Navajo Lake State Park - Colorado & New Mexico ???????

[Busskipper]

Navajo Lake State Park - Colorado and New Mexico Tell me about it.

Just was doing my thing on Google Maps and noticed this nice Lake that has never been mentioned.

Anyone Been? What's it like? Weather? Best times to go?

Being an hour south of Durango it would seem to be something that might be included in the Southwest Corners tour, is it like lake Powell or Flaming Gorge? Boats and fishing - Fun?

Fill me in.

Thanks,

[Busskipper]

wxtoad wrote:
Navajo Lake is just one of many very nice NM state parks. We enjoyed our stay there. Here is an article with pictures I posted after our visit.

Have a great trip!

Great Sunrise picture,

Thanks to all who have let me Know - We will be sure to stop when we are near in the San Juan's.

Thanks,

Busskipper

[wxtoad]

Navajo Lake is just one of many very nice NM state parks. We enjoyed our stay there. Here is an article with pictures I posted after our visit.

Have a great trip!

[trailertraveler]

Have been there a few times. The state park has campgrounds above and below the dam. The San Juan River below the dam has 3.5 miles of Special Trout Waters that are fly fishing only/catch and release. The area adjacent to the Cottonwood Campground is not in the Special Trout Waters and is heavily stocked. You can see the stocking reports on line. It is a pretty good size river and not all that easy to fish from the bank. There are a number of guides that offer float services. Being a tailwater fishery it is more subject to the release schedule of the dam than season or weather.

[Bionic_Man]

Nice lake. It holds some very large Northern Pike.

I've heard more than one person refer to it as a "mini Lake Powell", but I don't see much in common.

[2gypsies1]

We've been to the Cottonwood campground on the New Mexico side a few times. It's below the dam and the San Juan River is tops for fishing - the biggest trout we've ever caught - catch and release waters. I will say that it's a fisherperson's destination. There's not much around to do.

[jrp]

It's a very popular lake for both boating & fishing. Yes, it could be considered a smaller version of Lake Powell or Flaming Gorge. Navajo lake is created by a dam and covers about 15,000 acres. The NM side gets much heavier use than the Co side, just due to its easier access, more facilities and more nearby cities.
Each side has a state park, campgrounds, and boating marinas.
The NM side is surrounded by high desert type terrain; The Colorado side by pine covered hillsides. Its located at about 6,000 ft elevation. The weather varies seasonally, typical to southern CO & northern NM; hot windy summers and cold windy winters.
Fishing is popular & good year round, its a deep (300 ft) cold water lake. I've usually gone in the fall when the kokanee salmon are running.
The heavy motor boat use in summer makes the lake and the access points seem crowded, especially on weekends & holidays.

[RedRocket204]

Tail-waters of the Navajo Reservoir on the San Juan...

One of the best fisheries in the US! Went there again a year ago last spring as I hadn't been there in a while. Make sure to stop into Abs for information, flies and the proper licensing. Great place!

[rhochnadel]

A lovely out-of-the-way state park with lots of great view sites. Many sites are pull-thru with full hookups. The lake holds many variety of fish both cold water and warm water. Most of the lake is in New Mexico, the remaining is in Colorado. You will have to be licensed accordingly. I would think spring and fall would be the best time to be there but we were there around the 4t h of July and it was quite pleasant. You have to pay a CO State Parks fee as well as pay site fees but well worth it. I would recommend reservations for most weekends.