505) 624-6058
Bordered by high red bluffs, the seven small park lakes offer a variety of
recreation opportunities induding swimming, fishing, and scuba diving.
Elevation: 3,500. Land Acres: 3,000. Lake Surface Acres: 45.
12 miles north of Carlsbad on US 285
(505) 457-2384
This southern desert park offers fishing, water sports, and a visitor center
with historical exhibits about the Wild West town of Seven Rivers.
Elevation: 3,300. Land Acres: 3,000. Lake Surface Acres: 2,800.
16 miles South of Truth or Consequences on I-25
(505) 743-3942
The Caballo Mountains serve as a backdrop to the park, which offers a full
array of water sports, winter waterfowl watching, and extensive cactus gardens.
Elevation: 4,100. Land Acres: 5,300. Lake Surface Acres: 11,500.
9 miles NE of Roy on NM 120
(505) 485-2424
This small natural-lake park offers historical exhibits of area cattle drives
along the Goodnight-Loving Trail.
Elevation: 5,900. Land Acres: 640. Lake Surface Acres: 40.
3 miles east of Eagle Nest on US 64
(505) 377-6271
Located in New Mexico's high country, the park is part of a state wildlife
area, where overnight visitors must have a valid fishing or hunting license.
Trout fishing is excellent, and wildlife is abundant.
Elevation: 8,000. Land Acres: 33,000.
28 miles NE of Deming via US 180 and NM 61
(505) 536-2800
Volcanic rock, created millions of years ago by the sculpting of wind and
water into rows of monolithic blocks, gives this park its name. Cactus gardens
and hiking trails are also featured.
Elevation: 5,200. Land Acres: 680.
15 miles north of Clayton on NM 370
(505) 374-8808
Clayton Lake, set among rolling grasslands, offers good trout, catfish, and
bass fishing. A short trail overlooks a 100-million-year-old dinosaur trackway
containing nearly 500 footprints.
Elevation: 5,100. Land Acres: 420. Lake Surface Acres: 150.
34 miles NW of Tucumcari on NM 104
(505) 868-2270
This 25-mile long reservoir offers a full spectrum of water-based recreation
activities, a restaurant, general store, and lodging facilities.
Elevation: 4,200. Land Acres: 290. Lake Surface Acres: 9,600.
On the Rio Grande in Bernalillo on NM 44
(505) 867-5589
Splendid views of the Sandia Mountains and the Rio Grande Valley
complement the park's camping and picnicking facilities. Coronado State
Monument (pueblo ruins) is adjacent.
Elevation: 5,600. Land Acres: 210.
14 miles north of Mora on NM 434
(505) 387-2328
Secluded in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains beside a stream dotted with
beaver ponds, this park offers hiking and fishing for rainbow and brown
trout.
Elevation: 7,700. Land Acres: 80.
7 miles north of Truth or Consequences on I-25
(505) 744-5421
The largest and most popular lake in New Mexico, Elephant Butte
Reservoir is 43 miles long and has a full array of water-based sports and land
activities. Lake fish species include bass, channel catfish, and crappie. The visitor
center offers regional interpretive exhibits.
Elevation: 4,700. Land Acres: 24,500. Lake Surface Acres: 36,500.
14 miles SW of Tierra Amarilla on NM 112
(505) 588-7247
Located in New Mexico's northern mountains, the park offers both
summer and winter sports activities. A 5 1/2 mile scenic trail along the Rio
Chama connects El Vado with nearby Heron Lake.
Elevation: 6,900. Land Acres: 1,730. Lake Surface Acres: 3,200
33 miles NW of San Ysidro via NM 44 and NM 4
(505) 829-3630
Surrounded by beautiful ponderosa pine forests, Fenton Lake is a popular
year-round retreat. A cross-country ski/biathlon trail and wheelchair-accessible
fishing platforms are special features of the park.
Elevation: 7,900. Land Acres: 700. Lake Surface Acres: 25.
4 miles NW of Hobbs on NM 18
(505) 392-5845
This extensively landscaped park offers cool greenery surrounding a pair of
small ponds. Historical exhibits are located in the visitor center.
Elevation 3,700. Land Acres: 40. Lake Survace Acres: 1.
11 miles west of Tierra Amarilla via US 64 and NM 95
(505) 588-7470
Set among tall pines, Heron has been designated a "quiet lake" where boats
may operate at no-wake speeds only. It is best known for its excellent sailing,
fishing, cross-country skiing, and hiking.
Elevation: 7,200. Land Acres: 4,100. Lake Surface Acres: 5,900.
12 miles NE of Santa Fe via Hyde Park Road/NM 475
(505) 983-7175
Located near the Santa Fe Ski Basin, Hyde Park offers camping
and picnicking among tall pines, and is also used as a base for backpackers and
hikers. A full-service restaurant is located in the park.
Elevation: 8,500. Land Acres: 350.
15 miles north of Las Cruces on I-25
(505) 524-4068
Leasburg Dam channels water from the Rio Grande for irrigation of the
Mesilla Valley, providing a pleasant spot for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking.
Nearby Fort Selden State Monument has a museum and trails.
Elavation: 4,200. Land Acres 140.
13 mils NW of Mountainair on NM 55
(505) 847-2820
Nestled in the wooded foothills of the Manzano Mountains, the park is an
excellent place for birdwatching, photography, hiking, and cross-country skiing.
Salinas National Monument is located nearby.
Elevation: 7,600. Land Acres: 160.
4 miles south of Mora via NM 94, 7 miles west of Ledoux
25 miles east of Bloomfield via US 64 and NM 511
18 miles SW of Clovis via US 60 and NM 467
10 miles south of Alamogordo on US 54
35 miles south of Deming on NM 11
Experience the history behind
Pancho Villa State Park,
courtesy of Betty Reynolds,
New Mexico Tech Library Director.
