Summer’s here and you’re probably dreaming of slipping into the clear waters of New Mexico’s lakes and rivers. We’ve already featured lots of wonderful New Mexico swimming holes, but why stop there? Here are seven more swimming holes in New Mexico perfect for a hot summer day:
- Caballo Lake State Park (Caballo)
Tripadvisor/KIMBERLY277 Caballo Lake in New Mexico is often overshadowed by nearby Elephant Butte Lake. Although Caballo’s smaller, it doesn’t attract the same number of crowds, which allows you to swim or try any other water activity in relative peace. This state park is located on Highway 187 in Caballo. Caballo Lake State Park, New Mexico 87931, USA
- Farmington Lake (Farmington)
Facebook/Visit Farmington This year, th Beach at Farmington Lake is bigger and you’ll find more inflatable play equipment available. Splashing around in the water here is great because motorized boats aren’t allowed on Lake Farmington so the waters are calmer for swimming. The Beach At Farmington Lake, 8000 E Main St, Farmington, NM 87402, USA
- Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area (Carlsbad)
Tripadvisor/Jaurdin S Enjoy a dip in the clear waters of the Pecos River, at the designated swimming area inside this recreation area. The setting is pretty and this park is nicely set up for all types of summer fun. Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area is located at Riverside Drive and Park Drive in Carlsbad. Lake Carlsbad, Carlsbad, NM 88220, USA
- Navajo Lake State Park (Navajo Dam)
Flickr/Morgain Bailey The second largest reservoir in the state (after Elephant Butte) is well worth a visit. Although there’s no official swimming area, the lake is huge at 15,000 acres so there’s no shortage of options for swimmers. You can even go scuba diving here! This lake is located off Highway 511 (or Highway 539) in Navajo Dam. Navajo Lake State Park, 1448 NM-511 #1, Navajo Dam, NM 87419, USA
- Park Lake (Santa Rosa)
Facebook/ WIBIT Santa Rosa, NM Park Lake in New Mexico offers a wealth of water activities, including swimming. There’s even an inflatable water park, called a Wibit! You’ll find Park Lake on Blue Hole Road in Santa Rosa. Park Lake, Santa Rosa, NM 88435, USA
- Cochiti Lake Recreation Area (Cochiti)
Facebook/Cochiti Lake - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque District Although Cochiti Lake has a good reputation among windsurfers, it’s also a great place to take a dip. There’s a designated swimming beach, at this no-wake lake, which is usually well-maintained. Cochiti Lake is on Cochiti Lake Road in Peña Blanca.
- Ute Lake State Park (Logan)
Tripadvisor/samhett This reservoir on the Canadian River is a popular swimming spot. At almost 13-miles long, there is plenty of room for all manner of water activities. Many New Mexico lakes lack shade and Ute Lake is no exception, so bring some type of sun shade with you. Ute Lake State Park Road, Ute Lake State Pk Rd, Logan, NM 88426, USA
Where do you go to cool off when the temperature rises? What are your favorite things to do during summertime in New Mexico? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
Tripadvisor/KIMBERLY277
Caballo Lake in New Mexico is often overshadowed by nearby Elephant Butte Lake. Although Caballo’s smaller, it doesn’t attract the same number of crowds, which allows you to swim or try any other water activity in relative peace. This state park is located on Highway 187 in Caballo.
Caballo Lake State Park, New Mexico 87931, USA
Facebook/Visit Farmington
This year, th Beach at Farmington Lake is bigger and you’ll find more inflatable play equipment available. Splashing around in the water here is great because motorized boats aren’t allowed on Lake Farmington so the waters are calmer for swimming.
The Beach At Farmington Lake, 8000 E Main St, Farmington, NM 87402, USA
Tripadvisor/Jaurdin S
Enjoy a dip in the clear waters of the Pecos River, at the designated swimming area inside this recreation area. The setting is pretty and this park is nicely set up for all types of summer fun. Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area is located at Riverside Drive and Park Drive in Carlsbad.
Lake Carlsbad, Carlsbad, NM 88220, USA
Flickr/Morgain Bailey
The second largest reservoir in the state (after Elephant Butte) is well worth a visit. Although there’s no official swimming area, the lake is huge at 15,000 acres so there’s no shortage of options for swimmers. You can even go scuba diving here! This lake is located off Highway 511 (or Highway 539) in Navajo Dam.
Navajo Lake State Park, 1448 NM-511 #1, Navajo Dam, NM 87419, USA
Facebook/ WIBIT Santa Rosa, NM
Park Lake in New Mexico offers a wealth of water activities, including swimming. There’s even an inflatable water park, called a Wibit! You’ll find Park Lake on Blue Hole Road in Santa Rosa.
Park Lake, Santa Rosa, NM 88435, USA
Facebook/Cochiti Lake - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque District
Although Cochiti Lake has a good reputation among windsurfers, it’s also a great place to take a dip. There’s a designated swimming beach, at this no-wake lake, which is usually well-maintained. Cochiti Lake is on Cochiti Lake Road in Peña Blanca.
