Even though we live in the middle of Chihuahan Desert, the highest quality water sports of almost every type are available within minutes of Las Cruces. With the exception of Northern New Mexico's white water rafting, and the water sports available only in ocean resorts like surfing, reef diving and snorkling, the Rio Grande River will provides us with some ofthe finest surface water sports that you can find anywhere. The Elephant Butte Lake, Caballo Lake, and Percha Dam State Parks, and the Rio Grande River in between these lake areas will provide you with 5-star, year round, water sports activities.
Less than 90 miles and under one and a half hours driving time you will arrive at
Elephant Butte State Park.
The largest and most popular lake in New Mexico, Elephant Butte Lake State Park provides a setting for every imaginable water sport including boating, water-skiing, fishing, scuba diving, and canoeing.
The lake has sandy beaches, and quiet little coves. The mild climate of the area makes this park a  year-round destination. There is plenty of water and plenty of beach. The Land Area is 24,500 acres and the Lake Surface is 35,000 acres. This 40 mile long reservoir is New Mexico's main water sports destination, and it is New Mexico's largest State Park. Late May through early October are the prime season for playing in the water. The water temperatures are usually in the 70's to low 80's. Although most visitors wouldn't want to play IN the water during winter months because of lower temperatures, the lake is still a great place to play ON when the weather gets a bit colder. Various Organizations, Elephant Butte State Park, the City of Elephant Butte, and the City of Truth or Consequences sponsor events on the lake year round.
There is something to see and do All year round
>>>Rio Grande Sailing Club - sponsors Races & Regattas 
http://www.rgsc.org
>>>American Bass Fishing Holds Monthly Tournaments
http://www.americanbass.com
>>>SW Drag Boat Association Races All types of Watercrafts Monthly April - Sept http://www.swdba.org
>>>Free Fishing Day/Kids Fishing Derby & Educational Activities - 1ST Saturday in June
>>>Annual Junior Open Fishing Tournament - 3rd Saturday in June
>>>Fourth of July Fireworks on the Lake - Largest Display in the State
 >>>Annual Colossal Catfish Classic- All Night Tournament
>>>C.A.S.T. for Kids Fishing Tournament - Disabled/Disadvantaged Kids
http://www.castforkids.org
>>>Annual Elephant Butte Balloon Regatta -Only one of its kind accend & Land on Lake
http://www.ebbr.org
>>>Annual Weekend of Lights Festival, Luminaria Beachwalk & Floating Lights Parade
http://www.elephantbuttechamberofcommerce.com/html/events.htm
DETAILS AND DATES OF EACH ACTIVITY CAN BE FOUND AT:
http://www.elephantbuttechamberofcommerce.com/html/events.htm
Park facilities: The park has numerous camping and picnicking areas, with more than 250 developed campsites and 150 electrical hook-ups for RV's and trailers. Many campsites have shelters and grills. Reservations are available in the developed sites and for the beach areas. There is an interpretive visitor's center, RV dump station, restrooms, and showers.
There are full-service marinas, and enough open water to accommodate watercraft of most every style and size: kayaks, jet skis, pontoons, sailboats, ski boats, cabin cruisers, and houseboats. Summer is the busiest season; however, boating is possible all year round due to the mild climate at Elephant Butte. Don't have a boat? No problem. You can rent a boat at one of the several boat rental facilities. Or, if you prefer, you can participate in some of the boating events as just a spectator.
Though camping, picnicking, boating with vehicles of every kind, shape size and color, water skiing, scuba diving, hiking, and wildlife viewing are very popular; the most popular activity on the lake is fishing. In the cool, crisp, morning air before the sun has risen, fishing enthusiasts are launching powerful fishing boats and unveiling sophisticated tackle in preparation to seek that trophy catch. Fishing at Elephant Butte Lake isn't only for the extreme sportsman, however. Many individuals enjoy the day relaxing under the sun and taking in the beautiful scenery. Some fish that can be found in the lake (game fish and otherwise) are: Black bass (largemouth & smallmouth), White bass, Striper, Crappie, Perch, Walleye, Catfish, Sunfish, Bluegill, and Carp.
