Summer is here, and it’s time to cool off in the waters found on the Geronimo Trail Scenic Byway!
When one hears “Geronimo Trail” it’s likely that dangling your feet in a lake or floating down a river wouldn’t be the first thing to come to mind, but our Byway is fortunate to enjoy a variety of lakes and waterways perfect for chilling down on hot summer days.
Elephant Butte Lake State Park, the largest lake in New Mexico, offers sandy beaches, great fishing and boating, walking trails and camping along its 43 mile length. There are well over 300,000 acre feet of water available for recreation. Elephant Butte Lake can accommodate watercraft of many styles and sizes: kayaks, jet skis, pontoons, sailboats, ski boats, cruisers, and houseboats. Besides sandy beaches, the State Park offers restrooms, picnic areas, playgrounds, and developed sites with electric and water hook-ups for RV’s. Fishing guides, boat, kayak and paddle board rentals are available.
If you’re looking for a less populated experience, Caballo Lake & Percha Dam State Parks are just 16 miles down the road. Framed against the Caballo Mountains, Caballo Lake boasts an array of water recreation, such as boating, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, swimming, and fishing. Choose from 170 campsites, with plenty of sites with utility hookups for RVs. For a completely different experience, Percha Dam is a quiet park along the Rio Grande that is shaded by tall cottonwoods and provides excellent fishing, relaxing camping, and outstanding bird watching.
One of our favorite activities in the summer is to enjoy a float down the Rio Grande.Rio Grande River Trips in Truth or Consequences provides everything that you need for a trip downriver including transportation, flotation devices, tubes, kayaks and rafts.
Formerly named Hot Springs, Truth or Consequences has been touted as America’s Most Affordable Spa Town. The downtown area sits over a huge geothermal aquifer of 110-degree-Fahrenheit mineral water which comes to the surface at the river and through wells and pools. While some may feel that hot summer days are not conducive to soaking, many locals enjoy an early morning or late night soak in one of the many private hot springs establishments in T or C.
There are lots of options on our Byway for relaxing on the water this summer!
