El Vado Lake State Park

Know Before You Go!
El Vado Lake State Park has closed access to the remaining boat ramp and is prohibiting the use of motorized boats due to dropping water levels and safety concerns. The lake is still open for non-motorized vessel use such as canoeing, paddle boards or kayaking. The boat ramp will be reopened to motorboats when lake level conditions improve. Please check the Park status before you go on New Mexico State Parks.com
El Vado Lake is a reservoir located in Rio Arriba County, tucked away in the northern mountains near Tierra Amarilla. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District completed the construction of El Vado dam in 1935 to store irrigation water in order to honor Native American water rights of the six Middle Rio Grande Pueblos. The dam was updated in 1953-1954 by the United States Bureau of Reclamation and the outlets were modified in 1965-1966 to accommodate increased flows associated with San Juan-Chama Project.

In the early 1900s El Vado was once a thriving and bustling logging town, but now lies at the bottom of El Vado Lake. It was northern Rio Arriba's largest sawmill town. El Vado and Heron Lake State Parks are connected by a 5.5-mile scenic trail along the Rнo Chama.

El Vado Lake has camping, allows horseback riding, showers, group shelters, electrical hookups, restrooms, dump stations, boating/boat ramps, fishing, playground, trails, and R.V. pull through sites.
Make a reservation on the New Mexico State Parks reservation website.