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Elephant Butte Lake State Park

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If you like camping, fishing, boating, or just being outdoors, Elephant Butte is for you.

There is plenty of water and plenty of beach room at New Mexico’s largest State Park. Elephant Butte Lake can accommodate watercraft of many styles and sizes: kayaks, jet skis, pontoons, sailboats, ski boats, cruisers, and houseboats. Remember to wear your life jacket. Boat safe and boat smart! Besides sandy beaches, the State Park offers restrooms, picnic area, playgrounds, and developed sites with electric and water hook-ups for RV’s.

Park Elevation 4,527 ft

Please see the Park Alerts section for more information.

Activities

  • Boating:
    • Motorized
    • Non-motorized
    • Canoe/Kayak/Board
    • Personal Watercraft
    • Sailing
    • Water Skiing
  • Camping
  • Education Programs
  • Fishing:
    • Accessible Pier
    • Guides/Outfitters
  • Hunting
  • Picnicking
  • Scuba Diving
  • Swimming
  • Trails:
    • 15 Miles
    • Hiking
    • Mt Biking
    • Interpretive Trails
    • Accessible Trails
  • Volleyball
  • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding

Amenities

  • Beach
  • Boating Facilities:
    • Boat Dock
    • Boat Ramp
    • Boat Rentals
    • Marina
  • Campground Facilities:
    • 173 Developed Campsites
    • 144 W+ E Sites
    • 8 W+E+S Full Hookup Sites
    • Water in Campground
    • RV Dump Station
    • Group Campsites
  • Primitive Camping:
    • Beach Camping
    • Boat-in Camping
  • Restrooms:
    • Restrooms with water
    • Showers
    • Vault Toilets
  • Group Facilities:
    • Group Picnic Shelter
    • Group Camping
    • Meeting Room
  • Historic Sites
  • Playground

ADDRESS & PHONE

101 Hwy 195
Elephant Butte, NM 87935
575-744-5923

CONTACT

Christopher Bolen
Park Superintendent
chris.bolen@emnrd.nm.gov

Driving Directions

From I-25 South or North take exit 83, turn onto NM State Rd 195 South. North bound traffic goes 4.2 miles and turns left off 195 to the Visitor Center. South bound traffic goes 4.6 miles and turns left off of 195 to the Visitor Center. After the Visitor Center/ Entrance enter the traffic circle and take the 3rd exit for Ridge Road. The campgrounds are along Sumac Rd from there.

South Monticello Campground Directions. From I-25 take exit 89 onto Martin Ranch Road/Rock Canyon Road heading east. Follow Rock Canyon road for about 7 miles. This will take you into and back out of Monticello canyon, across two cattle guards and then to the pay station in the middle of Rock Canyon Road. The entrance to South Monticello Campground is on your left. Do not confuse the State Park campground with signs to the privately owned Monticello RV Park along this same route. You can also follow Rock Canyon North from the City of Elephant Butte to South Monticello Campground approximately 10 miles.