Bottomless Lakes

About

Bottomless Lakes State Park, established as New Mexico's first state park, sits 12 miles southeast of Roswell along a chain of eight sinkholes filled with crystal-clear water. The lakes range from 17 to 90 feet deep, with Lea Lake being the only one open for swimming and contact recreation. Despite the name, the lakes are not actually bottomless; early cowboys thought so because their lasso ropes couldn't touch bottom. Lea Lake Campground provides 33 campsites including 6 full-hookup sites and 26 water/electric sites, plus 3 tent-only sites in the Lower Lakes Area which has vault toilets. The main campground features a bathhouse with restrooms and showers, dump station, and playground. Sites can accommodate RVs from 35 to 60 feet depending on configuration. Memorial Day through Labor Day, the park rents pedal boats, paddleboards, and lifejackets. Fishing is permitted only at Devil's Ink Well and Pasture Lake, not at Lea Lake. The park offers hiking trails, birding opportunities, and is a popular scuba diving destination. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance through the New Mexico State Parks reservation system.

Directions

From Roswell, drive 12 miles east on US Highway 380, then turn south on NM Highway 409 and continue 7 miles to the park entrance.