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Elephant Butte State Park, a large state park in New Mexico, was established in 1916 when a dam was built. The dam was a major engineering accomplishment in its day, and as a result of the construction, a massive 40-mile-long lake formed. The park is named for an elephant-shaped butte near the dam. The choice in the name turned out to be doubly apt: a stegomastodon fossil was found there in 2014.

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Getting Outdoors

Under a vast blue sky, rust-colored mesas and buttes rise from the waters. These ancient monoliths are formed by millions of years of wind and water erosion. Scrubby yarrow, yucca, witch broom, and other native desert plants dot the far hills, painting them a muted brownish-green. After rare storms sweep through, hills dazzle with tiny specks of yellow and fluorescent pink. With over 100 miles of shores, there’s plenty of room to stretch out and find a private cove to fish in. Considered a fisherman’s paradise, Elephant Butte Lake is known for producing record-breaking bass, walleye, crappie, catfish, and bass. A popular magazine named Elephant Butte Lake one of the top 150 fishing lakes, and local and national fishing tournaments are held here regularly. Should anglers want to hit the water but lack a boat, there is a handful of marinas and boat-rental outfits with a variety of boats to rent, ranging from kayaks to pontoon boats.

Camping at Elephant Butte Lake State Park

An advantage of camping with an RV instead of a tent is you minimize the chances of having a midnight visitor slithering into your sleeping bag. With over nine campgrounds in Elephant Butte Lake State Park to choose from, the decision comes down to the preferred amenities. Some campgrounds have full hookups, and others have easy access to fishing docks, marinas, or hiking trails. A couple of campgrounds have “comfort stations,” which are, basically, air-conditioned bathrooms, a nice plus in the intense summer months.

Exploring the Area

Surrounded by an arid, flat desert that’s interrupted only by an occasional butte rising in the distance, it’s easy to think there isn’t much to do in the area. With a trusty RV rental and an adventurous soul, embark on a hunt for ghosts. Dozens of ghost towns litter this part of New Mexico, stoically ignoring the harsh sun and dry winds. Waiting to be discovered. Though there are a handful of residents living in the towns to the south and north, these towns are a faint shadow of their former selves and are often regarded ghost towns: Cuchillo, Arrey, Garfield, Salem, Rincon, and to a certain extent, Hatch. Though a small community around the original Hatch town experienced a revival in the ‘50s, the only remnant of its glorious Old-West town is the St. Francis de Sales Church Historic Site, which is kept open for the tourists. Local lore says that on occasion, ghosts will follow visitors who enter the church home.

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Popular nearby hiking trails and campgrounds

  • Hiking TrailLocation
  • Cyclone Saddle Via Apache Kid Trail, NMMagdalena, NM
  • San Mateo Peak via Apache Kid Trail, NMCibola National Forest, NM
  • Hillsboro Peak via Black Range Crest Trail, NMCity of Rocks State Park, NM
  • Sawyers Peak via Black Range Crest Trail, NMCity of Rocks State Park, NM
  • Mimbres Lake via Black Range Crest Trail, NMBayard, NM
  • Black Range Crest Trail, NMBayard, NM
  • John P. Taylor Jr. Memorial Trail, NMSocorro, NM
  • Marsh Overlook Trail, NMSocorro, NM
  • Canyon Trail, NMSocorro, NM
  • Mimbres River Trail, NMDeming, NM

Frequently asked questions about renting an RV near Elephant Butte Lake State Park

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