CAMP, FISH, HIKE, RELAX AND PADDLE @ SANTA CRUZ LAKE RECREATION AREA

Something for everyone. Don't fish ?...don't paddle ? Enjoy the camping.
I will be camping Fri & Sat nites. Day use fee/camping is per car, not per person, so carpool if you want. Day use only is $5/car, AND FED. passes get you in for free and camp for half price (full = $9). Next to Chimayo, NM, 35 miles NE of Santa Fe. Exact directions given later. Friday thru Sunday. 90 minutes from ABQ. This little lake next to Chimayo, NM has decent fishing (stocked with rainbows and browns) is 90' deep at the dam and has approx. 2 miles of shoreline. There is also "rim" camping 315' above the lake (first come, first served) and what a view. Evening sunsets are hard to match. There are 6.4 miles of hiking trail so you won't be bored. Bring all your camping toys and canoes/kayaks, chairs, etc. One trail starts close to the campsite and goes down all the way to the lake (.5mi). Campsite is the high spot of the area. But, we must get there early enough to secure any of the 4 "rim" sites, so, I will go up very early Friday; anyone else can join me then. I cannot "save" sites for you unless you send me a $9 ($4.50 with your pass number enclosed) check for a campsite, by Sat, June 2nd (the earlier the better), payable to BLM-DOI and stuffed into the pay station by me with your site "tagged" (saved). ONLY THOSE COMING LATE FRIDAY need to send a check to me which will save a site. I have 2 checks now. My mailing address below. Once I get 2 or 3 sites established very early Fri, a 2nd car on a site will cost only $3/night, payable at the pay station (note on the envelope that you are the 2nd car at your site). If you are the 3rd car, at a site you share, you must park in the overflow lot and still pay only $3/night at the pay station. What a deal for everybody. I only need the 1st night camping fee to hold the spot unless you know you will stay more nights. Sites can be shared (8 people/site, but only 2 cars). I recommend paying the one who held the site early a few bucks/night since they paid the 1st $9/night to obtain it. So, bring a slew of 1 dollar bills if coming later (no change available). This will even out the cost/person. There are 5-6 other sites NOT on the rim if you aren't there to claim a rim site in time or just want more night privacy away from the group. We've been lucky to always get some rim sites. Bring some WOOD if you want a CAMPFIRE. Let me know if camping FRI. or SAT. or both. Fire rings & picnic tables at each site w/10' x 15' canopies over the tables. One vault toilet. We can head to the lake's north end to launch boats where a complete renovation has been done. You can fish from either end of lake. I encourage others to bring any kind of paddle craft, etc. I may bring a couple of kayaks. RVs up to 30' ok.
www.blm.gov/visit/santa-cruz-lake-recreation-area (scroll down to bottom for better map of area and click on MAP). Bad weather could reschedule to the following weekend, etc. Website says: rec.area is closed after hours, but that does not apply to south end camping. Well behaved dogs on leash OK. Owner is responsible for dog behavior.
Absolutely NO chupracabres or goats, leash or no leash. They chew up the tent ropes. have a question : 505-890-3931 (h/w). Mailing address:
4661 Sutton St. nw
Albuquerque, NM 87114-4239

"CAMPING: A chance to sleep under the stars and feed the mosquitos
at the same time". (Actually, bugs not a problem here).