Tripadvisor/samhett
This reservoir on the Canadian River is a popular swimming spot. At almost 13-miles long, there is plenty of room for all manner of water activities. Many New Mexico lakes lack shade and Ute Lake is no exception, so bring some type of sun shade with you.
Ute Lake State Park Road, Ute Lake State Pk Rd, Logan, NM 88426, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Swimming Holes in New Mexico May 15, 2022 Tori Jane Where are the best places to swim in New Mexico? New Mexico isn’t called “the Land of Enchantment” for no reason. It’s quite the opposite; it’s called that for LOTS of reasons. Some of our favorite places to swim in New Mexico include the stunningly beautiful Blue Hole, in Santa Rosa. It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a seemingly bottomless, dark blue “hole” filled with crystal-clear water perfect for a summer splash. We also love several stunningly gorgeous lakes in New Mexico for swimming, like Abiquiu Lake, which might just be our favorite thanks to its stunning beauty. Santa Cruz Lake is another favorite. What are the best New Mexico swimming holes? It turns out, there are lots of places to go swimming in New Mexico that feel like something out of a fairy tale more than a lake in New Mexico! For example, Heron Lake is north of Santa Fe and nestled nearby the Colorado state line. It’s crisp, clear, cool, and absolutely perfect for a hot summer day. We also love hidden gems like Eagle Nest Lake and Lake Katherine. Oh, and did we mention that there are plenty hot springs in New Mexico just waiting for you to come to take a dip? It might be hot, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a nice dip in a hot – or warm – spring. What are the best places to swim in New Mexico? New Mexico might be located within a desert, but don’t let that cause you to discount it as a place for swimming. Some of the best places to swim in New Mexico are as obvious and accessible as our amazing state and National Parks, with 35 to choose from – many of which are home to lakes and/or rivers. Be sure to check local parks, too, and some city parks even offer swimming holes or pools for the whole family to enjoy. As long as you know where to look, you can find all kinds of amazing places to swim in New Mexico.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Swimming Holes in New Mexico
May 15, 2022
Tori Jane
Where are the best places to swim in New Mexico? New Mexico isn’t called “the Land of Enchantment” for no reason. It’s quite the opposite; it’s called that for LOTS of reasons. Some of our favorite places to swim in New Mexico include the stunningly beautiful Blue Hole, in Santa Rosa. It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a seemingly bottomless, dark blue “hole” filled with crystal-clear water perfect for a summer splash. We also love several stunningly gorgeous lakes in New Mexico for swimming, like Abiquiu Lake, which might just be our favorite thanks to its stunning beauty. Santa Cruz Lake is another favorite. What are the best New Mexico swimming holes? It turns out, there are lots of places to go swimming in New Mexico that feel like something out of a fairy tale more than a lake in New Mexico! For example, Heron Lake is north of Santa Fe and nestled nearby the Colorado state line. It’s crisp, clear, cool, and absolutely perfect for a hot summer day. We also love hidden gems like Eagle Nest Lake and Lake Katherine. Oh, and did we mention that there are plenty hot springs in New Mexico just waiting for you to come to take a dip? It might be hot, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a nice dip in a hot – or warm – spring. What are the best places to swim in New Mexico? New Mexico might be located within a desert, but don’t let that cause you to discount it as a place for swimming. Some of the best places to swim in New Mexico are as obvious and accessible as our amazing state and National Parks, with 35 to choose from – many of which are home to lakes and/or rivers. Be sure to check local parks, too, and some city parks even offer swimming holes or pools for the whole family to enjoy. As long as you know where to look, you can find all kinds of amazing places to swim in New Mexico.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
New Mexico isn’t called “the Land of Enchantment” for no reason. It’s quite the opposite; it’s called that for LOTS of reasons. Some of our favorite places to swim in New Mexico include the stunningly beautiful Blue Hole, in Santa Rosa. It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a seemingly bottomless, dark blue “hole” filled with crystal-clear water perfect for a summer splash. We also love several stunningly gorgeous lakes in New Mexico for swimming, like Abiquiu Lake, which might just be our favorite thanks to its stunning beauty. Santa Cruz Lake is another favorite.
What are the best New Mexico swimming holes?
It turns out, there are lots of places to go swimming in New Mexico that feel like something out of a fairy tale more than a lake in New Mexico! For example, Heron Lake is north of Santa Fe and nestled nearby the Colorado state line. It’s crisp, clear, cool, and absolutely perfect for a hot summer day. We also love hidden gems like Eagle Nest Lake and Lake Katherine. Oh, and did we mention that there are plenty hot springs in New Mexico just waiting for you to come to take a dip? It might be hot, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a nice dip in a hot – or warm – spring.
What are the best places to swim in New Mexico?
New Mexico might be located within a desert, but don’t let that cause you to discount it as a place for swimming. Some of the best places to swim in New Mexico are as obvious and accessible as our amazing state and National Parks, with 35 to choose from – many of which are home to lakes and/or rivers. Be sure to check local parks, too, and some city parks even offer swimming holes or pools for the whole family to enjoy. As long as you know where to look, you can find all kinds of amazing places to swim in New Mexico.
