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Abiquiu Lake, New Mexico, USA

Also known as:  Abiquiu Reservoir

Abiquiu Lake, located in Rio Arriba County in North-Central New Mexico, offers recreation areas for swimming, camping, fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing,, hiking and more. Creating in 1963 as a project of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, an earthen dam 1,540 feet long and rising 321 feet high was constructed across the Chama River. Abiquiu Dam is second of three dams built in the…
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    • All About Abiquiu Lake, NM

    Lake Locations: USA - US Southwest Region - New Mexico - North-Central, NM -

    Abiquiu Lake, located in Rio Arriba County in North-Central New Mexico, offers recreation areas for swimming, camping, fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing,, hiking and more. Creating in 1963 as a project of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, an earthen dam 1,540 feet long and rising 321 feet high was constructed across the Chama River. Abiquiu Dam is second of three dams built in the Chama River watershed, a tributary to the Rio Grande River. Red sandstone cliffs, towering mesas, sagebrush, and stands of juniper and pine surround the scenic reservoir.

    Fishing is a popular pastime at Abiquiu Reservoir. Visitors with a New Mexico fishing license can cast in their line for catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye and rainbow trout. Geocaching, the treasure hunting game using a GPS to hide and seek containers with other participants, is also allowed at Abiquiu Lake, but only with prior authorization from the lake manager.

    Visitors who want to relax and enjoy Abiquiu Lake will have a great time at the Riana Campground, located on a 150-foot rock bluff overlooking Abiquiu Lake. Open from April 1-October 15, visitors have access to campsites as well as a playground, showers, dump station, visitor center, and fishing areas.

    When not in the water, Abiquiu Lake visitors may enjoy nearby attractions including the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, Ghost Ranch, and Chaco Canyon. Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico opened in 1997 dedicated to the internationally-known artist for whom the museum is named. Georgia O’Keeffe lived in Abiquiu as well as Ghost Ranch. The 21,000 acres of Ghost Ranch, formally called Piedra Lumbre (shining rock), was part of a land grant to Pedro Martin Serrano for the King of Spain in 1766. Now owned by the Presbyterian Church, visitors can enjoy a number of activities, including a guided tour centered around Georgia O’Keeffe and the Ghost Ranch Landscape. Finally, visitors may enjoy the Chaco Canyon which contains the largest stone ruins in the US, including Pueblo Bonito, Chettro Ketl, and Casa Rinconada.

    Rugged but beautiful, the terrain around Abiquiu Lake offers an exciting retreat from civilization where opportunities for fun abound. Whether you prefer adrenaline-pumping activities such as waterskiing or just want to take in the sights, there is something for everyone at Abiquiu Lake.

    Ah, but how do you pronounce Abiquiu? According to the New York Times, it’s AH-bee-kee-oo.

    Things to Do at Abiquiu Lake

    These are some activities in the Abiquiu Lake, NM area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Water Skiing
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Hiking
    • Hunting
    • Museum
    • Ruins
    • Playground

    What Kind of Fish Are in Abiquiu Lake?

    Abiquiu Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Catfish
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Perch
    • Rainbow Trout
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Trout
    • Walleye
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    Find Places to Stay at Abiquiu Lake

    If you’re considering a Abiquiu Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Abiquiu Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Abiquiu Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Abiquiu Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

    Surface Area: 5,200 acres

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 6,200 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 0 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 6,375 feet

    Water Volume: 113,735 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1963

    Drainage Area: 2,146 sq. miles

    Abiquiu Lake Map
    Lake Water Level
    Local Weather Forecast

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