Recreational Activities: Parks & Forests
Carson National Forest and Santa Fe National Forest frame the western part of Northeast New Mexico. The rolling Great Plains of the eastern side is drained by the Pecos and Canadian rivers. Northeast New Mexico is notable for camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, boating and other outdoor recreation.
Visit the New Mexico State Parks Division website
Clayton Lake State Park
Union County
141 Clayton Lake Road
Clayton, NM 88415
505-374-8808
Set among rolling grasslands, the park offers excellent trout, catfish and
bass fishing. A short trail overlooks a rare 100-million year-old dinosaur
trackway, containing 500 footprints.
Conchas Lake State Park
San Miguel County
P.O. Box 976
Conchas Dam, NM 88416
505-868-2270
Water sports activities abound, including boating, fishing and water skiing
at this refreshing 25-mile-long reservoir.
Villanueva State Park
San Miguel County
P.O. Box 40
Villanueva, NM 87583
505-421-2957
Nestled between high red sandstone bluffs along the Pecos River near the
picturesque Spanish-colonial village of Villanueva, the park includes
hiking trails with views of old ranching ruins and fishing.
Coyote Creek State Park
Mora County
P.O. Box 477
Guadalapita, NM 87722
505-387-2328
This secluded park is nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains along a
meandering stream where visitors can fish for rainbow and brown trout, or
simply sit back and enjoy the scenery.
Morphy Lake State Park
Mora County
P.O. Box 477
Guadalupita, NM 87722
505-387-2328
This undeveloped area is accessible by foot, horseback or four-wheel drive
vehicle. The small scenic lake is stocked with trout and boating is limited
to electric motors.
Sugarite Canyon State Park
Colfax County
HCR 63, Box 386
Raton, NM 87740
505-445-5607
This unique park, located on the border with Colorado, features heavily
wooded mountains and meadows painted with wildflowers.
Storrie Lake State Park
San Miguel County
HC 33, Box 109 #2
Las Vegas, NM 87701
505-425-7278
Favorable summer breezes attract colorful windsurfing boats to this park,
which is also popular for fishing and boating.
Cimarron Canyon State Park
Colfax County
PO Box 185
Eagle Nest, NM 87718
505-377-6271
Set in Northeast New Mexico's high country where spectacular palisade
cliffs and clear running waters dominate the landscape, the park is part of
a large state wildlife area.
Ute Lake State Park
Quay County
Box 52
Logan, NM 88426
505-487-2284
Some of the best walleye fishing in New Mexico is found at this Canadian
River reservoir, where anglers also try their luck for bass, crappie and
catfish.
Santa Rosa Lake State Park
Guadalupe County
P.O. Box 384
Santa Rosa, NM 88433
505-472-3110
This high plains Pecos River reservoir offers a variety of water sports.
Anglers often catch bass, catfish and walleye.
New Mexico State Parks
Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources Department
2040 South Pacheco
P.O. Box 1147
Santa Fe, NM 87504
1-888-NM-PARKS
NATIONAL FORESTS, PARKS, GRASSLANDS, WILDLIFE REFUGES
Visit the National Forest Service website
Carson National Forest
208 Cruz Alta Road
Taos, NM 87571
505-758-6200
Santa Fe National Forest
1474 Rodeo Rd.
Santa Fe, NM
505-438-7840
Large sections of Santa Fe National Forest and Carson National Forest are
located in the western parts of Colfax, Mora and San Miguel Counties, offering access to remote camping, hiking, trekking, wildlife viewing,
hunting and fishing in the mountains.
Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands
Union and Harding Counties
714 Main Street
Clayton, NM 88415
505-374-9652
Part of a national grasslands system administered for the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, the Kiowa includes 12 miles of the Canadian River Canyon in
Harding County. Another section of the Grasslands is just east of Clayton
in Union County.
Capulin Volcano National Monument
Union County
P.O. Box 40
Capulin, NM 88414-0040
505-278-2201
Take in the panorama of mountain ranges, mesas and valleys of New Mexico,
Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Fort Union National Monument
Mora County
P.O. Box 127
Watrous, NM 87753
505-425-8025
At one time Fort Union was the largest fort west of the Mississippi.
Today Fort Union National Monument is open to the public throughout the
year, giving visitors the flavor of life in a frontier fort.
Pecos National Historical Park
P.O. Box 418
Pecos, NM 87552-0418
505-757-6032
The ruins of Pecos Pueblo and a Spanish mission are managed by Pecos
National Historical Park, which also manage a 19th century Spanish frontier
settlement, Santa Fe Trail sites and a Civil War battlefield
Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge
P.O. Box 276
Maxwell, NM 87728
505-375-2331
From king fishes to mallards to bald eagles, the Maxwell Refuge has it all.
Las Vegas Wildlife Refuge
San Miguel County
Route 1
Box 399
Las Vegas, NM 87701
505-425-3581
These 18,750 acres of grassland, crop land, marshes, canyons, ponds and
streams provide a natural paradise alive with native animals and plants.
