8 family-friendly lakes in New Mexico

New Mexico may be best known for its desert beauty, majestic mesas, and soaring 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 are managed by New Mexico State Parks or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and have facilities for fun day trips or camping. Below are a few of our favorite family-friendly lakes and reservoirs throughout the state. Make reservations for day-use pavilions and camping sites at www.recreation.gov.

Red sandstone cliffs and dramatic mesas surround this U.S. 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, and kayaking, sailing, and motorized boating are popular. Kids will enjoy learning about the area’s wildlife at the small nature center at the lake’s headquarters. More than 50 reservation sites at the Riana campground accommodate tents and RVs, and the Abiquiu Inn offers charming Southwestern rooms. 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. 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.

This quiet mountain lake 30 minutes north of Jemez Springs via New Mexico Route 126 is perfect for family fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, and camping. There are 34 reservation camping sites, including sites with RV hookups, along the Rio Cebolla, which flows out of Fenton Lake. Nonmotorized or electric trolling motor watercraft are permitted, and Fenton Lake is stocked with rainbow and brown trout. Jemez Springs offers a range of accommodations, including the Cañon del Rio Inn and Spa, and restaurants such as Los Ojos Restaurant and Saloon. For a full weekend adventure, families can visit Jemez Historic Site and the Valles Caldera National Monument.

Quiet Clayton Lake is a wildlife stopover beloved by birders, and trolling-speed boating gets anglers on the water for bass, catfish, and walleye. But a key attraction for families are the 100 million-year-old dinosaur tracks embedded in the sandstone along its shores. Clayton Lake State Park, in a remote location away from light pollution, is also an International Dark Sky Park, perfect for stargazing. The Clayton and Amarillo astronomy clubs host star parties here throughout the year; contact the park for upcoming events. Capulin Volcano National Monument, an hour northwest via Interstate 87, makes for another great family destination.

Families love this U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake on the Rio Grande for its sandy swimming beach and scenic camping. The no-wake lake offers two public recreation areas. The Cochiti Recreation Area has four campgrounds with a total of 80 sites for tent camping and RVs, and the secluded Tetilla Peak Recreation Area on the east side of the lake has more than 45 sites. Sailors, kayakers, paddleboarders, and windsurfers take advantage of the winds here, and motorboats operating at no-wake speeds are welcome as well. At nearby Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, families can hike through slot canyons and surreal cone-shaped rock formations left from the area’s volcanic past.

Santa Rosa is called the City of Natural Lakes for good reason. This Route 66 town has several lakes, 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. There are more than 70 camping sites that range from primitive tent camping to RV pads. Hikers, equestrians, and birders glassing the many species of migratory birds enjoy the surrounding trails. Within city limits, Park Lake is open May through September and features an expansive floating playground, paddleboats, and a large water slide. 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 children 10 and younger.

Formed by damming the Conchas and South Canadian rivers, this 25-mile-long lake 31 miles northwest of Tucumcari has more than 70 developed campsites at four campgrounds. Families can camp along the 88 miles of shoreline and islands, perfect for secluded kayak or canoe camping. At least five 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. In nearby Tucumcari, the Mesalands Dinosaur Museum makes this area a slam dunk for families with aspiring paleontologists.

The sinkhole lakes here may not be truly bottomless, but they are about 90 feet deep. Scuba diving, swimming, sailing, and no-wake boating beat the heat 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 sand castles. Keep your eyes open for Pecos diamonds–quartz crystals unique to this area. Hiking and mountain biking trails add to adventure. There are 32 campsites with hookups, and a playground, volleyball court, and picnic shelters make Bottomless Lakes a great day-use destination.

As New Mexico’s largest lake, this reservoir along the Rio Grande near Truth or Consequences is the epicenter of New Mexico lake life. Water-skiing and other motorized sports are popular here, as is fishing for huge striper bass. Sandy beaches with freshwater shells and nearly 400 developed camping sites and swimming areas make this a popular family destination. Pontoon boats, groceries, water toys, and other supplies can be picked up at the Marina del Sur, Rock Canyon Marina, and other shops near the lake. 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.