Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area

Know Before You Go 

Fees

Fee station (self-service) is located at the entrance of the North Shore area, and a self-service pay station is located at the Overlook Campground. Exact change is required and should be deposited into fee tubes; entrance station will not handle cash. 

• Day Use $5 per vehicle, first come first-served for parking and day-use sites. 
• Camping $9 per night first come first-served 
• Annual Day Use Pass $20 per vehicle; good for all Taos Field Office recreation areas (Santa Cruz Lake, Orilla Verde, Wild Rivers).  
• This pass is good for 1 year from the date of purchase. Inquire at North Shore pay station or call the Taos Field Office 575-758-8851. Day use passes are not applicable to overnight camping fees.  

Facilities 

North Shore 

• Closed due to construction. No public access to this area. 
• No RV dump station    

Overlook Campground 

• The Overlook Campground is located above at the top of the escarpment on the South end of the lake (5.5 miles south on NM 503 of the North Shore & boat ramp area).  
• The campground provides 1 vault toilet, campsites with picnic shelters and campfire rings/grills and access to the Overlook Trail.  

Santa Cruz Lake Trail System  

• 6.4 miles of trail. The trails are moderate to difficult.  
• Trails include Laguna Vista, Debris Basin, La Caja, and Overlook. 
• Please bring water and wear sturdy shoes for hiking.  
• BEWARE OF COUGAR, BOBCAT & RATTLESNAKES which have been sighted; don’t hike alone & protect small dogs. 

Nearby Amenities 

• This nearest location to acquire food and gas is ~ 12 mi. away via NM-76 N in Santa Cruz.  

Season/Hours 

• February 14, 2025 update: Santa Cruz Lake will reopen on  February 15, 2025. The operating hours will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday - Monday.
• May 15 to September 14: Open 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 
• September 15 to May 14: Open 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
• Closed Thanksgiving Day. 
• Closed December 22-26 and New Years Day. 
• Closed when the lake freezes over. 
• All boats MUST be out of the water 30 minutes before closing time. 
• All visitors MUST be out of the recreation at closing time. 
• Gates will be locked when recreation area is closed.

Special Rules  

• No Swimming at Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area due to safety concerns involving motorized boating and fishing activities.  
  • Dangerous underwater currents occur near the dam.  
  • Wading is allowed in knee-deep water only. Please wear water shoes to help protect your feet from broken glass and other sharp objects.  
  • Public nudity is not allowed in the recreation area.  
• Cultural Resources: Sites and artifacts dating back centuries have been found within the recreation area. Please protect these valuable resources of the past. 
  •  Removal or disturbance of these artifacts destroys valuable information and is a serious crime punishable by fines and/or imprisonment. 
• For public health and safety, bathing, washing clothes, or washing dishes is not allowed at water spigots.  
  • Please do not hook RVs up to water spigots. 
• Discharging firearms and fireworks or any other implement capable of causing injury or damage to property is prohibited anywhere within the boundaries of the recreation area. 

• ATVs, Dirt Bikes, Horses -- NOT allowed at the developed areas of the North Shore or Overlook. 

• Campfires are allowed in designated fire rings/grills ONLY. Camp stoves and charcoal fires are recommended.  
  • Firewood collection is not allowed - please bring your own campfire fuel. 
  • Please do not leave your fire unattended and make sure it's completely out before you leave; don't add dirt to fire rings.  
• Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.   
• Yellow areas are No Parking at any time. Park in designated parking spaces only. 
  • No Parking in the boat ramp area. 
• Dogs must be on a leash (6 feet or less) and their waste must be picked up. 

Boating   

• Allowable watercraft includes canoes, kayaks, paddle boards and motorboats.   
• All children 12 years old and younger must wear the personal floatation device (PFD) while on the lake.  
• The lake is a “No-wake, 5 MPH” zone.  
• The boat ramp is for loading and unloading only; no Parking allowed.  
• The public must comply with State of New Mexico and BLM regulations for boating safety, equipment, and registration.   
• A U.S. Coastguard-approved PFD is required for each person in the boat.   

Fishing 

• Santa Cruz Lake is periodically stocked with rainbow trout by the New Mexico Dept. of Game and Fish. German brown trout and other species are occasionally caught. 
  • New Mexico Department of Game and Fish stocking reports 
• All anglers must have a valid New Mexico fishing license and a Wildlife Habitat Improvement validation or stamp in their possession. 
• Daily limits, bag and possession limits are 5 fish per license holder. 
• Children 11 years old or younger do not need a license but must abide by these limit restrictions. 
• No ice fishing is allowed due to unstable ice conditions. 

BROCHURES, MAPS, AND PUBLICATIONS 

• Map of Santa Cruz Recreation Area 

Wildlife in Area   

• Cougar 
• Bobcat 
• Rattlesnakes 
• Western Tanager