21 miles south of Truth or Consequences on I-25
14 miles SE of Deming via NM 11 and access road 549
7 miles north of Santa Rosa on access road
In Belen on Reinken/River Road on the Rio Grande
4 miles north of Las Vegas on NM 518
10 miles NE of Raton on NM 526
16 miles NW of Fort Sumner via US 84 and NM 203
3 miles west of Logan on NM 540
31 miles SW of Las Vegas via I-25 and NM 3
In Carlsbad off US 285
In Albuquerque on Candelaria NW
In downtown Santa Fe along the Santa Fe River
In Capitan on US 380
(505) 387-2328
A primitive use area, this high mountain lake is accessible by foot,
horseback, or four-wheel drive. The lake is stocked with trout and boating is
limited to electric motors or oars.
Navajo Lake State Park
(505) 632-2278
Navajo Lake comprises three separate recreation areas. Pine River is the
most developed area, including a visitor center with interpretive exhibits. Across
the lake is Sims Mesa, accessible by NM 527. San Juan River is nationally
recognized for excellent trout fishing, and includes wheelchair-accessible
camping and fishing facilities.
Elevation: 6,100. Land Acres: 21,000 Lake Surface Acres: 15,000. Oasis State Park
(505) 356-5331
A true oasis, the park is set among cottonwood trees, shifting sand dunes,
and a small fishing lake.
Elevation: 4,000. Land Acres: 190. Lake Survace Acres: 4. Oliver Lee Memorial State Park
(505) 437-8284
The park, set against the west-facing escarpment of the Sacramento
Mountains, offers extensive historical exhibits and a fully restored 10th century
ranch house. Springs from Dog Canyon support a variety of exotic plant species.
Elevation: 4,300. Land Acres: 200. Pancho Villa State Park
(505) 531-2711
On March 9, 1916, the soldiers of General Francisco "Pancho" Villa attacked
the small border town of Columbus. Pancho Villa State Park commemorates
that raid with extensive historical exhibits and an exotic desert botanical garden.
Elevation: 4,000. Land Acres: 60. Percha Dam State Park
(505) 743-3942
Set in the deep shade of towering cottonwoods, this park features fishing
and hiking along a Rio Grande irrigation diversion dam.
Elevation: 4,100. Land Acres: 80. Rockhound State Park
(505) 546-6182
Located on the rugged west slope of the Little Florida Mountains, this park
is a favorite of rockhounds. Agates and quartz crystals are found in abundance
within the park, and hiking trails offer visitors spectacular views.
Elevation: 4,500. Land Acres: 1,100. Santa Rosa Lake State Park
(505) 472-3110
This high plains Pecos River reservoir offers a variety of water sports
including fishing for catfish, bass, and walleye.
Elevation: 4,800. Land Acres: 500. Lake Surface Acres, 3,800. Senator Willie M. Chavez State Park
(505) 864-3915
Located in the cottonwoods along the Rio Grande, the park is popular for
birdwatching and hiking.
Elevation: 4,800. Land Acres: 110. Storrie Lake State Park
<505) 425-7278
Storrie Lake, popular for fishing and boating, also attracts colorful
windsurfing boats because of its favorable summer breezes. The visitor center
features historical exhibits on the Santa Fe Trail and 19th-century Las Vegas.
Elevation: 6,400. Land Acres: 80. Lake Surface Acres: 1,100. Sugarite Canyon State Park
(505) 445-5607
Located on the border with Colorado, this heavily wooded mountain park
is a cool summer haven and is popular in the winter for ice-fishing and cross-
country skiing. No gasoline motors are allowed on the lakes.
Elevation: 7,800. Land Acres: 3,600. Lake Surface Acres: 120. Sumner Lake State Park
(505) 355-2541
Sumner Lake is stocked with bass, crappie, and channel catfish, and is a
winter haven for migrating waterfowl.
Elevation: 4,300. Land Acres: 6,700. Lake Surface Acres: 4,500. Ute Lake State Park
(505) 487-2284
Offering some of the best walleye fishing in New Mexico, Canadian River
reservoir also provides good fishing for bass, crappie, and channel catfish.
Elevation: 3,900. Land Acres: 1,500. Lake Surface Acres: 8,200. Villenueve State Park
(505) 421-2957
Couched between high red sandstone bluffs on the Pecos River, this park is
located near the picturesque Spanish-colonial village of Villanueva, offering
hiking trails with views of old ranching ruins.
Elevation: 5,600. Land Acres: 1,600. Day Use Only Parks
Living Desert State Park
(505) 887-5516
Dedicated to the interpretation of the Chihuahuan Desert, the park is an
indoor/outdoor living museum of New Mexico's plants and animals, displaying
more than 60 animal species and 1,000 different plants native to New Mexico.
Rio Grand Nature Center State Park
(505) 344-7240
Located on the central Rio Grande flyway, the Nature Center is winter
home to Canada geese, sandhill cranes, and various species of ducks and other
waterfowl. A trail system along the river, classrooms, and an extensive library
with viewing areas complement the visitor center exhibits. Santa Fe River State Park
(505) 827-7465
Located in the heart of the capital city of Santa Fe, the park offers shaded,
tree-lined walkways and picnic tables along the Santa Fe River. Smokey Bear Historical State Park
(505) 354-2748
The park, commemorating the history of Smokey Bear as the national
symbol of forest fire prevention, features estensive exhibits and a short nature
trail where the original Smokey Bear is buried.
Last modified February 21, 1995
Jim Peavler
jmp@viva.com