8 family-friendly lakes in New Mexico

New Mexico may be best known for deserts, mesas, and mountains, but once summer hits, families take to its lakes. The Land of Enchantment has 62 lakes, ranging from quiet alpine mirrors to motorboat meccas.

Developed lakes managed by New Mexico State Parks or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have facilities for fun day trips or camping. Here are a few favorite family-friendly lakes and reservoirs throughout the state. Reserve day-use pavilions and campsites before you go.

Red sandstone cliffs and dramatic mesas surround this U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Rio Chama. These vistas inspired artist Georgia O’Keeffe to make her home in nearby Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu.

Trout, walleye, bass, and other species lure anglers. It’s also a popular kayaking, sailing, and motorboating spot. Kids will enjoy learning about the area’s wildlife at the small visitors center at the lake’s headquarters. Day-use fee, $5.

Fifty-four reservable sites at Riana Campground accommodate tents and RVs (rates start at $10). Camping isn’t your style? The Abiquiu Inn offers charming Southwestern-style rooms. Rates start at $200, plus a $10 occupancy fee.

Next door to the inn, the Georgia O’Keeffe Welcome Center introduces visitors to the work of the world-renowned artist and the landscape she loved. Admission to the welcome center is free. Guided tours of the O’Keeffe home and studio, $60.

At Ghost Ranch, families can hike through the red-rock terrain and learn about the dinosaurs that roamed here during the Triassic Period some 200 million years ago. Day pass, $10.

This quiet mountain lake 30 minutes north of Jemez Springs via State Route 126 is perfect for family fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, and camping. Its 35 reservable campsites (rates start at $10), including sites with RV hookups, line the Rio Cebolla, which flows out of Fenton Lake. Day-use fee, $5 per vehicle.

Nonmotorized or electric trolling watercraft are permitted, and Fenton Lake is stocked with rainbow and brown trout. Accommodations in Jemez Springs include the Cañon del Rio Inn and Spa (rates start at $159) and restaurants such as Los Ojos Restaurant and Saloon.

For a full-weekend adventure, visit Jemez Historic Site (adults, $7) and Valles Caldera National Monument.

Quiet Clayton Lake is a wildlife stopover beloved by birders. Trolling-speed boating gets anglers on the water for bass, catfish, and walleye. But a key attraction for families is the 100 million-year-old dinosaur tracks embedded in the sandstone along its shores.

Clayton Lake State Park is also an International Dark Sky Park. Its remote location, away from light pollution, is perfect for stargazing. The Clayton and Amarillo astronomy clubs host star parties here throughout the year; contact the park for upcoming events. $5 per vehicle.

Capulin Volcano National Monument, an hour northwest via Interstate 87, is another great family destination. $20 per vehicle.

Families love this U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake on the Rio Grande for its sandy swimming beach and scenic camping. The lake offers 2 public recreation areas. Cochiti Recreation Area has 4 campgrounds with a total of 80 sites for tent camping and RVs. On the east side of the lake, secluded Tetilla Peak Recreation Area has more than 45 sites. Rates start at $10.

Sailors, kiteboarders, and windsurfers take advantage of the winds here, while paddleboarders and kayakers enjoy paddling in the morning hours. Motorboats operating at no-wake speeds are welcome as well. $5 per vehicle.

Santa Rosa is called the City of Natural Lakes for good reason. This Route 66 town has several bodies of water, many naturally formed in the area’s underlying limestone. Santa Rosa Lake, a reservoir on the Pecos River 7 miles north of Santa Rosa, is open to boating, water-skiing, windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, and fishing.

The state park has more than 87 campsites that range from primitive tent camping to RV pads (rates start at $8). The surrounding trails are popular with hikers, equestrians, and birders glassing the many species of migratory birds. $5 per vehicle.

Within city limits, Park Lake is open May through September and features an expansive floating obstacle course called Water Park ($15). It includes a bounce house, climbing wall, and waterslide. Park Lake also has pedal boating and a large waterslide that even adults will enjoy.

At nearby Blue Hole, scuba divers hone their skills in this crystal-clear cenote with a depth of 80 feet, and adventurous swimmers can cliff-jump into the 62-degree artesian water. The stocked Blue Hole fishing pond is open to kids of all ages. $10 per vehicle.

Formed by damming the Canadian River, 25-mile-long Conchas Lake, 31 miles northwest of Tucumcari, has more than 70 developed campsites at 4 campgrounds (rates start at $8). Families can camp along 88 miles of shoreline and on islands that are perfect for secluded kayak or canoe camping.

At least 6 boat ramps get sailboats and motorboats on the water, and water-skiing, windsurfing, and scuba diving are popular here. Bass, bluegill, and other warm-water species make for excellent fishing. $5 per vehicle.

In nearby Tucumcari, Mesalands Dinosaur Museum makes this area a slam dunk for families with aspiring paleontologists. Adults, $8.

The 7 sinkhole lakes here may not be truly bottomless, but they are about 90 feet deep. Scuba diving, swimming, and nonmotorized boating beat the heat at this state park just 14 miles southeast of Roswell.

Visitors can rent pedal boats and paddleboards, and Lea Lake has a protected swimming area with a sandy beach perfect for building sandcastles. Keep your eyes open for Pecos diamonds—quartz crystals unique to this area.

Hiking and mountain biking trails add to the adventure opportunities. A playground, a volleyball court, and picnic shelters round out Bottomless Lakes' day-use options. The park has 32 campsites with hookups (rates start at $14). Day-use admission, $5 per vehicle.

As New Mexico’s largest lake, this reservoir along the Rio Grande near Truth or Consequences is the epicenter of New Mexico lake life. Waterskiing and other motorized sports are popular here, as is fishing for huge striper bass.

Sandy beaches with freshwater shells, approximately 200 developed campsites at 4 campgrounds (rates start at $8), and multiple swimming areas make this a popular family destination. $5 per vehicle.

Pontoon boat rentals ($300 for 3 hours), groceries, water toys, and other supplies can be picked up at Marina del Sur and Rock Canyon Marina. Full services and soaks in natural hot springs are available in Truth or Consequences.

Steve Larese is a travel journalist who explores the American Southwest, whether it’s through learning the local cultures or dropping into remote canyons for days at a time.