El Vado Lake State Park
2 notices: Restriction: Stage II Fire Restrictions: Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, ch… · Announcement: Stage II Fire Restrictions: Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, ch… — details
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- emnrd.nm.gov(575) 588-7240
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 5
Alert Restriction: Comfort Station is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm.Comfort Station is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Fire restriction Restriction: Stage II Fire Restrictions: Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, ch…Stage II Fire Restrictions: Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove is prohibited. The use of… (more)
Stage II Fire Restrictions: Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove is prohibited. The use of devices fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed. Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three (3) feet of the device. Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Construction Announcement: Road construction has begun on 4-mile road to El Vado, expect delays.Road construction has begun on 4-mile road to El Vado, expect delays.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Fire restriction Announcement: Stage II Fire Restrictions: Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, ch…Stage II Fire Restrictions: Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove is prohibited. The use of… (more)
Stage II Fire Restrictions: Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove is prohibited. The use of devices fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed. Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three (3) feet of the device. Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building.
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.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
El Vado Lake State Park is a 1,850-acre park in Rio Arriba County, about 55 miles northwest of Española.
Visitors come for snorkeling and diving, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, ice fishing, and mountain biking. Water access includes a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and boat or kayak rentals. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites with full hookups, tent sites, primitive or hike-in sites, group camping, and showers).
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.
Things to do
BoatingCanoeing and kayakingWinter sportsCampingHorseback ridingHikingFishingIce fishingHuntingPicnickingSnorkeling and scubaSwimmingBikingMountain bikingWildlife viewing and birdingCross-country skiingHistoric sites and tours
Boating and paddling
Boating: Motorized; Non-motorized; Canoe/kayak/Board; Personal Watercraft; Sailing; Water Skiing; Camping
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Vault or pit toilets
- Showers
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Playground
- Group facilities
Water
- Swimming beach
- Boat ramp
- Marina or boat slips
- Boat, canoe or kayak rentals
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
- State Road 112
Tierra Amarilla, NM 87575 - Nearest town
- Española — about 55 mi northwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 36.6292, -106.6656
- Phone
- (575) 588-7240
- Mark.Schichtle@emnrd.nm.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- New Mexico State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026; page says updated May 22, 2026
- 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)
“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