The Best Swimming Spots in New Mexico: Lakes, Rivers, and More

New Mexico is known for its vibrant tourism sector, with more than 35 million visitors coming to the southwestern state every year. The Land of Enchantment offers a range of recreational activities, delectable cuisine, and beautiful views.

New Mexico’s summers are notoriously hot and dry, with highs often reaching the 90s, and it has the least amount of surface water per square mile of any other state. Despite this, New Mexico provides a variety of options for anyone seeking to enjoy spending time in or by the water. If you’re looking for a spot to take a refreshing dip, there are many natural pools, beaches, lakes, and swimming holes located throughout the state. 

Best Swimming Spots in New Mexico

1. Lions Beach, Elephant Butte Reservoir

Lions Beach stands out as a top swimming spot due to its natural beauty and picturesque vistas. Visitors can enjoy the sand, sun, and stunning beachfront while at the beach, situated within the largest state park, Elephant Butte Lake State Park. The park, and by extension Lions Beach, is famous for good reason. It offers a wide array of water sports, including boating, fishing, waterskiing, kayaking, swimming, and more. In addition, the powdery sand along its shoreline adds to its appeal as a suitable play area for kids. 

Together with swimming, Lions Beach offers fishing in crystal-clear blue waters, kayaking, scuba diving, jet skiing, and other water sports. It features a pool and jacuzzi area for visitors who prefer to relax without placing their feet on the sand. You can also birdwatch, camp overnight, plan a picnic, or hike within the park. 

2. Lea Lake Beach

With its scenic stretch of coastline and turquoise waters, Lea Lake beach in Bottomless Lakes State Park is an ideal place to spend a summer day swimming. It’s a literal beauty with a gorgeous limestone backdrop and golden sand, and a special spot as Lea Lake beach is the only lake in Bottomless Lakes State Park to allow swimming.

You could relax in the water, enjoy a picnic by the coast, or go paddle boating or scuba diving. If you’re bringing kids, make sure to pack floaties and be careful as the water can be deep and cold. There are showers, restrooms, and food booths at the beach. Summer is the best season to visit, but it can get pretty crowded. However, visitors on a weekday may encounter far fewer people. 

3. Heron Lake State Beach

The serene Heron Lake is tucked away in New Mexico’s northern mountains in Rio Arriba County. It’s a retreat for those seeking a spot to explore and relax. Spend a private day by one of the many isolated swimming coves along the edge of the state’s magnificent lakes.

You may enjoy a peaceful day on the water without worrying about rough waves because the beach is a “quiet lake” where boats can only operate at no-wake speeds, so the waters are calm and suitable for swimming and paddle boarding. The lake offers excellent fishing with chances to catch trout and kokanee salmon. Hiking, cross-country skiing, and yachting are other activities available. 

Weekends are a popular time for tubing, boating, and fishing. The Heron Lake edge features campgrounds, so campers can easily pitch a tent to stay right by the lake. 

4. Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area Beach

From the railroad bridge in the south to the upper Tansil Dam, the Pecos River traverses the 125.6-acre Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area. A swimming area is accessible to the public from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend. 

There’s something for everyone at this beach, no matter the age. The clear water is tranquil, making it ideal for kids to swim in, with the smooth sand suitable for making sand castles and a playground also available for more fun. Older children, teens, and adults can participate in watersports, including pedal boating, waterskiing, boating, and fishing. In addition, there are tables and grills where people can enjoy picnics shaded from the sun.

Lake Carlsbad is close to the city center of Carlsbad and all its facilities, including stores, restaurants, and bars. 

5. Navajo Lake State Park Beach

Navajo Lake is a lovely area with a long seashore and plenty of sunlight. The beach in the Navajo Dam area is a great option for vacationers due to its beautiful surroundings, range of fun activities, and convenient parking available. 

When not swimming, you can unwind on the shore and sunbathe while enjoying the gorgeous views. Wakeboarding, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, and scuba diving are other exciting activities on offer. In addition, there’s a marina from which you can rent boats, launch your water vehicle, or even enjoy a snack. Plus, there are opportunities to hike along scenic routes, tour the area on a boat, fish, and watch wildlife. 

A Navajo Lake State Park Beach trip is best enjoyed when camping on the beach. The campgrounds feature modern amenities and can accommodate both large parties and families. 

6. Cochiti Lake Beach

The most beautiful scenery can be seen at Cochiti Lake near Pena Blanca, New Mexico, with picturesque lake vistas. The water comes from Cochiti Dam, ranked as one of the longest earth-filled dams in the world.

Two places for public use as recreational sites are Tetilla Peak on the east side and Cochiti Recreation Area on the west. Camping, fishing, picnicking, and leisurely strolls are possible at the recreation areas, equipped with boat ramps for launching water vessels.

