Santa Rosa Lake State Park is outside of Santa Rosa, a small town in New Mexico on the old Route 66. This is a lake park with apparently pretty good fishing. While we were staying in the park, a fishing tournament was on going. Everyday, starting at 4:30 in in the morning, we were awaken by activity as the fishermen made ready to drive their trucks towing high-end bass boats to the boat launch.
They would return from their day of fishing mid-afternoon after it got warm. The trucks and boats littering the campground. While out fishing, the campground was deserted and quiet.
Three sites across the street had four trucks and boats.
The park has good hiking trails. We did have trouble navigating a section of the trail following the shoreline. We turned around after losing the path. If I had been alone, without wife and dogs, I would have spent more time trying to figure out the path. After all, the trail was supposed to follow the shoreline.
On Thursday, the day we arrived, we checked out the bathhouse. I breezed through the men’s part. The showers seemed exceptionally clean. I reported back to Linda “There are two showers, they are really clean but they don’t have a private area to dress in.” Linda replied, “There is a sign in shower saying there is no hot water. You didn’t see a sign in the men’s room?” I said, “I didn’t see one. I’ll check next time I use the potties.”
No hot water it the bathhouse. Friday morning we stopped in at the park’s visitor center and talked to the ranger. I asked him, “We noticed that there is no hot water in our campground. Which of the other park restrooms have showers?” He said, “That is the only restroom with showers. We are waiting for a part to fix the water heater.”
Parts come slow to New Mexico State Parks.
The dam across the Pecos River forming Santa Rosa Lake is run by the Army Corps of Engineers. We stopped in at the visitor center. The dam’s primary purpose is flood control. This is the northernmost dam on the Pecos. Other New Mexico State Parks are on the Pecos as well. Moving south along the Pecos, there is Sumner Lake State Park (near Fort Sumner), Bottomless Lakes State Park (near Roswell) and Brantley Lake State Park (near Carlsbad).
We spent time outside enjoying the shade provided by the shade shelter.
Even though we aren’t fishermen (fisher-peoples?), we still enjoyed the park.
Hope to see you on the road ahead!