Caballo Lake State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 6 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- 170 campsites
- Official site
- emnrd.nm.gov(575) 743-3942
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 5
Partial closure Closure: Seasonal closure of Upper Riverside comfort station from October 19, 2026, through March 2…Seasonal closure of Upper Riverside comfort station from October 19, 2026, through March 25, 2027.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Partial closure Closure: East side boat ramp closedEast side boat ramp closed
Posted by the park. Official alert
Alert Announcement: We want everyone to go home safe. Wear life jackets when in or around water for your safet…We want everyone to go home safe. Wear life jackets when in or around water for your safety. This park has a life jacket loaner station located at… (more)
We want everyone to go home safe. Wear life jackets when in or around water for your safety. This park has a life jacket loaner station located at the visitor Center for those who need one during their visit.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Alert Announcement: DIRECTIONS: On Google Maps use “EV Charging Station” as your destination for the Visitor C…DIRECTIONS: On Google Maps use “EV Charging Station” as your destination for the Visitor Center. Iphone maps app is correct by typing Caballo Lake… (more)
DIRECTIONS: On Google Maps use “EV Charging Station” as your destination for the Visitor Center. Iphone maps app is correct by typing Caballo Lake State Park. If you end up at Smith Ranch, turnaround head south and make a left onto HWY 187 for six miles and Caballo Lake’s main entrance will be on the left side.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Alert Announcement: Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station located next to Visitor Center is available to the …Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station located next to Visitor Center is available to the public for use. A $5 vehicle entry fee is required
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
In Sierra County, about 17 miles south of Truth or Consequences, Caballo Lake State Park covers about 4,476 acres.
The park supports horseback riding, winter sports, canoeing and kayaking, hunting in season, and boating. On the water side, there is a boat ramp. For overnight stays there are 170 campsites across 3 camping areas (RV sites with full hookups, tent sites, primitive or hike-in sites, group camping, and showers).
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Not stated | 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | — |
| Day use | Daily | 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. | — |
| Campground — Quiet | Daily | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. | — |
Official wording
Park Office Hours: 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM Gates Open 24/7
Day-Use: 6:00AM – 9:00PM
Quiet Hours: 10:00PM – 7:00AM
Visitors shall not operate generators, radios, or unmuffled vehicles, or engage in other loud activity during this time.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Denver).
Pets
Pets are allowed at most state parks and must be on a leash at all times. Only service dogs are allowed at Rio Grande Nature Center and Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Parks.
Statewide rule from New Mexico's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
Per vehicle, statewide flat rates with resident/non-resident pricing (since Jan 1, 2025): NM resident day-use $5 (residents exempt Oct 1 – Apr 30), non-resident $10; walk-in/bicycle no charge. Camping per night: primitive $10 resident / $15 non-resident; developed $15 / $20; utility fees water $5, electric $10, sewer $5. Federal passes not accepted.
Statewide fee rule from New Mexico's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
New Mexico park passes
- Annual Day-Use Pass/Permit (ADU) — New Mexico resident — $75. Day-use entry, calendar year (expires Dec 31) Details
- Annual Day-Use Pass/Permit (ADU) — non-resident — $150. Day-use entry, calendar year Details
- Annual Camping Permit (ACP) — New Mexico resident — $300. Camping (resident only; proof of NM ID and plate) Details
- Lifetime Veterans pass (NM veteran with 50%+ disability) — No charge Details
From the New Mexico state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveAmerica (newmexicostateparks.reserveamerica.com)
- Phone
- 1-877-664-7787
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campground Facilities 4 Campgrounds; 170 Developed Campsites; 98 W+ E Sites (30 amp); 10 W+ E Sites (50 amp); 7 W+E+S Full Hookup Sites (50 amp); Water in Campground; RV Dump Station; At Palomino Campground | 170 | 98 W+ E Sites (30 amp); 10 W+ E Sites (50 amp); 7 W+E+S Full Hookup Sites (50 amp); Water in Campground | — |
| Group Campsites *RV Rally Site with 54 W+E sites | — | *RV Rally Site with 54 W+E sites | — |
| Primitive Camping Lakeshore Camping; Boat-in Camping | — | — |
Camping details from the park
Campground Facilities: 4 Campgrounds; 170 Developed Campsites; 98 W+ E Sites (30 amp); 10 W+ E Sites (50 amp); 7 W+E+S Full Hookup Sites (50 amp); Water in Campground; RV Dump Station; At Palomino Campground
Group Campsites: *RV Rally Site with 54 W+E sites
Primitive Camping: Lakeshore Camping; Boat-in Camping
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BoatingCanoeing and kayakingWinter sportsCampingHorseback ridingHikingFishingHuntingPicnickingSwimmingWildlife viewing and birding
Trails
Trails: Hiking; Horseback Riding; Interpretive Trails; Wildlife Viewing; Birding
Boating and paddling
Boating: Motorized; Non-motorized; Canoe/Kayak/Board; Personal Watercraft; Sailing; Water Skiing; Camping; Education Programs
Boating Facilities: 2 Boat Docks; 1 Boat Ramp
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Vault or pit toilets
- Showers
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Playground
- Group facilities
Water
- Boat ramp
- Marina or boat slips
Camping
- RV dump station
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Electric hookups
- Water hookups
- Sewer hookups
- Primitive or backcountry camping
- Group camping
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 10 Palomino Road
Caballo, NM 87931 - Nearest town
- Truth or Consequences — about 17 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 32.9964, -107.2869
- Phone
- (575) 743-3942
- abdon.aguirre@emnrd.nm.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- New Mexico State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026; page says updated Mar 11, 2025
- WordPress REST API: child pages of the official 'Find a Park' page (35 pages), plus coordinates from that page's map pins
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Caballo lake-kmf.JPG — Public domain (released by the author), Kfasimpaur
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology