5 Gorgeous Beach Campsites in New Mexico

Looking to get away from it all? This is the spot. At 8,000 feet, this hidden gem of a lake on the edge of the Pecos Wilderness is a nature lover’s nirvana. With the Sangre de Cristo Mountains towering above, the lake is perfectly situated for spectacular sunrises and awe-inspiring sunsets. It’s surrounded by Ponderosa Pines that grow all the way down to lake level. Campgrounds are scattered around the 30-acre lake in and amongst the trees. Some are primitive, some are developed with hookups and water. Campsites available for the day or overnight are first-come, first-served.

Look east at sunrise and watch the sun crest the Caballo Mountains as you greet the day at your lakeside campsite. The mountains were named by early Spanish explorers for the wild horses that once roamed there—caballo means horse. There is still wildlife to be seen here including jack rabbits, deer, and maybe an occasional coyote. It’s one of the top birding sites in New Mexico and migratory birds use the lake as a pit stop in their journey. More than 300 birds have been seen in this area, including eagles. Primitive campsites are closest to the lake where you can hear the Rio Grande River burbling by, but there are RV areas with hookups that also have lake views.

Imagine camping here 65 million years ago. You’d be sharing the area with dinosaurs, confirmed by the dinosaur tracks left in the mud back then and that have been drying ever since. Driving through the rolling grasslands in the northeastern part, it’s easy to envision those prehistoric reptiles roaming this area on the edge of the Great Plains. The lake is a welcome oasis in this dry land. You’ll find campsites and campgrounds, some lakeside with an overlook view of the water. The park is a Dark Sky Park, designated as such by the International Dark Sky Association. Before climbing into bed, be sure to look up and admire the stars twinkling above.

Up near the Colorado border, in the mountains of northern New Mexico, this five-mile-long lake has 12 miles of shoreline, some of which allows for beach and lakeside camping. It’s encircled by stands of mixed juniper and unique sandstone formations. It’s definitely an off-the-beaten-track getaway, but once there, the peace and quiet, combined with the beauty of the lake plus fishing and swimming makes the trek worthwhile. There are dozens of campsites that range from primitive beach sites to full-on RV hook-up areas. The area is a home to bald eagles, red-tails hawks, water ouzels, and ospreys much of the year.

The Cochiti Dam, built across the Rio Grande River, created this lovely, small lake in the high desert environment in the northwestern part of the state. The towering Tetilla Peak dominates the eastern view and the morning and evening desert sky is breathtaking. The desert scrubland landscape doesn’t provide a lot of shade, so summers are hot. There are two campgrounds—one has electric hookups and water, the other does not. Each has just a few lakeside spots. Wildlife is active and deer, coyote, and rabbits are curious visitors. Osprey nesting platforms are scattered around the lake—be on the lookout for these magnificent birds.