Navajo Lake State Park park
Navajo Lake State Park
One of the primary reasons to visit Navajo Lake State Park is to enjoy the serene beauty of the lake and its surroundings. The park has several campgrounds that allow visitors to stay close to the lake and enjoy the scenery. The lake is also a popular destination for fishing, with anglers coming from all over the country to catch trophy-sized trout, bass, and salmon.
There are several points of interest within Navajo Lake State Park that visitors should not miss. The park's Visitor Center offers information about the park's history, wildlife, and geology. The park's hiking trails offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Other activities available in the park include horseback riding, wildlife viewing, and mountain biking.
Interesting facts about Navajo Lake State Park include that the lake was created in 1962 by the damming of the San Juan River. The lake is over 25 miles long and has over 150 miles of shoreline. The lake is also home to several species of fish that are not found in other parts of the state.
The best time of year to visit Navajo Lake State Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and the lake is most active. However, the park is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy winter activities like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Overall, Navajo Lake State Park is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the beauty of New Mexico's outdoors. With its stunning lake, hiking trails, and abundant wildlife, Navajo Lake State Park is a destination that should not be missed.
Park & land designation reference
A quick legend for the federal and state land categories Snoflo tracks. Each designation comes with different rules around access, recreation, and resource extraction.
- National Park
- 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 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.
- 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.
Plan your visit down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Area campgrounds
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within reach of Navajo Lake State Park, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sims Mesa - Navajo Lake State Park | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Pine River - Navajo Lake State Park | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Simon Canyon Dispersed | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Cottonwood - Navajo Lake State Park | ✓ | ✓ | → |
| Navajo State Park | ✓ | ✓ | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, fishing spots, and POIs so a park visit can grow into a full weekend.
Responsible recreation & Leave No Trace
- Know before you go
- Check the operator's site for hours, permit requirements, seasonal closures, and fire restrictions before heading out.
- Stay on trail
- Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation, prevent erosion, and avoid disturbing wildlife habitat.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe from a distance, never feed wildlife, and store food securely if camping is permitted on-site.
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Carry out all trash, food scraps, and gear. Many parks have limited or no trash service.
- Leave what you find
- Don't take rocks, plants, or artifacts. They make the park what it is for the next visitor.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Navajo Lake State Park as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, freezing temperatures, fire-restriction days), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Navajo Lake State Park
What can I do at Navajo Lake State Park?
Most Snoflo-tracked parks support hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Check the operator's site for activity-specific rules (camping, fishing, paddling, hunting).
How fresh is the weather data?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from NOAA / yr.no. Streamflow comes live from USGS streamgauges.
When is the best time to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation.
How do I get to Navajo Lake State Park?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the park.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this park, set a threshold (temperature, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other parks near here
Snoflo-tracked parks within driving distance of Navajo Lake State Park.