Elephant Butte claims several State records:
Striped Bass: 54 lb. 8 oz. -45"
Flathead Catfish 78. 0 oz. -47 1/2"
Blue Catfish 52 lb. 1/4 oz. -43 1/2"
Green Sunfish 1 lb. 6 oz. -13"
More fishing information can be found at:
New Mexico Department of Game & Fish
The Dam: Elephant Butte Reservoir is created by the Elephant Butte Dam. Efforts to dam the Rio Grande to provide a reliable source of water for area farms began in the 1890s. The U.S. Bureau of  Reclamation began construction of Elephant Butte Dam in 1911. When it was completed in 1916, it was the largest structure built in the United States to impound water, creating the world's largest man-made reservoir at the time. The dam is 306 feet high and 1,674 feet long, and retains a reservoir that covers approximately 36,000 acres. Although constructed to provide for irrigation and flood control, the lake has become New Mexico's premier water recreation facility.
The Butte's First Residents: More than 100 million years ago, the area was part of a vast shallow ocean. Ancient ammonites, extinct relatives of today's nautilus, have been found. After oceans covering much of New Mexico receded, the area became the warm, humid hunting ground of the tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur. This fierce creature roamed the area more than 60 million years ago. It was the largest land dwelling predator of all time, weighing more than 7 tons and reaching a length of 40 feet. Fossils of this formidable reptile, along with those of an ankylosaur, or armored dinosaur, and a ceratopsian, or horned dinosaur, have been discovered in area rock formations.
Elephants at Elephant Butte? The lake is named for a rock formation  that resembles an elephant, at least to some observers who see the left side of its head, with a prominent ear, and its trunk curled by a foot. The formation, which is actually the eroded core of an ancient volcano, is an island in the lake, just northeast of the dam. Although not known when the rock formation and lake were named, this area once was home to real elephants. Fossils of a primitive ancestor of today's elephants, the stegomastadon, have been found just west of the lake. The animal was about 7 feet tall and stocky, with a short skull and long upper tusks.
Human History: The region has been an important center of settlement for thousands of years. Until 1000 A.D., the area was occupied by indian groups, who appear to have lived primarily by hunting and gathering the abundant native wildlife and plants of the surrounding valleys and mountains. Over time, different groups lived and then faded from the area.
During the massive migration of European settlers into the West in the early 19th century, the threat of Indian attacks along the Rio Grande Valley made European settlers reluctant to put down roots in the area. The U.S. Military established Fort Conrad, Fort Craig, and Fort McRae in the mid-1800s to protect settlers. Numerous Hispanic agricultural villages sprang up during this time. The construction of Elephant Butte Dam led to condemnation of many of these settlements, which now lie beneath the waters of the reservoir. A few adobe ruins of old Fort McRae remain on the east side of the reservoir.
___________________________________________________________________________
Elephant butte chamber of Commerce Accommodations and facilities guide will help you with lodging, dining, and other facilities for your stay in and around the park, and supplies for whatever sporting activity you have planned . http://www.elephantbuttechamberofcommerce.com/brochures/AccommodationsFacilitiesGuide2.pdf
CABALLO LAKE STATE PARK
Traveling South towards Las Cruces, we follow the flow of the Rio Grande 25 miles from Elephant Butte Dam and Reservoir and Lake. Caballo Lake was created by building a 96 foot high earthen dam in the late 1930's. This was done in order to prevent the loss of water when Elephant Butte releases water for electric generation. The water in the Lake is released in the summer for irrigation. 
Caballo Lake has a surface area of more than 11,500 acres, making it New Mexico's third largest state park. When full, the lake is 18 miles long. The Caballo Mountains serve as a majestic backdrop for Caballo Lake State Park. The park boasts an array of water recreation, winter waterfowl watching, and cactus gardens in bloom. This long lake surrounded by Chihuahuan Desert and provides opportunities for fishing and water sports. In comparison to Elephant Butte Lake, Caballo Lake is a relatively quiet and family-oriented park. There are several hiking trails and good bird watching possibilities. The main activity here is fishing, primarily for White Bass and Walleye, although anglers also catch Black Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Northern Pike and Sunfish. Outside the main section of the park but close by, are several fishing supply stores.
