Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area

Hours of operation Thursday-Sunday: 6:00am-8:00pm Monday-Wednesday: CLOSED About 30 miles northeast of Santa Fe. From Santa Fe: take US 84/285 N to NM 503 in Pojoaque. Turn right onto NM 503 and continue on the scenic 'High Road' towards Chimayo. Pass CR 98 which turns left to Chimayo and continue on NM 503; first you will see the Overlook Campground turnoff on the left, then continue 5.5 miles towards and past Cundiyo to Santa Cruz Lake Rd (CR 98A). There is no Recreation Area entrance sign at Santa Cruz Lake Rd off NM 503 from the South. From the North: Take NM 76 east from Espanola for 9.7 miles, turn right onto NM 503 and follow 1.4 miles to Santa Cruz Lake Rd (CR 98A); turn right. Please NO RVs or vehicles with trailers longer than 30' on Santa Cruz Lake Rd; tight turns on entrance road and in parking areas. Santa Cruz Lake Rd (98A) dead ends at the boat ramp & fishing pier areas; No through road.

Phone number: 575-271-5634 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.