New Mexico may have fewer square miles of surface water than any other state, but there are still numerous places to take a dip. From waterfalls to lakes and pools, here are seven of the best swimming holes in New Mexico where you can beat the heat on a hot desert day.
- Sitting Bull Falls
Yelp/Angie C.
Flickr/Paul David Gibson Sitting Bull Falls is located in a beautiful part of the Lincoln National Forest, near Carlsbad. There are several natural pools you can cool off in, including one under the waterfall itself. Just watch out for slippery rocks. Get more information here.
- Bottomless Lakes State Park
Yelp/Bianca F.
Yelp/Karla M.
Close to Roswell, you’ll find Bottomless Lakes State Park where you can swim in sinkholes up to 90 feet deep. Motorized boats aren’t allowed, which makes swimming more enjoyable. For more fun on the water, you can also rent paddleboats or paddle boards. Get more information here.
- The Blue Hole
Yelp/Ernesto L.
Yelp/Ashley J. The Blue Hole in Santa Rosa is not just for scuba divers; it’s also great for swimmers. The water is incredibly clear because it passes through the Blue Hole at a rate of 3000 gallons per minute, meaning that there is completely new water every six hours.
Leap from the rocks without fear of hitting the bottom – it’s 81 feet below the surface of the water. Get more information here.
- Elephant Butte Lake State Park
Yelp/ Heather P.
Yelp/Emari H.
As the largest state park in New Mexico, Elephant Butte Lake is ideal for most watersports, including swimming. The water off the sandy beaches is shallow, so it’s definitely kid-friendly. Get more information here.
- Cliff River Springs
Yelp/Hope A.
Yelp/Cliff River Springs While the mineral springs at Ojo Caliente are always worth a visit, fewer people know about nearby Cliff River Springs. This hotel consists of casitas situated on a family-owned ranch. The jade-colored pond makes a stay here worthwhile. It’s the perfect place for a swim. Get more information here.
- Abiquiú Lake
Flickr/Jared Tarbell
Flickr/IberianExplorer This 4,000-acre lake is actually a reservoir, located near the town of Abiquiú. The red rocks surrounding this lake make for a memorable swimming experience. Get more information here.
- The Jemez Falls Area
Flickr/kristi welton-kidder
Yelp/Cherie O. Above Jemez Falls lies a shallow pool that’s a popular place take a dip. You can also continue on to McCauley Hot Springs from here. The temperature in those pools is usually warm rather than hot, so it’s still enjoyable during the summer months. Get more information here.
Did we mention your favorite spot to take a dip? We know this is a partial list of the best swimming holes in New Mexico, so tell us where you like to swim during the summer. If you want to have more great outdoor adventures in New Mexico, follow the link for a great idea.
Yelp/Angie C.
Flickr/Paul David Gibson
Sitting Bull Falls is located in a beautiful part of the Lincoln National Forest, near Carlsbad. There are several natural pools you can cool off in, including one under the waterfall itself. Just watch out for slippery rocks. Get more information here.
Yelp/Bianca F.
Yelp/Karla M.
Close to Roswell, you’ll find Bottomless Lakes State Park where you can swim in sinkholes up to 90 feet deep. Motorized boats aren’t allowed, which makes swimming more enjoyable. For more fun on the water, you can also rent paddleboats or paddle boards. Get more information here.
Yelp/Ernesto L.
Yelp/Ashley J.
The Blue Hole in Santa Rosa is not just for scuba divers; it’s also great for swimmers. The water is incredibly clear because it passes through the Blue Hole at a rate of 3000 gallons per minute, meaning that there is completely new water every six hours.
Leap from the rocks without fear of hitting the bottom – it’s 81 feet below the surface of the water. Get more information here.
Yelp/ Heather P.
Yelp/Emari H.
As the largest state park in New Mexico, Elephant Butte Lake is ideal for most watersports, including swimming. The water off the sandy beaches is shallow, so it’s definitely kid-friendly. Get more information here.
Yelp/Hope A.
Yelp/Cliff River Springs
While the mineral springs at Ojo Caliente are always worth a visit, fewer people know about nearby Cliff River Springs. This hotel consists of casitas situated on a family-owned ranch. The jade-colored pond makes a stay here worthwhile. It’s the perfect place for a swim. Get more information here.
Flickr/Jared Tarbell
Flickr/IberianExplorer
This 4,000-acre lake is actually a reservoir, located near the town of Abiquiú. The red rocks surrounding this lake make for a memorable swimming experience. Get more information here.
Flickr/kristi welton-kidder
Yelp/Cherie O.
Above Jemez Falls lies a shallow pool that’s a popular place take a dip. You can also continue on to McCauley Hot Springs from here. The temperature in those pools is usually warm rather than hot, so it’s still enjoyable during the summer months. Get more information here.
