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Bluewater Lake State Park

Nature & parks
Near Grants, New Mexico
5.6 mi from Route 66

Bluewater Lake State Park lies in the Zuni Mountains near Prewitt, west of Grants, NM, about 6 miles off the old road. The park spreads over roughly 3,000 acres around a lake of about 1,200 acres, sitting some 7,400 feet above sea level. For Route 66 travellers it is a cool, green change from the highway, popular with anglers and bird-watchers, and it has been a state park since 1937.

What is Bluewater Lake State Park?

A mountain lake and the land around it. Stocked fish include channel catfish, tiger muskie, and rainbow and cutthroat trout. Because of the altitude, the water freezes over in winter, and anglers then switch to ice fishing.

Birders come too: 68 species either live in the park or pass through on migration. Riders are welcome to bring horses across most of the park, keeping at least 10 feet back from the water, though there are no marked horse trails.

Visiting Bluewater Lake State Park: tips

Give it at least an hour for a walk by the water, or half a day if you plan to fish, and bring a warm layer, since the lake sits at about 7,400 feet. Anglers will want to check state fishing license rules before casting a line.

Mount Sedgwick, the highest point in the Zuni Mountains, is about 8.3 miles away. On the way back to the main road, Roy T. Herman's Garage and Service Station, a 1930s Route 66 filling station, is about 9.6 miles from the park.

Practical info

Website: emnrd.nm.gov/spd/find-a-park/bluewater-lake-state-park
Hours: We have no opening hours for this stop yet — check the official site.
On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix