This beautiful park, in northern New Mexico, is known for its excellent sailing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, cross-country skiing, and hiking. It’s home to the New Mexico Sailing Club. Clicking on the link will take you to the photo album for the club, where you can see some great photographs of the lake and surrounding area.
A picturesque lake set among tall pines, Heron Lake State Park has been designated a “quiet lake” where boats operate at no-wake speeds only.
If you’re wanting to get away from all the noisy speed boats and jet skis, this is the place for you!
Heron Lake is ideal for fishing for record-size trout. Ice fishing is popular in winter for the arctic set.
A great diversity of wildlife found in the area includes deer, elk, foxes, bald eagles, red-tail hawks, water ouzels, and ospreys.
Several scenic campgrounds line the shore of this scenic lake with primitive and developed campsites are available for every taste. Altogether there are about 250 campsites. The RV campgrounds at Willow Creek and Blanco have 54 developed sites with electric, water and sewer hookups. A dump station is available for those of you who are dry camping.
Access the hiking and fishing trail along the gorgeous Rio Chama from the dramatic caprock stairway near Heron Dam. The 5.5-mile trail, which crosses the river by suspension bridge, affords panoramic views and an adventurous route to neighboring El Vado Lake.
Heron Lake is fairly remote. If you need supplies, head to Lowe’s Supermarket in Chama, which is 16 miles away.
Thinking about grabbing a bite while you’re in Chama? Dining in Chama is an adventure in itself!
You won’t find big chain restaurants. What you will find are reasonably-priced little cafes, full-service locally owned restaurants and numerous homemade pastry and goody shops.
Famous for its own brand of Northern New Mexican cuisine, your taste buds will be treated to a unique combination of fresh local ingredients, tantalizing spices and the ubiquitous chili, red or green. If your tastes run more to fresh mountain trout or range-fed beef, you’ll find some of the best eating in the West. Want to try something more exotic? You’ll even find Elk burgers (farm raised, of course) and other game dishes on some of the menus.
The High Country Restaurant has been serving up quality steaks and other fare in a cool atmosphere for years. Most travelers are shocked to find a restaurant with this quality of food and service in such a remote place!
There’s a breakfast buffet every Sunday from 8am to noon with omelets and waffles made to order.
You can expect live music by a wide variety of artists every weekend in the bar or on the outdoor patio when weather permits.
The High Country Package Liquor and Convenience Store is located on the premises in case your bar needs restocking. And if you love cigars, enjoy a choice of fine cigars from their cedar lined walk in humidor.
Where are your favorite campsites in New Mexico? We have plenty of others that we like to recommend if you come by Rocky Mountain RV and Marine.