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Address: Sitting Bull Falls, New Mexico 88220, USAAddress: Bottomless Lakes State Park, 545A Bottomless Lakes Rd, Roswell, NM 88201, USAAddress: The Blue Hole, 1085 Blue Hole Rd, Santa Rosa, NM 88435, USAAddress: 101 NM-195, Elephant Butte, NM 87935, USAAddress: Abiquiu Lake, New Mexico 87017, USAAddress: Jemez Falls Trailhead, East Fork River, Jemez Springs, NM 87025, USAAddress: 283 NM-111, Lamadera, NM 87539, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Swimming Holes In New Mexico March 28, 2020 Leah What is the weather like in New Mexico in the summer? If you’re planning on having some outdoor adventures in New Mexico in the summer, you’ll want to be prepared. It’s important to remember that New Mexico is heavily covered by arid deserts and as you’d imagine it can get pretty hot in the summer. On some days, the temperature is over 100°F and the sun is blazing down. If you’re going swimming in a natural pool, even if you’re cooling off in the water you’ll still be outdoors and in the sun, so be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen and bring an ample amount of drinking water. That said, the higher you go in altitude the lower the temperature often is, so if you’re in the mountains or in northern New Mexico, it may be cooler than down in the desert valleys. Desert nights are often cool, as well. Either way, there are great summer recreation opportunities all over the state. Can I camp right on the water in New Mexico? Looking for a place to where to swim in New Mexico and camp at the same time? No worries - there are quite a few options for waterfront camping in the state. Enjoy beautiful lakeside views and perfect opportunity to swim, fish, boat, and more at places like Cochiti Recreation Area, Caballo Lake State Park, El Vado Lake State Park, and more. We wrote up an entire list of some of the best lakeside camping in New Mexico, and you can find it by clicking here. Where can I find the bluest water in New Mexico? Out of all the natural swimming spots in New Mexico, The Blue Hole is definitely the most stunningly… well, blue! Its name is certainly fitting for the deep turquoise color. The pool is over 80 feet deep with amazingly clear and pristine water. It was already mentioned in the swimming holes list, but you can learn even more about it by checking out this other article. It doesn’t get much deeper blue and fun than The Blue Hole in Santa Rosa!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Swimming Holes In New Mexico
March 28, 2020
Leah
What is the weather like in New Mexico in the summer? If you’re planning on having some outdoor adventures in New Mexico in the summer, you’ll want to be prepared. It’s important to remember that New Mexico is heavily covered by arid deserts and as you’d imagine it can get pretty hot in the summer. On some days, the temperature is over 100°F and the sun is blazing down. If you’re going swimming in a natural pool, even if you’re cooling off in the water you’ll still be outdoors and in the sun, so be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen and bring an ample amount of drinking water. That said, the higher you go in altitude the lower the temperature often is, so if you’re in the mountains or in northern New Mexico, it may be cooler than down in the desert valleys. Desert nights are often cool, as well. Either way, there are great summer recreation opportunities all over the state. Can I camp right on the water in New Mexico? Looking for a place to where to swim in New Mexico and camp at the same time? No worries - there are quite a few options for waterfront camping in the state. Enjoy beautiful lakeside views and perfect opportunity to swim, fish, boat, and more at places like Cochiti Recreation Area, Caballo Lake State Park, El Vado Lake State Park, and more. We wrote up an entire list of some of the best lakeside camping in New Mexico, and you can find it by clicking here. Where can I find the bluest water in New Mexico? Out of all the natural swimming spots in New Mexico, The Blue Hole is definitely the most stunningly… well, blue! Its name is certainly fitting for the deep turquoise color. The pool is over 80 feet deep with amazingly clear and pristine water. It was already mentioned in the swimming holes list, but you can learn even more about it by checking out this other article. It doesn’t get much deeper blue and fun than The Blue Hole in Santa Rosa!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
If you’re planning on having some outdoor adventures in New Mexico in the summer, you’ll want to be prepared. It’s important to remember that New Mexico is heavily covered by arid deserts and as you’d imagine it can get pretty hot in the summer. On some days, the temperature is over 100°F and the sun is blazing down. If you’re going swimming in a natural pool, even if you’re cooling off in the water you’ll still be outdoors and in the sun, so be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen and bring an ample amount of drinking water. That said, the higher you go in altitude the lower the temperature often is, so if you’re in the mountains or in northern New Mexico, it may be cooler than down in the desert valleys. Desert nights are often cool, as well. Either way, there are great summer recreation opportunities all over the state.
Can I camp right on the water in New Mexico?
Looking for a place to where to swim in New Mexico and camp at the same time? No worries - there are quite a few options for waterfront camping in the state. Enjoy beautiful lakeside views and perfect opportunity to swim, fish, boat, and more at places like Cochiti Recreation Area, Caballo Lake State Park, El Vado Lake State Park, and more. We wrote up an entire list of some of the best lakeside camping in New Mexico, and you can find it by clicking here.
Where can I find the bluest water in New Mexico?
Out of all the natural swimming spots in New Mexico, The Blue Hole is definitely the most stunningly… well, blue! Its name is certainly fitting for the deep turquoise color. The pool is over 80 feet deep with amazingly clear and pristine water. It was already mentioned in the swimming holes list, but you can learn even more about it by checking out this other article. It doesn’t get much deeper blue and fun than The Blue Hole in Santa Rosa!
