Sumner Dam and Lake Sumner, features of the Carlsbad Project, are on the Pecos
River about 250 river miles north of Carlsbad and about 16 miles northwest of
Fort Sumner, New Mexico. The Lake has 4,500 water surface acres when full with
60 miles of shoreline. Recreation is managed for Reclamation by the New Mexico
State Parks. There is a visitor center operated by NM State Parks. No food
service or lodging within park. Lodging is available in Fort Sumner or in
Santa Rosa, 42 miles north. No concessions. Year round fishing for white bass,
catfish, walleye, and bream. Scuba diving for game fish is permitted. There is
stream fishing downstream from dam. Boating must conform to New Mexico
regulations. There is a playground and opportunities for birdwatching.

<a href="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=226" rel="nofollow">Sumner Dam</a> and Lake Sumner, features of the <a href="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=485" rel="nofollow">Carlsbad Project</a>, are on the Pecos River about 250 river miles north of Carlsbad and about 16 miles northwest of Fort Sumner, New Mexico. The Lake has 4,500 water surface acres when full with 60 miles of shoreline. Recreation is managed for Reclamation by the New Mexico State Parks. There is a visitor center operated by NM State Parks. No food service or lodging within park. Lodging is available in Fort Sumner or in Santa Rosa, 42 miles north. No concessions. Year round fishing for white bass, catfish, walleye, and bream. Scuba diving for game fish is permitted. There is stream fishing downstream from dam. Boating must conform to New Mexico regulations. There is a playground and opportunities for birdwatching.

Bird's eye view of the park

Lake Sumner

umner Lake State park is on the grassy plains just northwest of Fort Sumner.
Sumner Lake is located where the Pecos River and Alamogordo Creek come
together. The dam at this intersection divides the lake into two large
sections - the Alamogordo Arm and the Pecos River Arm. It was established in
1966 as Alamogordo Reservoir; the name was changed in 1974 to Sumner Lake
which was named after nearby Fort Sumner, to avoid confusion with the growing
town of Alamogordo. Construction was done in the 1930s by the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation with the help of workers of the Works Progress Administration and
the Civilian Conservation Corps; some remnants of their artistic rockwork are
the five rock bridges on the main road on the east side of the lake. The dam
can be viewed from various vantage points at the lake.  
  
Piсon, juniper, mesquite, grasses, and yucca cover the hillslopes and mesas
surrounding the lake, and various wild flowers and cacti, including cholla and
prickly pear, are common. Cottonwood trees grow along Alamogordo Creek and the
Pecos River. Falcons, mountain bluebirds, ducks, and geese are plentiful. A
few bald eagles inhabit the area as well. Antelope and deer roam the
countryside. The State Game and Fish Department stocks the lake with walleye
and northern pike, large-mouth bass, catfish, crappie, green sunfish, and
bluegills. Trout are found in the river below the dam. Unlike most of New
Mexico’s lake parks, the lake offers access to the live river below the dam.
The Pecos River flows from the base of Sumner Dam for approximately 250 yards
within the park boundary before entering private ranch land.  
  
Sumner Lake State park staff provides weekly summer interpretive programs for
visitors and outreach programs to local schools and social groups during fall
and spring. Staff also offers several special events at the park throughout
each year.  
  
Sumner Lake State park offers a visitor center with exhibits, 50 developed
campsites, 16 Electric, and 16 with water and electric, primitive campsites,
allows horseback riding, showers, group shelters, electric hook-ups,
restrooms, dump stations, boating/boat ramps, fishing, playground, trails, and
R.V. pull through sites.  
  
Park Elevation is 4,310 ft.  
Make a reservation on the New Mexico State Parks reservation website.

umner Lake State park is on the grassy plains just northwest of Fort Sumner. Sumner Lake is located where the Pecos River and Alamogordo Creek come together. The dam at this intersection divides the lake into two large sections - the Alamogordo Arm and the Pecos River Arm. It was established in 1966 as Alamogordo Reservoir; the name was changed in 1974 to Sumner Lake which was named after nearby Fort Sumner, to avoid confusion with the growing town of Alamogordo. Construction was done in the 1930s by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation with the help of workers of the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps; some remnants of their artistic rockwork are the five rock bridges on the main road on the east side of the lake. The dam can be viewed from various vantage points at the lake. 

Piсon, juniper, mesquite, grasses, and yucca cover the hillslopes and mesas surrounding the lake, and various wild flowers and cacti, including cholla and prickly pear, are common. Cottonwood trees grow along Alamogordo Creek and the Pecos River. Falcons, mountain bluebirds, ducks, and geese are plentiful. A few bald eagles inhabit the area as well. Antelope and deer roam the countryside. The State Game and Fish Department stocks the lake with walleye and northern pike, large-mouth bass, catfish, crappie, green sunfish, and bluegills. Trout are found in the river below the dam. Unlike most of New Mexico’s lake parks, the lake offers access to the live river below the dam. The Pecos River flows from the base of Sumner Dam for approximately 250 yards within the park boundary before entering private ranch land. 

Sumner Lake State park staff provides weekly summer interpretive programs for visitors and outreach programs to local schools and social groups during fall and spring. Staff also offers several special events at the park throughout each year. 

Sumner Lake State park offers a visitor center with exhibits, 50 developed campsites, 16 Electric, and 16 with water and electric, primitive campsites, allows horseback riding, showers, group shelters, electric hook-ups, restrooms, dump stations, boating/boat ramps, fishing, playground, trails, and R.V. pull through sites. 

Park Elevation is 4,310 ft. 
<a href="http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/sumnerlakestatepark.html" rel="nofollow">Make a reservation on the New Mexico State Parks reservation website</a>.

Lake Sumner

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Sumner Lake State Park