Caballo Lake State Park

Caballo Lake was created in the 1930's when the US Bureau of Reclamation built an earthern dam across the Rio Grande. The dam itself is 4,558 feet across and 96 feet high. The lake above the dam, when full, is up to 18 miles long and covers some 11,500 acres. The big attraction of Caballo Lake is the excellent bass and walleye fishing, although you'll also find plenty of catfish, crappie, bluegill, sunfish and northern pike in the water, too.

Caballo Lake State Park surrounds the lake and offers boating, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing, swimming and fishing. Campers will find 135 developed campsites, 63 of which offer electrical hookups. There are also an RV dump station, restrooms, showers and a playground in the campground area. There are individual picnic tables and a group shelter available, too. Everything you need to get to know the place is available in the Caballo Lake Visitor Center, generally open from 8 am to 5 pm every day.

Caballo Lake State Park runs north/south in the Rio Grande Valley at the western foot of the Caballo Mountains. To get there: Exit from Interstate 25 at exit 59 onto New Mexico Highway 187 (about 16 miles south of Truth or Consequences). Follow the signs.

Caballo Lake State Park is open 24 hours a day but the campground area gate tends to get locked from 9 pm to 7 am during the summer months.

Fees: Day-use: $5 per vehicle; Pedestrians and bicyclists get in free. Camping: Primitive sites: $8 per site per night. Developed sites: $10 per site per night. Developed site with either electric or sewer: $14 per site per night. Developed site with both electric and sewer: $18 per site per night. Water hookups aren't always available but when they are, they're free.