Encompassing the largest and most popular lake in New Mexico, Elephant Butte Lake State Park provides camping, boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, hiking and bird watching. Southern New Mexico’s mild climate makes this park a popular year-round destination.

Warmth and Water
Elephant Butte Reservoir, created by a dam  constructed in 1916 across the Rio Grande, is 40 miles long with more than 200 miles of shoreline.  Although constructed to provide for irrigation and flood control, the lake is New Mexico’s premier recreational lake.

The West Lakeshore Trail

This 10.5 mile trail extends from Monticello Campground south past Rock Canyon.  Great for hiking, biking, or birdwatching!

• West Lakeshore Trail Guide
• West Lakeshore Trail Guide for black/white printers

The Outdoor Classroom Program at Elephant Butte

With the release of the Bosque Education Guide's Lower Rio Grande Edition, teachers now have an added incentive to bring their students to Elephant Butte. This standards-based K-12 curriculum has activities for both classroom and field trips. Visit this LINK for more information and downloads. To schedule a field trip, please call the park at the number listed below. For information on the Kids & Parks Transportation Grant to fund your field trip to Elephant Butte, visit the Teachers page.

Cultural History

Elephant Butte Lake State Park is a lot more than water-based recreation. Humans have been making use of the Rio Grande long before the Dam was here.  Visit the Dam Site Recreation Area and Paseo del Rio Recreation Area to see and learn more about the history of the Dam construction and the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps.  Click here to learn more.

Getting There
Elephant Butte Lake State Park headquarters are 5 miles north of Truth or Consequences via I-25 exit 83.