Unlike Elephant Butte, most boating here is for getting to the best fishing spot, the lake also attracts small sailboats, windsurfers, and some water skiing especially in spring. Canoeists often put  into the Rio Grande just south of Elephant Butte Dam near the town of Williamsburg and paddle down to Caballo Lake, a distance of about 10 miles. There is no designated swimming beach, but the best swimming is usually just west of the dam on the north edge of the main park campgrounds.
The park's RV rally site is the only one in the New Mexico State Park System...with a large group shelter, huge barbecue grills, and a gated campground that can accommodate over 200 recreational vehicles. The bulk of the park's facilities are in the main section, on the west side of the lake, just north of the dam. Another campground is located along the Rio Grande just south of the dam. It has more trees...cottonwoods, black willow, green ash, and Arizona sycamore...and is more secluded than the lake section of the park.
A highlight of the Park are several well tended cactus gardens, with yucca, agave, ocotillo, prickly pear, mesquite, and other desert plants. Most of these cactus provide beautiful blooms in late March and early April. Trails at Caballo Lake are more for walking from place to place than serious hiking, and all of the park's 5.5 miles of sandy trails are considered easy. The  0.25 mile Overlook Trail is a loop over a grassy and cactus studded knoll that offers good views out across the lake. Another trail heads north from the campgrounds about 3 miles to an area called Eagle Point.
Bird watching is most successful mid-week when there are fewer boats on the lake, although it is generally not quite as good as at nearby Percha Dam State Park. In recent years, a breeding pair of Bald Eagles have made Caballo Lake their winter lake. Also seen are Golden Eagles, Northern Goshawks, Double-crested Cormorants, Common Loons, Snowy Egrets, Scaled Quail, Sandhill Cranes, American White Pelicans and Roadrunners. There are dozens of songbirds, several species of Hummingbirds, and numerous Geese and Ducks.
Mammals include a seemingly endless parade of rock squirrels and cottontail rabbits, plus the park is also home to coyotes, wolves, foxes, raccoons, mule deer, and an occasional black bear. There are also rattlesnakes, lizards, frogs and turtles.
The busiest season at the park is summer, when campsites with electric hookups fill quickly, especially on weekends. Summer temperatures usually hit the 90's and sometimes exceed 100 degrees F during the day, but drop into the 60's at night. Fall is pretty, and the park is less busy. The water is still warm enough for swimming in October, and air temperatures are usually in the mid-70's during the day and the upper 40's and low 50's at night. Winters are quiet in the park, making this a particularly good time for bird watching, with daytime temperatures in the 50's, and nights in the 20's and 30's.
PERCHA DAM STATE PARK
 As we continue another 10 miles along the flowing Rio Grande below Caballo Lake (which was 10 miles below Truth or Consequences) we come to Percha Dam State Park. This park is a contrast to both Elephant Butte and Caballo. Percha Dam State Park may well be the greatest hidden treasure of the New Mexico State Park system. It is a quiet and serene get-away under the shade of tall trees along the Rio Grande. The area is covered with a blanket of grass protected by cottonwood, salt cedar and Russian olive trees.
The park provides excellent camping, picnicking, fishing and bird watching along the river. At an elevation of 4,100 feet, this park covers 80 acres of land and 11,500 acres of lake.
 It is one of the 5 top birding sites in New Mexico. Because Percha Dam is usually less crowded it is easy to see the migratory species of ducks and geese, American white pelicans, trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, both great blue and little blue herons, golden eagles, bald eagles, northern goshawks, scaled quail, yellow-rumped  warblers, song sparrows, red-winged blackbirds, great-tailed grackles, western meadowlarks, western bluebirds, willow flycatchers, dark-eyed juncos, and yellow-breasted chats. Percha Dam State Park is particularly interesting during spring and autumn migration seasons. Every spring the park sponsors the "Migration Sensation," a celebration of birds and birding.
Other recreational opportunities include camping, picnicking, and fishing. Park visitors can also enjoy swimming and sunbathing. Trails provide hiking opportunities along the river.
|
