When people think of New Mexico, they don't necessarily associate the state with beaches, but the Land of Enchantment is home to some lovely sandy strips and great water sources for sunbathing, swimming, water sports, and more. There aren't many beaches in New Mexico, but the old adage of 'quality over quantity' definitely applies to this state, with NM having a few beaches of truly exceptional quality.
Elephant Butte
This is undoubtedly the most popular beach in all of New Mexico. The Elephant Butte Reservoir is a beloved recreational spot for the locals, with many people driving long distances from all around the state to spend a day here.
The reservoir is situated in a flat area, offering incredible views all the way out to the horizon, but also meaning there isn’t a lot of shade, so you might want to bring a tent or umbrella on sunny summer days.
Visitors to the beaches at Elephant Butte Reservoir can simply sit for hours and admire the views all around them.
The reservoir is also situated in New Mexico's largest state park, so there's a huge array of other activities to enjoy here like hiking, cycling, boating, fishing, and more.
Tingley Beach
If you're looking for a good beach near New Mexico's capital city of Albuquerque, this is the one for you. Tingley Beach is actually within the city itself, so you won't even need to take the car to get here.
There's only a small stretch of sand and this beach is hardly in the same league as some of the others on the list in terms of sunbathing and water recreation opportunities, but it's still a lovely little spot to check out if you're looking for fun things to do while in Albuquerque.
The local ducks tend to claim the beach as their own, so it's a fun place to come with the kids and watch the wildlife and walk around.
Fishing is popular here too and a great idea for couples is to rent a paddleboat and enjoying a romantic, relaxing afternoon out on the water.
Lake Carlsbad
Located on the Pecos River, Lake Carlsbad is only open through to the public through the summer, but attracts big numbers of visitors during this time of year due to its beauty and wide range of activities.
Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are both very popular things to do at this New Mexico beach, and you'll definitely find a lot of fun here, no matter who you're visiting with or how old you happen to be.
There's a nice lively atmosphere at Lake Carlsbad too, and it's very conveniently situated near the center of the city and all of its amenities like shops, restaurants, and bars.
White Sands National Monument
Not far from Alamogordo, White Sands National Monument isn't a beach in the traditional sense as it doesn't actually feature any water.
However, if you're not too interested in kayaking, fishing, or swimming and simply want to enjoy the softness of the sand and spend a long, lazy afternoon working on your tan beneath the beating sun, this is the place to be.
Lea Lake
Located in Bottomless Lakes State Park, not far outside Roswell, Lea Lake offers another excellent New Mexico beach location. All of the typical lakeside activities can be enjoyed here, and there are some excellent nearby amenities too, so you won't need to worry about having to go anywhere or get back in the car for simple things like restrooms or getting changed.
This is a really nice place to bring the whole family and find a nice spot on the sand to share a picnic together or play some beach games.
There's also a protected swimming spot with calm and shallow waters, ideal for little ones.
Navajo Lake State Park Beach
Just an hour away from Farmington, families can find the ultimate vacation getaway at Navajo Lake State Park Beach. The lake—the second largest in the state—has an expansive 150 miles of beach shoreline and experiences over 280 days of sunshine every year.
And with its beautiful scenery and abundance of activities, it’s easy to understand why the park is so popular amongst locals and visitors.
The 21,000-acre park offers a magnificent network of canyons that may be explored by boat, lake sporting activities, fishing, cliff diving, hunting, scenic trails, and wildlife viewings.
Day-use areas are available for daytime visitors, along with camping areas and lodging for those looking to stay a few days.
36 Road 4110, Navajo Dam, New Mexico 87419, Phone: 505-632-2278
Conchas Lake
Located in Eastern New Mexico by Tucumcari, this beautiful lake is a hotspot for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Conchas Lake is surrounded by a unique variety of terrains from sandy beaches to canyons and hidden coves. Aside from the beach, visitors can hike around and view various wildlife living in the area, have picnics and camp overnight, or simply enjoy the marvelous scenery. The lake also has a boat launch ramp for those looking to enjoy some water-based activities. While the camping grounds and recreational areas are managed by New Mexico State Parks, the lake itself is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Visitors are invited to stop by the corps’ Administrative Office and Visitor Center to learn more about the area’s history, environment, and available activities.
501 Bell Ranch Road, Conchas Dam, New Mexico 88416, Phone: 575-868-2221
Bottomless Lakes State Park
Located less than half an hour from Roswell, visitors can check out New Mexico’s very first state park. The Bottomless Lakes State Park is well known for its various lakes, which are actually sinkholes fed by underground water. Some of the sinkholes go as deep as 90 feet and are filled with greenish-blue aquatic plants, giving the lakes a near bottomless illusion. Visitors are welcome to enjoy non-motorized boating activities such as kayaking, fishing, pedal boating, and scuba diving. The park also offers over four miles of biking and hiking trails along with camping and picnicking areas, playgrounds, beach activities, and wildlife viewing opportunities.
545A Bottomless Lakes Road, Roswell, New Mexico 88201, Phone: 575-988-3638
Park Lake
One of the must-see spots in Santa Rosa, Park Lake is filled with outdoor activities for the whole family to enjoy. The lake welcomes a number of water activities from swimming to boating and offers several water sports equipment for rent. There’s even an inflatable obstacle course out on the lake with a bouncing horse, climbing wall, and water slide. Out of the water, guests can bring their own food to enjoy in the shaded picnic areas or grab a bite to eat from summertime food trucks. Park Lake is open to visitors all year round but usually offers most of its activities and lifeguard supervision between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
913 Blue Hole Road, Santa Rosa, New Mexico 88435
