Bonnie Dismore

A new adventure awaits every week.

VIDEO: Taking a day trip to Bluewater State Park

This week, I decided to check out Bluewater Lake State Park.

Bluewater Lake State Park is in Prewitt, New Mexico. It’s about a 2 hour and 15-minute drive from Rio Rancho to the lake. The Bluewater State Park was established in 1955 and was formed by an arched dam that is 90 feet tall and 500 feet long across 38,500 acre-feet of water.

Bluewater Lake State Park is great for hiking, camping, horseback riding, biking, boating, sailing, water skiing, fishing, kayaking, and so much more. There is a $5 recreation entry fee at the Ranger Station to get to the lake. Once you enter, you have the option of using their tables to picnic at the Boure Day Use Area or drive towards the lake to tailgate.

However, if you want to fish, I suggest you get there as early as possible. The good fishing spots fill up fast. Bluewater Lake is known for its tiger muskie, rainbow trout, and channel cat fishing. If you forget your bait or run out, there is a country store right up the road from the entrance to the park.

For campers, make reservations online. You can reserve your spots at Northpoint, Canyonside, Lakeside, or Pinon Cliffs Campground. You also have the option of camping by the shoreline of the lake.

While visiting Bluewater Lake State Park, don’t forget to visit the Dam Overlook. It has a wonderful scenic view of the Zuni Mountains. They have various hiking trails such as The Dam Overlook Trail, The Dam Trail that follows along the river, The Pinon Cliffs Trail that goes straight toward the river, and The Canyonside Trail. They are all short scenic trails that follow in and around the river or campground areas.

On the way home, you can take The Old Route 66 Road. The scenic Old Route 66 Road is a historical U.S Highway. Don’t forget to drive through The Route 66 Neon Sign in Grants, New Mexico!  It’s another historic feature that the great state of New Mexico has to offer. So, I hope you will get out on the open road, visit the lake, and enjoy the day.

 

Links:

New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department, https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/spd/find-a-park/bluewater-lake-state-park/

Recreation.Gov. (2022). New Mexico Bluewater State Park, https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/16750

Road Trip Journeys. (2019, May 22). Bluewater, https://www.theroute-66.com/bluewater.html