El Vado Lake State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 7, 2025
El Vado Lake State Park is located in north-central New Mexico, near the town of Tierra Amarilla.
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Summary
The park is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering opportunities for camping, fishing, boating, hiking, and wildlife viewing.
One of the main attractions at El Vado Lake State Park is the lake itself, which covers over 3,000 acres and is stocked with rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee salmon, and other fish species. The park also features two marinas where visitors can rent boats, kayaks, and other watercraft.
In addition to the lake, the park has several hiking trails that offer scenic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The most popular trail is the El Vado Lake Trail, which is a 5-mile loop that takes hikers through a variety of terrain, including forests, meadows, and rocky outcroppings.
Other points of interest at the park include the historic Tierra Wools weaving studio, which offers tours and workshops on traditional weaving techniques, and the nearby town of Chama, which is a popular destination for train enthusiasts.
The best time to visit El Vado Lake State Park is during the summer months, when the weather is warm and the lake is ideal for swimming, boating, and fishing. However, the park is open year-round and offers a variety of activities during the fall and winter months, including cross-country skiing and ice fishing.
Overall, El Vado Lake State Park is a beautiful and peaceful destination that offers a wide range of recreational activities for visitors of all ages.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
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El Vado Lake State Park
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Heron Lake State Park
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Stone Lake
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