Fenton Lake

About Fenton Lake

Located just 70 miles northwest of Albuquerque and tucked away in the Jemez Mountains of northwest New Mexico, small Fenton Lake offers little recreational activity in this area. Hidden on less than 40 acres, it is a paradise for kayakers and birdwatchers and within hours it is home to a variety of bird species known to be in paradise for the lucky campers and anglers of New Mexico who come here to ride mountain bikes and enjoy the wildlife.

As with many outdoor destinations, arriving is at least half the fun, and that's what it takes. A small man-made lake, Fenton Lake offers many desirable activities, but it is stocked with rainbow trout, with native brown trout from the Rio Cebolla also entering the lake. The trout from the Rio Grande Lake are occasionally caught and occasionally stocked, as are the rainbow and brown trout.

Fishing from the shore is easy, and accessible and accessible jetties also improve fishing opportunities, but fishing from the shore is not always easy due to the lack of access to a boat ramp or even a jetty.

Only electric tractors are allowed on the lake and only five have electricity, and the official website of the National Park states that ice fishing is prohibited. Most fishermen find it easier to fish in canoes and kayaks or even swim with a hose. Small jetties are available, but only for fishing, not for boating, swimming, kayaking and even swimming.

Drinking water can be pumped by hand from the lake shore, and there are several vaulted toilets and a water pump on the campsites.

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing can be done in the snow, and planned public activities bring additional visitors to the national park. During the rest of the year, the campsites are open to nature lovers who like to walk along the paths in the park.

The Hall - Baxter Trail starts at the campsite and runs through the park, crossing the entire bay that marks the return journey. Other hiking trails in the area lead to nearby peaks and offer scenic views of Fenton Lake and its surroundings and other parts of New Mexico.

The dirt road leading to the campsite encourages slow traffic and is ideal for mountain bikers, but a stay of several days often requires a reservation, with some places quickly filling up. Fenton Lake is located on the east side of the San Juan River, north of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The Byway passes the Gilman Tunnel, which was drilled many years ago to facilitate deforestation, the Soda Dam (which is not a dam at all, but a reservoir formed from the deposits of hot springs blocking the Jemez), the Seven Springs Fish breeding ground, where even children can catch trout, and the steep cliffs that look like the bow of a ship. The bypass passes by Walatowa (where fried bread is sold) and touches on the so-called "golden season" (when aspens turn to autumn gold).

The mountains present the entire route in stunning colors, and other attractions include the rock formations of the Jemez Range, the Grand Canyon of New Mexico and the Sierra Nevada.

It is unclear when Fenton Lake was created, but the lake was created by a dam on the Rio Cebolla, named after a former rancher who owned the property.

The entire area was initially purchased by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish as a breeding and resting place for migratory birds. More than 700 acres of the area around the lake were later assigned to Fenton Lake State Park. Today, Fenton Lake is owned and managed by New York State Parks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is located in the Rio Cebolla National Wildlife Refuge, a national park in Arizona.

In recent years, it has been noted that the lake is slowly filling up with sediments and the amount of water is decreasing. A 1989 law initiative allowed dredging of a small lake, but studies showed that this would harm the health of the lakes. Instead, the dam was raised by two metres to replace the lost depth and dredge itself.

In 2014, forest fires in the area around the lake again led to an increase in silting and it is not yet clear how the problem will be resolved. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Mexico Department of Natural Resources (DNR) want to work to save the lakes.

There are accommodations by the lake and in surrounding parks and campsites, but there is no other public or commercial campsite in the area. Backpacking is also possible at Fenton Lake and other nearby lakes and other local lakes and rivers.

Properties are available on privately managed land and in public buildings, and private homes in the area rent out their properties weekly. There is no public park or other public recreation area near Fenton Lake, but there is a small private park and a few other private campsites.

The commercial thermal springs offer a variety of services and have a long history as a popular destination for outdoor recreation in New Mexico and the United States.

If you are lucky enough to visit Fenton Lake during the day, you can take full advantage of the beautiful views of New Mexico, the mountains and the water. Meanwhile, trout are waiting for their next meal at one of their favourite spots by the lake: the thermal springs.

Different sources of statistics differ in their numbers, so please use the official results of the EMNRD Lake Surveys to get the latest information on the water quality of Fenton Lake.