Eagle Nest Lake State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eagle Nest Lake State Park
Eagle Nest Lake State Park Location in New Mexico
Location	Colfax, New Mexico, United States
Area	3,488 acres (14.12 km2)
Elevation	8,300 ft (2,500 m)
Established	July 3, 2004
Governing body	New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department

Eagle Nest Lake State Park is a fantastic state park in New Mexico, United States. It's located right outside the town of Eagle Nest. You can find it about 30 kilometers east of Taos. This park was officially opened on July 3, 2004.

The main reason people visit is the huge lake, which is about 2,400 acres big! It's a super popular spot for fishing and boating during the warm summer months. When winter arrives and the lake freezes over, it becomes perfect for ice fishing and even snowmobiling.

Discover Eagle Nest Lake State Park!

Eagle Nest Lake is not a natural lake. It's a reservoir, which means it's a man-made lake. It was created when the Cimarron River was blocked by the Eagle Nest Dam way back in 1918.

The lake is located very high up, at an elevation of about 8,300 feet (2,500 meters). This makes it an alpine lake. It sits in a valley that was carved out by glaciers a long, long time ago. This valley is on the slopes of Wheeler Peak, which is the tallest mountain in New Mexico! The mountains around the park are full of amazing wildlife. You might spot elk, deer, turkeys, and even bears!

Fun Activities at the Lake

Eagle Nest Lake is a great place for outdoor adventures all year round.

• Summer Fun: When the weather is warm, you can enjoy boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding on the lake. Fishing is also a huge draw, with many different kinds of fish to catch.
• Winter Wonderland: In the colder months, the lake freezes solid. This makes it perfect for ice fishing, where you drill a hole in the ice to catch fish. Snowmobiling is another exciting activity you can do on the frozen lake.

Amazing Fish and Wildlife

The lake is home to many different types of fish. Here are some you might find:

• Rainbow trout
• Brown trout
• Cutthroat trout
• Kokanee salmon (a type of salmon)
• Smallmouth bass
• Yellow perch
• Common carp
• White sucker
• Channel catfish
• Sunfish

There's also a fish called the northern pike in the lake. These pike were accidentally introduced. The park actually suggests that anglers keep any pike they catch. This is because northern pike are predators and can be a threat to the other fish populations that people like to catch. By keeping them, you help protect the lake's other fish!

Gallery

• 

  Lone fisherman at Eagle Nest Lake State Park

• 

  View of Wheeler Peak from Eagle Nest

• 

  Sunrise at Eagle Nest Lake