Campground Reviews › New Mexico

Bluewater Lake State Park

State Park New Mexico

Visited November 2011

Entrance sign for Bluewater Lake State Park

Bluewater State Park is located in western New Mexico, northwest of Grants. The park has several camping loops with a total of 132 sites, 14 with electric hookups.

Early November was the timeframe of our visit and when we arrived the campground was completely empty, leaving us... — Early November was the timeframe of our visit and when we arrived the campground was completely empty, leaving us the choice of any site. We selected site 1 in the Canyonside loop - nice and sunny and it was one of the electric sites.

Greetings from

Bluewater Lake State Park

Early November was the timeframe of our visit and when we arrived the campground was completely empty, leaving us the choice of any site. We selected site 1 in the Canyonside loop - nice and sunny and it was one of the electric sites.

Ribbit! The WxToad

Around the campground

The Northpoint loop is nearest the park entrance and provides a dozen no-hookup sites. — The Northpoint loop is nearest the park entrance and provides a dozen no-hookup sites. In the distance is site 67.

Site 66.

Site 74 is a prime lake-front site in the Northpoint loop.

The 14 electric sites are in the Canyonside loop. — The 14 electric sites are in the Canyonside loop. Here are sites 13 and 14.

Sites 11 and 12 are also electric sites.

Sites 2-6 also have electricity.

Sites 20 and 19 are near the edge of the canyon.

Site 25 overlooks the canyon as well as Mt Taylor in the distance.

In the Lakeside loop, site 45 is typical of the hillside sites overlooking the lake.

The Pinon Cliff loop has the nicest sites for those wanting a great view of the lake. — The Pinon Cliff loop has the nicest sites for those wanting a great view of the lake. Here is site 40.

Although built on a fairly steep hillside, the sites themselves, such as 37 here, are reasonably level.

Sites 31 and 32 have pull-off parking alongside the road.

Site 28 is a beautiful site at the end of the Pinon Cliff loop. — Site 28 is a beautiful site at the end of the Pinon Cliff loop. It's only disadvantage is a sharp, uphill turn into it which precludes most RVs and trailer from using it.

A clean, heated modern bathhouse is located in the Canyonside loop. — A clean, heated modern bathhouse is located in the Canyonside loop. Free hot showers are available. Interestingly, it is locked up overnight. There are several vault toilets scattered throughout the campground.

The kids can get some exercise at the play area.

For hikers, there is a trail down into the canyon and along its floor.

There are lots of beavers down in the canyon, who have been busy as, well, beavers, building dams along the stream.

Bluewater Lake was formed with the construction of an 80' concrete arch dam in 1925, after two earlier earthen dams... — Bluewater Lake was formed with the construction of an 80' concrete arch dam in 1925, after two earlier earthen dams were washed out in floods. Although built for irrigation, the lake only rarely contains enough water for irrigation, and water has not flowed over the spillway since 1941.Across the lake is the Los Tusas Campground, also a part of the state park.

Here is an overall map of the park.

Camping fees. — Camping fees. The Annual Camping Permit is a great deal for anyone staying at New Mexico state parks for three weeks or longer.

Nearby campgrounds

El Malpais NCA - Joe Skeen CampgroundNM · 30 miles away

Datil Well - BLMNM · 81 miles away

Kirtland AFB FAMCAMPNM · 90 miles away

Navajo Lake State ParkNM · 109 miles away

Back on the roadSee all 402 campgrounds