Summary
Some of the main reasons to visit the park include its beautiful scenery, fishing opportunities, and hiking trails. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including birds, deer, and rabbits.
One of the main points of interest at Percha Dam State Park is the Percha Dam, which was constructed in the early 1900s to provide irrigation water to surrounding farmland. Visitors can explore the dam and learn about its history by visiting the interpretive center on site.
Other popular activities at the park include camping, picnicking, and boating. The park has several campgrounds with amenities such as showers and electricity, making it a great place to spend a weekend or longer. There are also several picnic areas with grills and tables, making it a perfect spot for a family outing.
In terms of the best time of year to visit, the park is open year-round, but the summer months are the busiest. Visitors can enjoy warm temperatures and long days, making it perfect for outdoor activities. However, the park is also beautiful in the fall when the leaves change colors, and in the winter, visitors can enjoy snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Overall, Percha Dam State Park is a great place to visit for anyone looking to experience the beauty of New Mexico's natural landscape. With its variety of activities and points of interest, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Weather Forecast
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