The Lakes

The Lakes: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: usually quiet; mostly local visitors. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this lake: Full / gates open · Low water level · Entry closed.

Best time to visit The Lakes

Season: August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

Crowd: Usually quiet; mostly local visitors.

Typical week: Mon quiet · Tue quiet · Wed quiet · Thu quiet · Fri light · Sat light · Sun light.

How to reach The Lakes — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 33.11513, -107.75269. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near The Lakes

• Mud Spring · lake · Sierra · ~10 km · Must-see
• McKnight Mountain · viewpoint · Grant · ~14 km · Must-see
• Aldo Leopold Wilderness · sanctuary · Grant · ~15 km · Must-see
• Copperas Peak · viewpoint · Grant · ~52 km · Must-see
• Truth or Consequences Historical Marker · park · Sierra · ~54 km · Must-see
• Geronimo Springs Museum · museum · Sierra · ~58 km · Must-see
• Percha Diversion Dam · lake · Sierra · ~59 km · Must-see
• Caballo Lake · lake · Sierra · ~60 km · Must-see
• KCHS-AM (Truth or Consequence) · attraction · Sierra · ~61 km · Must-see
• Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument · sanctuary · Catron · ~61 km · Must-see
• Caballo Dam · lake · Sierra · ~61 km · Must-see
• Elephant Butte Dam · lake · Sierra · ~65 km · Must-see
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints · church · Grant · ~66 km · Must-see
• Black Mountain · viewpoint · Catron · ~66 km · Must-see
• Elephant Butte · viewpoint · Sierra · ~66 km · Must-see
• Elephant Butte Lake · lake · Sierra · ~69 km · Must-see
• Spring Canyon · viewpoint · Socorro · ~69 km · Must-see
• McRae Canyon · viewpoint · Sierra · ~69 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of The Lakes

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near The Lakes

• Mud Spring · lake · Sierra · ~10 km · Must-see
• Percha Diversion Dam · lake · Sierra · ~59 km · Must-see
• Caballo Lake · lake · Sierra · ~60 km · Must-see
• Caballo Dam · lake · Sierra · ~61 km · Must-see
• Elephant Butte Dam · lake · Sierra · ~65 km · Must-see
• Elephant Butte Lake · lake · Sierra · ~69 km · Must-see
• Engle Lake · lake · Sierra · ~83 km · Must-see
• Jornada Lakes · lake · Sierra · ~84 km · Must-see
• Wetback Tank · lake · Sierra · ~90 km · Must-see
• Snow Lake Dam · lake · Catron · ~96 km · Must-see

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in New Mexico

Frequently asked