Navajo Lake State Park

Straddling the border of Rio Arriba and San Juan counties in northwestern New Mexico, Navajo Lake State Park encompasses 21,000 acres of high desert terrain surrounding one of the state’s largest bodies of water. The park sits at the edge of Navajo Lake, a 15,000-acre reservoir formed by Navajo Dam on the San Juan River, creating a striking contrast of deep blue water against red sandstone cliffs and piñon-juniper woodlands.

Three distinct recreation areas—Pine, Sims Mesa, and the San Juan River—each offer a different experience. Pine River, on the lake’s eastern arm, draws families with its developed marina, sandy beaches, and calm coves ideal for swimming and water skiing. Sims Mesa on the western side appeals to anglers and boaters who prefer a quieter setting with dramatic canyon views. Below the dam, the San Juan River tailwater has earned a national reputation as one of the finest year-round trout fisheries in the country, consistently producing trophy-sized rainbow and brown trout in its clear, cold flows.

Beyond fishing and boating, visitors can hike the surrounding mesa trails, explore by kayak, or simply settle into a waterside campsite and watch the sunset paint the cliffs. Spring and fall bring the most comfortable temperatures and smaller crowds, while summer weekends fill quickly with boaters escaping the desert heat.

Whether you come for world-class fly fishing below the dam or a weekend on the water with family, Navajo Lake delivers an uncrowded, genuinely scenic corner of New Mexico that most travelers never discover.

Explore Nearby

• Alien Run Mountain Bike Trail — Public Land in New Mexico
• Crow Canyon Petroglyphs — Public Land in New Mexico
• San Juan National Forest — National Forest in Colorado
• Chaco Culture National Historical Park — Dark Sky Site in New Mexico
• Deer Creek Road — Scenic Byway in Nevada