Yesterday was my first time at Elephant Butte state park. My friend had been there and invited me…read more I took my dog with me. We had a great time. It was super fun to swim. The views are beautiful!

Do not waste your money coming here unless you want to spend your family day stranded in the…read moreblazing sun. We paid the entry fee to take our kids and dogs to the lake, followed the main road, and immediately turned toward the water only to get violently stuck in deep, un-warned soft sand. We spent nearly an hour freaking out in the brutal heat, shoveling sand, and panicking with our kids and pets in the vehicle. When I called the park office for assistance? Absolute silence. Nobody answered, nobody was available to help. If it weren't for the sheer grace of a random Good Samaritan who stopped to shovel and pull us out, we would have been completely stranded. What makes this infuriating is the absolute lack of accountability and communication from the staff. The girl who checked us in and took our money didn't say a single word, offer a map, or give any warning about the driving conditions near the water. As a state park, it is incredibly irresponsible not to warn paying customers and New Mexico residents about these massive sand traps. Total safety hazard and zero customer service. Avoid this place.

Great White Bass fishing. The lake is very shallow in the north end which makes it great for shore…read morefishing or even a kayak.

Not super clean but adequate for swimming in summer months. You can rent boats year round for…read morefishing and sight seeing. They have a mix of sandy and rocky beaches so during peak months you better get there early to snag a good spot to set up! The drive is only 90 minutes from El Paso making it the shortest distance to water! Overall enjoyable and we will be back every year without a doubt.

A state park we visited for the day in New Mexico during our stay at Rockhound State Park…read more It has full hookup sites as well as a day use area. It is on the site of an area where several million years ago, a volcanic eruption threw numerous large boulders on to the landscape. The park has driving areas and hiking trails around and between these boulders. We spent several hours waking through and had lunch in the park at the picnic area. We had a good time exploring the park and recommend a visit if you're in the area.

Great little park. The visitor's center is interesting and the city of rocks itself is a really…read morefun place for kids and adults alike to hike, climb and explore. In between the rocks are plenty of oak trees and shady spots where you can get out of the sun. There are plenty of beautiful views as well. I can tell it'll also have good dark sky viewing but didn't get to that on my visit.

I went for ham radio to operate from the park in an event we call POTA - parks on the air. This is…read morea fabulous place to visit and see nature at its pristine natural condition.

Amazing trip! We arrived on a Sat. around 3pm, in time for a walk around the arboretum, golden hour…read moreon the marsh boardwalk, and a drive around the south loop. Within hours, we'd already seen so many critters, but by end of the following day, we'd counted 46 different species! Bring your binoculars. Get up early and arrive 45-60m before sunrise (it's worthwhile), especially in the summer when so many of the animals hide from the sun. Really impressive birding. The vermillion flycatcher was my favorite, and my husband's was the great horned owl. Drive slow, so you don't miss a thing!

This was a really interesting place to visit, but my God it is so far out there lol the roads twist…read more& turn, through a beautiful drive, but ugh The forest is pretty cool, zero service at all for like probably a 50 mile radius or so. You are definitely going off grid out there No gas stations either, so be sure to fill up. The hills will consume more gas compared to driving on a flat road I would've liked to explore the area more, but mainly drive there to see the dwellings. The hike up can be a bit strenuous for some, it's not but about a half a mile hike. It can get rough though for those who don't do any movement at all. Once in the dwellings, you'll be in there for about 30 minutes max, if you're alone. We stumbled on a tour guide, who talked about each of the rooms. He was really cool. Shout out to Keith, & Gus. As well as the guy who gave us a brief modern history of the dwellings. Couldn't see his name tag I will go back one day, but I will plan for a longer stay next time lol Silver City is a little over 1 hour away, but it feels like a lot longer

What an amazing place, to see where and how people lived millennia's ago is mind blowing…read more If you're traveling through New Mexico it's worth the extra hours drive to visit here.