Elephant Butte Lake State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 13, 2025
Elephant Butte Lake State Park is a popular destination located in the state of New Mexico.
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Summary
The park is known for its beautiful lake, diverse wildlife, and stunning scenery. There are many reasons to visit this park, including fishing, boating, hiking, and camping.
One of the main attractions at Elephant Butte Lake State Park is the lake itself. It offers over 36,000 acres of water surface and is perfect for fishing, swimming, and boating. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, including bass, catfish, walleye, and crappie.
Another point of interest at the park is the Elephant Butte Dam, which was built in the early 1900s and was once the largest earth-filled dam in the world. Visitors can take a guided tour of the dam and learn about its history and construction.
The park also has several hiking trails, including the 1.5-mile Sierra Vista Trail, which offers stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains. There are also several campsites throughout the park for those who want to stay overnight and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
The best time to visit Elephant Butte Lake State Park is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild, and the park is less crowded. Summers can be hot and crowded, and winters can be cold and snowy.
In conclusion, Elephant Butte Lake State Park is a beautiful destination with a lot to offer. Whether you're interested in fishing, boating, hiking, or just enjoying the scenery, this park has something for everyone.
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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.
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