Would you like to visit one of the clearest lakes in New Mexico? In this vast and rugged land, there are plenty of hiking trails. Whether you are looking for a quick trek to pass a lazy afternoon or a grueling backpacking trip, you can find it all in this enchanting landscape. If the latter option sounds like an adventure right up your alley, you’ll want to make the trek to Lake Katherine.
Tucked away in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico, Lake Katherine is a true hidden gem.
Clay Junell/Flickr Crystal clear waters easily mirror the sky while the mountain and pines encircle the lake, making it one of the best swimming spots in New Mexico. Lake Katherine, New Mexico 87506, USA
Sitting at an elevation of 11,745 feet, Lake Katherine in New Mexico is considered one of the highest in the state.
Sarah Richter/Flickr Depending on your location, you just might find yourself standing right at the point where the tree line ends.
The lake is accessible only by a grueling 15-mile hike via Winsor Trail.
Shane Lamb/AllTrails Winsor Trail, New Mexico, USA
The trail is well-defined yet demanding.
Euni S./AllTrails During this steep hike, the elevation can feel daunting, and switchbacks near the lake can be intimidating to novice hikers. For that reason, you may want to consider upping your game on leg day in the weeks before this hike.
Your arrival at Lake Katherine, however, makes the trek entirely worth it.
Sarah Richter/Flickr Enjoy the glassy waters and the refreshing scent of the pines surrounding some of the clearest water in New Mexico.
While it is possible to complete this trail in a day, that doesn’t leave much time to enjoy the scenery and crisp mountain air before making it back to your vehicle before sundown.
Shane Lamb/AllTrails For this particular hike, we suggest planning an overnight backpacking trip so you have time to rest, enjoy the lake, and a night under the stars.
Lake Katherine is located in the Santa Fe National Forest via the Winsor Trail #254.
Google Maps
Are your bags packed yet? If you go, be sure to follow the Leave No Trace principles to help preserve the wilderness for future generations. Keep in mind that camping sites and campfires must be located at least 200 feet from the lake.
Clay Junell/Flickr
Crystal clear waters easily mirror the sky while the mountain and pines encircle the lake, making it one of the best swimming spots in New Mexico.
Lake Katherine, New Mexico 87506, USA
Sarah Richter/Flickr
Depending on your location, you just might find yourself standing right at the point where the tree line ends.
Shane Lamb/AllTrails
Winsor Trail, New Mexico, USA
Euni S./AllTrails
During this steep hike, the elevation can feel daunting, and switchbacks near the lake can be intimidating to novice hikers. For that reason, you may want to consider upping your game on leg day in the weeks before this hike.
Enjoy the glassy waters and the refreshing scent of the pines surrounding some of the clearest water in New Mexico.
For this particular hike, we suggest planning an overnight backpacking trip so you have time to rest, enjoy the lake, and a night under the stars.
Google Maps
Looking for a hike that is just a little less daunting? Round up the kiddos and head to Two Rivers Park in Ruidoso for an easy hike. Read more in Two Rivers Park In Ruidoso, New Mexico Is the Perfect Spot For An Effortless Hike And Picnic.
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Address: Lake Katherine, New Mexico 87506, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Clearest Lakes in New Mexico July 05, 2022 Carolyn Harmon Where is another one of the clearest lakes in New Mexico? Navajo Lake is hidden in Navajo Dam sitting in Navajo Lake State Park in the northwestern part of New Mexico. The lake, a part of the Colorado River Storage Project, manages the upper areas of the San Juan River competing with the lake’s clear, blue beauty. Its job is to store and release water locally used for irrigation or eventually reaching the Colorado River in Utah. This world-class fishing area offers trails and camping. Where is one of the best swimming spots in New Mexico? Abiquiú Lake offers some of the happiest summertime fun in New Mexico. This U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-managed lake offers a swim beach, recreation areas, and a campground. The 5,200-surface-acre reservoir also offers some of the finest fishing in northern New Mexico and scenery, such as the Cerro Pedernal and colorful rock formations including Juniper, Sage, and Pinon. And for you fossil hunters out there, it is possible to find 200-million-year-old reptile fossils. Where is one of the best museums in New Mexico? Explore the fascinating life and what inspired this artist at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe. Being one of the most impactful 20th-century artists, O’Keeffe contributed significantly to modern art. Born on Nov. 15, 1887, O’Keeffe grew up near Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and studied at the Art Students League in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago. Art dealer and famous photographer Alfred Stieglitz, who later married O’Keefe, was the first to exhibit her work in 1916. In the summer of 1929, O’Keeffe made a decision that changed the direction of her art to take a trip to northern New Mexico. Inspired by the stark landscape and Hispanic and Native American cultures, this is where the artist spent most summers for the next two decades. So in love, she eventually made New Mexico her home in 1949.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Clearest Lakes in New Mexico
July 05, 2022
Carolyn Harmon
Where is another one of the clearest lakes in New Mexico? Navajo Lake is hidden in Navajo Dam sitting in Navajo Lake State Park in the northwestern part of New Mexico. The lake, a part of the Colorado River Storage Project, manages the upper areas of the San Juan River competing with the lake’s clear, blue beauty. Its job is to store and release water locally used for irrigation or eventually reaching the Colorado River in Utah. This world-class fishing area offers trails and camping. Where is one of the best swimming spots in New Mexico? Abiquiú Lake offers some of the happiest summertime fun in New Mexico. This U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-managed lake offers a swim beach, recreation areas, and a campground. The 5,200-surface-acre reservoir also offers some of the finest fishing in northern New Mexico and scenery, such as the Cerro Pedernal and colorful rock formations including Juniper, Sage, and Pinon. And for you fossil hunters out there, it is possible to find 200-million-year-old reptile fossils. Where is one of the best museums in New Mexico? Explore the fascinating life and what inspired this artist at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe. Being one of the most impactful 20th-century artists, O’Keeffe contributed significantly to modern art. Born on Nov. 15, 1887, O’Keeffe grew up near Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and studied at the Art Students League in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago. Art dealer and famous photographer Alfred Stieglitz, who later married O’Keefe, was the first to exhibit her work in 1916. In the summer of 1929, O’Keeffe made a decision that changed the direction of her art to take a trip to northern New Mexico. Inspired by the stark landscape and Hispanic and Native American cultures, this is where the artist spent most summers for the next two decades. So in love, she eventually made New Mexico her home in 1949.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
