Campground Reviews › New Mexico

Caballo Lake State Park

State Park New Mexico

Visited November 2011

Entrance sign for Caballo Lake State Park

Caballo Lake State Park is located near the Caballo Lake Dam just off I-25 between Los Cruces and Truth or Consequences. It contains 60 sites with water and electric hookups and can accommodate campers in 250 primitive sites.

Arriving on a Monday morning before lunch, we found plenty of empty sites from which to choose. — Arriving on a Monday morning before lunch, we found plenty of empty sites from which to choose. After selecting one very nice site, number 17, we discovered a problem with the electric box, so we moved to site 26.

Greetings from

Caballo Lake State Park

Arriving on a Monday morning before lunch, we found plenty of empty sites from which to choose. After selecting one very nice site, number 17, we discovered a problem with the electric box, so we moved to site 26.

Ribbit! The WxToad

Around the campground

Sites in the Appaloosa loop are laid out on each side of a wide loop road. — Sites in the Appaloosa loop are laid out on each side of a wide loop road. Here are sites 12, 14-15 (no number 13).

The Palamino Loop contains 7 full hook-ups sites.

Sites 4 and 5 in the Palamino Loop. — Sites 4 and 5 in the Palamino Loop. I consider site 4 the best one in the park, with it's great view of the lake and mountains.

This is at the other end of the Appaloosa Loop, sites 16-20, 24-25.

The Stallion Loop, with 10 sites, is closed for the winter. — The Stallion Loop, with 10 sites, is closed for the winter. Here are sites 36-41.

Sites 33 and 34 in the Stallion Loop.

Site 18 looks out over the lake and mountains. — Site 18 looks out over the lake and mountains. There were several folks here camping in utility trailers like this, old vans and panel trucks. They obviously recognize how cheaply one can camp in New Mexico state parks.

There are two modern, clean bathhouses, each offering free warm showers. — There are two modern, clean bathhouses, each offering free warm showers. However, they are not heated, and note the use of the word "warm" describing the showers - they were not "hot"!

For boaters there is a boat launch ramp, one of the steepest I've ever seen.

A view of the mountains across the lake. — A view of the mountains across the lake. From the campground, one can see dirt roads winding their way well up the mountain; one day we watched a small Class C RV make its way about halfway up to the ledges.

Later in the day, some of the roads are a little easier to see.

Not being a birder, I don't know what this fellow is, but he was a great diver, able to spend lots of time... — Not being a birder, I don't know what this fellow is, but he was a great diver, able to spend lots of time underwater and travel a great distance.

Someone has put a lot of work into lining walking paths that wander all around the park. — Someone has put a lot of work into lining walking paths that wander all around the park. This is open range country, so you have to keep your eyes down a bit to watch for the meadow muffins.

The manufacturers of the meadow muffins occasionally come wandering through the campground.

After several pleasant days, a winter storm came through, giving us a white coating. — After several pleasant days, a winter storm came through, giving us a white coating. About two inches fell, most of it melting as it hit the warm ground.

Nearby campgrounds

Elephant Butte Lake State ParkNM · 20 miles away

Leasburg Dam State ParkNM · 37 miles away

City of Rocks State ParkNM · 45 miles away

Rockhound State ParkNM · 53 miles away

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