elephant butte lake state park

Great place to enjoy family time.All area really clean and safe.I don't have any negative comment about the are and servives.

I have to laugh at the snobbish reactions of Northeasterners to cities and spots of beauty in New Mexico. Thank God if they don't "get" what this state is all about because then they won't come here. I moved to New Mexico from Manhattan's Upper East Side to escapefrom "folks" like that. Elephant Butte Lake S.P. is a fascinating place offering lots of variety. I will return many times.

I dislike using my reviewing powers to put down a place, but because State Parks in NM are somewhat remote and far flung, I feel obliged to protect other travelers from making the mistake I did.EBLSP is adjacent to the Cities of Truth or Consequences and Elephant Butte. As for the lake itself, it is long and appears to be somewhat clean and can look very pretty at sunset and sunrise. Having said that, the park itself has become home to too many long-term campers consisting of people who are definitely not there for recreational purposes. This would not be a family friendly place. Being avid hikers, we looked in vain for a decent hike, and found one so stunningly dull in the park that we chose to go off-trail and bush-whack through the prickers along the lake so as not to succumb to mortal boredom. We skipped showering because the bathrooms looked a bit sketchy. Truth or Consequences appeared to be closed indefinitely, but on the bright side, it boasts some excellent vintage architecture from the 60s and 70s, Elephant Butte is a catastrophe of trailers and prefab buildings with one restaurant where you can find a decent selection of beer and some friendly people.

We happened upon the park while driving to California and decided to stop for the night and ended up staying the entire weekend. The lake and surroundings are very beautiful with lots of native wildlife.Planning on a return trip this summer.

The bad news was that the night was so windy, only a few of the advertised 4,000 luminarias were lit. The good news was that there were still plenty of campfires and lots of free treats for eating and drinking. (The bad news about the campfires was that some folks were burning press board and other environmentally questionable combustibles. This led me to joke to my friend, "You might be a redneck if burning press board smells like Christmas.")There were also lots of things (including military vehicles) decorated with Christmas lights.People at the stations handing out free food and drink were all very friendly. Attendees? Not so much. Several people bumped into my friend while she was simply standing still and no one said, "excuse me." After one attempt at getting on a hayride, we gave up, as people seemed happy to knock us down in order to get in line. And when it came to getting treats, one couldn't be shy, or someone would step right between one and the hoped for treat.The lighted boat parade was fun enough. Only one boat really stood out (Santa's sleigh and his reindeer). The other boats just looked as if a few lights had been strung, then the boat owner called it good. My friend can't walk very far, so she got us a ride in an ATV/dune buggy, but she had to seek one out and ask for a ride; there were not designated places for folks with mobility issues to wait for a ride. All in all, my friend and I both had fun, and attending this event was worth the $5 (per car, NOT per person) admission fee. I might even attend again. But a lot of the fun we had was the fun we made ourselves. Of course, little kids (not yet snarky and jaded) would probably have a great time at this event.(There were many port-a-potties available throughout the festivity area.)

Nice lake by yourself or with family. Good fishing and peaceful. Very friendly staff, and very helpful.

Elephant Butte Lake is the perfect autumn destination. It is great all year long but, come autumn all the summer visitors have gone leaving wide open beaches and calm waters. Elephant Butte Lake is New Mexico's largest lake. Even when water level is low, as it currently ( 11-2014) there is plenty water. The south end of the lake is known as the Dam Site and has some older structures dating from the time of the dam construction. The shore line is s bit more rocky in this area. Great for fishing near the name sake Butte and for viewing the actual dam. The main entrance is several miles away and boasts great lake views and sandy beaches. The main entrance has Marina Del Sur with a large boat ramp. There is plenty of beach for hiking and numerous trails. The City of Elephant Butte has several great places to eat year round, a very nice hotel and RV parks for every pocketbook. We enjoy kayaking along the diverse shore line. Storms can kick up quickly but rarely last long. Spring weather can bring dust storms.

Beautiful scenery, lots of hiking opportunities and camping. I took a ton of pictures and enjoyed driving to the various outlook points. Highly recommend!

I camp there many times, but I like to get up at 4:00 am until sunrise with my telescope/camera and watch the night sky. On a moonless night you can see thousands of stars and the Milky Way. If you are there during the Fall Equinox, you will really see a show in the night sky. Bring a jacket it does get cold at night.I like to follow the stars and planets and if you are lucky, you can actually see the light from the planets Venus, and Jupiter reflect off the water if you are near Lions beach area.Was there last weekend and at 5:05 am, I can see in the east the false sunrise, (AKA Zodiac) in the night sky. Pretty awesome how the light from the sun can be seen traveling through space. If you are lucky enough, you might even see, strange objects in the night sky. I am not saying they are UFO’s but then again, they did drop the atom bomb 75 miles north east of the lake location in 1945. You might also even get of glimpse of the stealth fighters in the sky. Real cool.Great place to star gaze and follow the constellations of you are an amateur astronomer or a novice. In the summer it is really hot and windy, so I prefer the fall and winters to camp in that area. Good Utilities for your RV, Motorhome or Camper. I do not recommend using a tent. Be aware of rattlesnakes, coyotes, even though they stay away from people, and don’t bother you; make sure you always keep your guard up, because you never know. Bring some Benadryl and a good first aid kit, if go off the trial. A good walking stick is recommended. Keep your pets on a leash. You may have to drive 75 miles south to Las Cruces to go see a veterinarian or doctor for anti-venom. Again don’t mess with the animals because that is why they are called animals. Again it is a great place to watch sunsets, lighting storms, sunrises, and the stars at night.

At Elephant Butte SP you can have it your way. All styles and types of camping are possible. Boondocking on the lake front, primitive, traditional campgrounds, all are done her. We stayed in Desert Cove campground, site 6, and had a wonderful time. The restrooms are very clean and the Desert Cove campground has wifi. We used satellite tv so I don't know about ota channels. Fairly good AT&T cell service. We traveled from Texas and are happy we stayed here.

This is such a wonderful place in the middle of nowhere! Catfish and different types of bass are plentiful! My family and I had a blast and plan to be back many many times!

Having our lunch from R&C Sumthins and loving the beautiful view of the lake. Seeing people on there on there jet skies and speed boats and sail boats. It was a beautiful day, some gust of wind but we enjoy the day. Have to come out here, you will love the view of the lake and the mountains. And watching the people on there boats. Its $5 a car but well worth it. We recommend this beautiful place :).

Went there with my wife and some friends. Had a great time relaxing, swimming, and fishing. It's a bit of a drive from where I'm currently located but it was definitely worth it.

Elephant Butte Lake is one of the hidden gems of New Mexico. Located between Las Cruces and Albuquerque and only 2 hours from El Paso, the lake offers the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. The lake boasts warm water and miles of beach area with plenty of room for camping. A weekend on the water is a great way to spend time with family and friends making memories that will last a life time. The lake is easy to get to and even though we are in the midst of a drought that has seen the water levels drop in the last few years, there is still plenty for room for fun. Don't miss the Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza that is put on by the town every year on the weekend closest to the 4th. It is one of the best displays in the region and worth the the trip. It is easy to see the fireworks from the beach but thousands of people venture out into the darkness and enjoy the show while floating on boats that fill the horizon. It is a great experience to celebrate our freedom in such a special way. Our friends and family members have enjoyed this summer treat for years.

Elephant Butte Lake is gorgeous! There is so much to do there -- swim, camp either in a lean-to or an RV on the beach, water-ski, boat, fish......We spent an enjoyable afternoon there. If you plan to drive around there, make sure you stay on the roads (unless you have a 4-wheel drive)!