New Mexico / Rio Arriba County

Riana - Abiquiu Lake

Closed — Closed for the season. Typically operates spring through fall with reservations available through Recreation.gov. Entrance gates close at 10 p.m. during the open season.

About

Riana Campground is an Army Corps of Engineers facility located on a 150-foot bluff overlooking Abiquiu Lake on the Rio Chama, a tributary of the Rio Grande. At an elevation of 6,400 feet, the campground is situated just one hour northwest of Santa Fe in northern New Mexico's high desert landscape. The campground hosts 52 campsites across multiple loops, with 13 sites offering electric and water hookups. Amenities include flush toilets, hot showers, drinking water, picnic shelters, grills, lantern posts, tent pads, a playground, and a dump station. The campground also features several walk-to sites and group shelters. Fragrant pinion pine, juniper, and sage cover the area, creating the distinctive scent of northern New Mexico, though shade is limited. Colorful rock formations surround the park, and campers are rewarded with panoramic views of the narrow mesa known as Cerro Pedernal, or simply "Pedernal," where famous painter Georgia O'Keeffe's ashes were scattered. Abiquiu Lake offers excellent fishing, considered some of the finest in northern New Mexico, along with boating, water skiing, and hiking. Lake shore access and boat launching facilities are located about one mile from the campground. The area is rich with nearby attractions including Ghost Ranch, the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, San Pedro Wilderness, Bandelier National Monument, and Chaco Canyon. The ski town of Taos is just over an hour away, while Santa Fe with its restaurants, shops, and museums is an hour southeast.

Directions

From Espanola, travel 30 miles north on US Highway 84. Turn west onto State Highway 96 and continue 1 mile to the Riana Campground entrance.

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