Bottomless Lakes State Park

Bottomless Lakes State Park encompasses a chain of nine dazzling blue lakes — actually sinkholes dissolved out of the gypsum and salt beds beneath the Pecos River valley — tucked beneath red sandstone escarpments southeast of Roswell in southeastern New Mexico. New Mexico’s first state park, established in 1933, it is a beloved oasis in the arid Chihuahuan Desert.

The lakes range from shallow, reed-fringed Cottonwood Lake to the brilliant turquoise depths of Lea Lake, the only one open for swimming, where paddlers, kayakers and swimmers cool off beneath the towering cliffs. Mirror Lake, Lazy Lagoon, Devil’s Inkwell and the others each have their own character, some rimmed with vegetation and alive with birds and turtles. Camping, fishing, paddleboarding and wildlife watching make Bottomless Lakes a cherished desert retreat.

Summer is peak season, when Lea Lake’s swim area is open, paddle rentals are available and the desert heat makes the cool water irresistible — but also the busiest and hottest time. Spring and fall bring mild temperatures, fewer crowds and excellent birding as migrants pass through. The lakes are open year-round for day use. Summer for swimming and paddling is the signature draw; spring and fall are ideal for birding and relaxed hiking along the red-cliff escarpment.

The reed beds and open water of the lakes attract a rich diversity of birds — herons, egrets, ducks, coots, cormorants, kingfishers and migrating shorebirds and waterfowl — while turtles bask on logs, bullfrogs call at dusk, and the cliffs shelter swallows and raptors. White-tailed deer, coyotes and small mammals use the parkland. The desert around the lakes supports roadrunners, scaled quail and lizards. The mosaic of water, reeds, cliffs and desert makes Bottomless Lakes an exceptional birding destination in arid southeastern New Mexico.

The lakes are sinkholes with steep, often invisible drop-offs into deep water — swim only in the designated swim area at Lea Lake, never jump from the cliffs into the water, and supervise children closely near all lake edges. Summer heat in southeastern New Mexico is extreme; carry plenty of water, sun protection and shade. The red-cliff trails can be exposed and slippery. Watch for rattlesnakes in rocky and brushy areas. Flash floods are possible in monsoon season. Respect the sinkhole edges, the deep-water drop-offs, the desert heat and the designated swim area.

Bottomless Lakes centers on the water — swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing at Lea Lake (the park’s swim lake, open in summer with a beach, concessions and paddle rentals), plus hiking the short Red Bluff Trail along the escarpment for views across the sinkhole chain, birdwatching at the reed-fringed lakes, fishing for bass and catfish, and camping in lakeside sites. The combination of turquoise blue water, red-cliff scenery and desert quiet makes this New Mexico’s most beloved water park.

The ‘Bottomless Lakes’ took their name from early cowboys who dropped weighted ropes into the depths and found them floating back — the bottom was apparently nowhere to be found, though the deepest (Devil’s Inkwell) reaches only about 90 feet. Established in 1933, Bottomless Lakes became New Mexico’s first state park, a beloved recreational landmark through the Depression era and beyond. The Civilian Conservation Corps built early facilities. Today the park remains the most popular state park in the Roswell region and a cherished summer destination.

The lakes are sinkholes — circular depressions formed when groundwater dissolved the gypsum and salt beds beneath the surface, causing the ground to collapse into the voids. The surrounding escarpment of red Permian sandstone and the gypsum-rich rock beneath the Pecos Valley created ideal conditions for sinkhole formation. Each lake occupies its own collapse depression, fed by groundwater, and their striking blue-green color comes from the water’s depth and chemistry. The dissolving gypsum beds, the collapse depressions and the desert setting created this unique chain of desert oases.

The park protects a rare freshwater-sinkhole ecosystem within the Chihuahuan Desert — each lake a self-contained aquatic world, with aquatic plants, fish and invertebrates in the water, dense reeds and cattails at the margins, cottonwoods and willows at the water’s edge, and the dry red-bluff escarpment above. These oases are magnets for wildlife in an otherwise arid landscape. Protecting the water quality, the reed beds, the fish communities and the surrounding desert habitats sustains both the ecology and the beauty of this desert-lake chain.

Bottomless Lakes holds a beloved place in New Mexico history as the state’s first state park — a desert oasis discovered by curiosity-driven cowboys, preserved through the New Deal era and celebrated by generations of southeastern New Mexico families as their summer swimming hole beneath the red cliffs. The park embodies the value of protecting natural water in an arid land. Bottomless Lakes is a cherished icon of the Pecos Valley and a treasured piece of New Mexico’s outdoor heritage, loved since the days of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Bottomless Lakes State Park is located about 12 miles southeast of Roswell off U.S. 380 and State Road 409, in southeastern New Mexico. Day-use and camping fees apply. The park road links the lakes, with Lea Lake at the far end offering the swim beach, paddle rentals, a concession stand and camping; other lakes have day-use areas and picnic sites. Camping is available year-round; Lea Lake’s swim area operates in summer. Check New Mexico State Parks for fees, swim-area hours, camping reservations and current conditions before visiting.

New Mexico State Parks manages Bottomless Lakes. Visitors help by protecting the water quality — no soap or sunscreen in the lakes beyond Lea Lake’s swim area, no introducing fish or other organisms, packing out all trash, respecting the reed beds and aquatic vegetation, staying on trails to protect the gypsum cliffs, and following all rules. The sinkholes’ water quality is sensitive and the ecosystems small. Protecting the lakes, the vegetation and the surrounding desert sustains both the ecology and the beauty of this cherished desert oasis.

Day-use and camping fees apply; camping requires a reservation. Swim only in the designated Lea Lake swim area — no swimming in other lakes. No cliff jumping into any lake. No soap or sunscreen (beyond the swim area), and no releasing fish or organisms into the lakes. Pets must be leashed and are not allowed in the swim area. Fires only in designated rings. Pack out all trash. Drones are restricted. Follow all posted rules for water use and the campground. Check New Mexico State Parks for fees, reservations, swim-area hours and current rules before visiting.

The city of Roswell (famous for its 1947 UFO incident, with the International UFO Museum and its own quirky character), the Pecos River valley, the Chihuahuan Desert, and the small communities of the southeastern plains lie near the park. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge (another fine birding area) is just north of Roswell. Bottomless Lakes anchors a southeastern New Mexico outing, easily combined with a stop at Roswell’s UFO Museum, the Pecos River and the birding at Bitter Lake NWR.

Come on a summer weekday to beat the weekend crowds at Lea Lake’s swim area, rent a kayak or paddleboard and explore the bright blue water beneath the red cliffs, and bring your own shade since trees are sparse. Walk the Red Bluff Trail for the view across the lake chain. In spring or fall, skip the swim crowd and focus on the birdwatching — the reed-fringed lakes are excellent for herons, ducks and migrants. Reserve a lakeside campsite in advance, carry plenty of water and sunscreen, and combine the visit with Roswell.