Cochiti Lake’s family-friendly beach has an expansive front for different activities. Swimming, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing, and other water sports are all possible in crystal-clear waters. There is also a children’s playground near the shore.

7. Park Lake Beach

The Park Lake in Santa Rosa is a dream come true for every outdoor enthusiast. It’s one of the city’s most frequented tourist destinations, and deservedly so.

It’s accessible year-long, but most activities and lifeguard supervision are typically available between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

The beach’s main attraction is a massive inflatable obstacle course, affectionately dubbed “Wibit,” with a climbing wall and bounce house. Swimming, fishing, boating, and water slides are available at the beach. Rentals are available for various water sports gear. After enjoying the water, you can hit the food trucks and eat your meal in the shaded picnic areas. 

Swimming Holes in New Mexico

As the temperature rises during summer, New Mexico has a number of swimming holes you can head to in order to beat the heat on a scorching day. 

8. The Blue Hole

This is a bell-shaped oasis on the state’s eastern edge in Santa Rosa that swimmers and scuba divers find enjoyable. The water is extraordinarily pristine due to the natural underground spring’s 3,000 gallons of water per minute flow rate, resulting in a freshwater supply every six hours.

Jump off the rocks into this 81-foot-deep body of crystal-clear water that typically stays between 61 to 62 °F without worrying about striking the bottom. Divers on the pool’s bottom may see the faces of onlookers who are above them and peeking over the surface. You may be lucky enough to see fish and aquatic vegetation. 

9. Sitting Bull Falls

A swimming hole and two minor waterfalls can be found at Sitting Bull Falls, a desert oasis in the Lincoln National Forest. The falls are considered perennial waterfalls since they are spring-fed. This means there is water year-round. Parking is $5 per vehicle; however, there are no additional entry costs.

Sitting Bull Falls is a popular tourist spot in the area, so get there early on weekends to avoid parking issues. The park is only open for daytime use. Remember to go with sunscreen and swim gear. 

10. Jemez Falls Area

The Jemez Falls are the highest waterfalls within the Jemez Mountains of the Santa Fe National Forest in Sandoval County. The falls are situated in a region with many Ponderosa Pine forests on the East Fork of the Jemez River. 

The smaller falls above the main falls are popular for swimming. Summertime enjoyment is possible in these natural pools because the temperature is often warm rather than scorching. McCauley Hot Springs is another destination that can be reached from here. 

The Jemez Falls campground and day-use area serve as the trailhead for access to the falls.

Lakes for Swimming in New Mexico

Nothing is more tranquil than watching a rippling lake beneath a deep blue New Mexico sky. The lakes and reservoirs in New Mexico are even more alluring during the sweltering summer months.

There are many options for swimming, and some of the best lakes around the state include Sumner Lake, El Vado Lake, Fenton Lake, Caballo Lake, Eagle Nest Lake, Lake Farmington, and Storrie Lake. These lakes also offer scenic hiking, fishing, biking, and windsurfing opportunities.

Rivers for Floating

Rafting, kayaking, and tubing are some activities that come to mind when you consider exploring the rivers in New Mexico. The Chama River, or Rio Chama, should top your list. It’s one of the most beautiful rivers in America and a major tributary of the Rio Grande. The 120-mile-long river begins from the southern San Juan Mountains in South-Central Colorado and joins the Rio Grande at Espanola, New Mexico.

The River Chama flows through Northern New Mexico via a multicolored sandstone canyon with 1,500-foot-high cliffs. Rafting down this river is a unique experience and done at a leisurely pace it is perfect for families. The densely forested side canyons, historical sites, and soaring cliffs make it appealing to floaters and anglers.

You can raft the Rio Chama in a single day or over two to three days, floating through breathtaking southwestern scenery and tranquil nature as the Rio Chama flows south to meet the Rio Grande.

Beaches

New Mexico may not be well-known for a countless number of idyllic soft-sand beaches, but there are still enough beaches for locals and tourists to enjoy outdoor activities. 

From the popular Elephant Butte to the secluded coves at Conchas Lake, the bulk of New Mexico’s beaches are next to lakes and ponds, heightening the appeal of a beach vacation.

Water Parks

Nothing compares to spending time at a water park on a hot summer day. Kids, teens, and adults can all easily have a fantastic day at a water park.

The Cliff’s Amusement Park combines amusement and water parks to provide fun seekers with games, food, thrilling rides, and a water attraction called WaterMania. 

WaterMania is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labour Day weekend. While younger children can participate in the fun in their own area of the park, known as Li’l Squirts, older children enjoy Mega Water Monkeys.

As you might have guessed, this location is usually bustling during the season, but the crowds can thin out by the late afternoon.

Summary of Best Swimming Spots in New Mexico

Here’s a recap of New Mexico’s top places to take a dip that we took a look at.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Teresa Otto/Shutterstock.com