Blue-green sinkhole lakes break up the red desert just outside Roswell: And what happens next

Shutterstock
Cowboys couldn’t find the bottom
Fifteen miles southeast of Roswell, a chain of deep blue-green lakes cuts into the red bluffs of the Pecos River valley. You won’t find rivers feeding them or dams holding them back. These lakes sit in sinkholes carved by thousands of years of dissolving rock, and they look like they belong somewhere tropical, not in the Chihuahuan Desert. New Mexico made this place its very first state park back on Nov. 18, 1933, and the name alone tells you something about what’s down there. Wikimedia Commons/timlewisnm
Ropes tied together still never hit bottom
Long before anyone measured these lakes properly, cowboys tried to figure out how deep they went. They tied ropes together, dropped them in, and never touched bottom. The blue-green water played tricks on them too, making the lakes look far deeper than they really are. That color comes from aquatic plants and algae growing below the surface. The deepest lake actually reaches about 90 feet, so “bottomless” is a stretch. But you can see why they thought so. Wikimedia Commons/Carpenter, Kenneth
Sinkholes carved these lakes over thousands of years
These aren’t your typical ponds or river bends. Groundwater dissolved gypsum and limestone deep underground, and over thousands of years the surface rock collapsed inward and filled with water. The result is a chain of round, deep lakes sometimes called cenotes. They range from about 17 to 90 feet deep. The park protects most of the chain, though one lake sits on private land. What you see from the rim is just the top of a long geological story. Wikimedia Commons/Martylunsford
Lea Lake has the only sandy beach for miles
Only one lake in the park allows swimming, and that’s Lea Lake. A sandy beach spreads out at the base of tall red cliffs, and the water glows turquoise against the rock. Lifeguards work the beach during summer, and a designated swim area keeps things organized. Outdoor showers sit near the sand, so you can rinse off before heading back to camp. Bring a picnic and stretch out. There’s no rush here. Wikimedia Commons/Stephen Hanafin
Scuba divers come to this desert for 90-foot drops
A scuba dive in the New Mexico desert sounds wrong, but divers travel from across the region for Lea Lake. Fresh springs feed the water and keep visibility solid.

The lake drops close to 90 feet, and on the way down you might spot the Pecos pupfish, a protected species that lives in these waters. The water temperature stays comfortable enough that you don’t need a thick wetsuit most of the year. It’s one of the few places you can log a dive and see cactus from the parking lot. Wikimedia Commons/Stephen Hanafin
No motors allowed on this blue-green water
Motorboats and jet skis stay out of the park entirely. Only non-motorized boats touch the water here, so the lakes stay calm and quiet. You can bring your own kayak, canoe, or paddleboard, and in summer the park rents out paddleboards and pedal boats. Gliding across the still surface puts you right up against the red cliffs. The silence is the whole point, and the wildlife sticks around because of it. Wikimedia Commons/Carpenter, Kenneth
Watch the red cliffs shift from amber to copper
Tall red bluffs rise sharply along the eastern edge of the Pecos River valley, and they don’t look the same twice. In the morning, the rock glows amber and copper. By midday it deepens into rich terra cotta. Set against the blue-green water, the contrast sharpens into something you keep turning around to look at. Golden hour draws photographers from all over the region. If you have a camera, the last hour of daylight is the one you want. Shutterstock
The Bluff Trail runs right along the cliff edge
Several miles of trails wind through the park for hiking and mountain biking. The Bluff Trail follows the cliff tops and gives you wide views of the lakes spread out below. If you want a longer route, the Skidmarks Trail loops just over three miles through classic Chihuahuan Desert terrain. Prickly pear and cholla cactus line the paths. The ground is dry and the air smells like dust and sage. Bring water and a hat. Shutterstock
Nearly 200 bird species stop through here
Desert, prairie, and river habitat all meet at this park, and the birds know it. Nearly 200 species have been reported here. A half-mile boardwalk called the Wetlands Trail takes you through a marshy area where three bird blinds let you watch without scaring anything off. Roadrunners dart through the brush. Ducks and waterfowl work the shallows.

Read more from this brand:

This southern New Mexico park has wild goats, black skies, and rocks you get to keep

New Mexico’s 35-million-year-old volcanic rock city looks like another planet

Walk on lava in New Mexico: no volcano tour, no ticket, just open desert and raw rock

The post Blue-green sinkhole lakes break up the red desert just outside Roswell appeared first on When In Your State.

Songbirds fill the mornings. If you bring binoculars, plan to use them. Shutterstock
Four rare species live in these waters and bluffs
The park protects four rare or endangered species, and two of them swim right past you. The Pecos pupfish and the rainwater killifish live in these lakes. On land, the cricket frog and eastern barking frog hold on in the desert habitat. Mule deer, jackrabbits, coyotes, and skunks roam the bluffs and flats. The mix of water and dry desert in one place creates conditions you don’t find often in this part of the country. Wikimedia Commons/Joel Deluxe
Camp here and the night sky delivers
The park has campgrounds for tents and RVs, and the sites at Lea Lake put you closest to the beach and the water. But the real draw after dark is overhead. Very little light pollution reaches this part of southeastern New Mexico, so on clear nights the sky fills with stars in a way you don’t get near a city. Covered picnic shelters and a playground make the park easy for families. Stay the night if you can. Wikimedia Commons/Stephen Hanafin
The CCC built this place during the Great Depression
Workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps shaped this park in the 1930s. They cut roads, built picnic areas, and put up a stone bathhouse at Lea Lake that still stands today. Some of those original structures have held up for more than 90 years. A visitor center gives you maps, exhibits, and displays on the park’s history and the desert ecology around it. Generations of families have come through since, and the bones of the place haven’t changed much. Wikimedia Commons/Joel Deluxe
Explore Bottomless Lakes State Park in New Mexico
You can find Bottomless Lakes State Park about 15 miles southeast of Roswell along U.S. Route 380 and then south on NM 409. The park is open year-round, and day-use fees run $5 per vehicle. Campsites range from $10 to $18 per night depending on hookups. Summer brings lifeguards and boat rentals, but the hiking and birding are good in any season. Check the official website for current hours and campsite availability before you go. This article was created with AI assistance and human editing. Read more from this brand:

This southern New Mexico park has wild goats, black skies, and rocks you get to keep

New Mexico’s 35-million-year-old volcanic rock city looks like another planet

Walk on lava in New Mexico: no volcano tour, no ticket, just open desert and raw rock

The post Blue-green sinkhole lakes break up the red desert just outside Roswell appeared first on When In Your State.