Is it possible for a lake to be truly bottomless? That’s the question many visitors at Bottomless Lakes State Park ask, inspired by the supposedly bottomless lakes in New Mexico that lend the park its namesake. This state park, located approximately 14 miles southeast of Roswell, is a favorite destination for individuals of all ages and the oldest state park in the Land of Enchantment. From swimming and scuba diving to hiking and camping, it is an outdoor lover’s paradise. It’s definitely a beautiful place to visit, and there’s plenty of fun to be had out on the water. However, it is also one place in New Mexico with a long list of legends — each more terrifying and bizarre than the next.

Bottomless Lakes State Park in New Mexico is one state park that you must place on your bucket list. This state park consists of a series of nine sinkholes — not actual lakes.
New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department
This New Mexico state park received its name from cowboys who ventured to the area decades ago.
graphmaster/iStock Via Getty Images Plus
Shortly after discovering the bodies of water, they attempted to measure the depth of the water. They would use long pieces of rope that were tied together as a measuring device. Unfortunately, they were never able to reach the bottom and they claimed these bodies of water were bottomless.
Today, we know these bodies of water are not bottomless. They have a unique color that is created by underwater plants. This blue-green color makes the bodies of water appear to have no end, but these sinkholes actually range between 17 to 90 feet deep.
New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department
Despite multiple bodies of water, swimming is only permitted in Lea Lake. This sinkhole is approximately 90 feet deep and has a surface area of 15 acres, so there is plenty of room to enjoy the water.
New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department
You can also spend the day at the Lea Lake Day-Use Area that consists of more than two dozen picnic shelters, a playground, beach, sand volleyball court, and more. There are also campgrounds and nearby trails so you can easily enjoy a long getaway at this state park.

Related Stories

Nestled In The Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Lake Katherine Has Some Of The Clearest Water In New Mexico

Nestled In The Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Lake Katherine Has Some Of The Clearest Water In New Mexico

 The Cleanest Lake In New Mexico Is Ideal For Your Next Summer Dip

The Cleanest Lake In New Mexico Is Ideal For Your Next Summer Dip

 The Small Town Lake In New Mexico That's An Idyllic Summer Day Trip

The Small Town Lake In New Mexico That's An Idyllic Summer Day Trip
However, even with a long list of activities to enjoy, it is the legends of Bottomless Lakes State Park that will leave your heart pounding.
New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department
One of the most common legends is about a giant monster turtle who lives in the depths of the water. This turtle apparently roams the bottom of the lake and in the 1980s, one individual even claims to have seen the turtle come to the surface with an enormous brown shell.
jamieself/Flickr
Other individuals have claimed to see other unusual and peculiar creatures come to the surface such as a dragon and an octopus man.
Another popular story that is often told is of a horse that fell into one of the lakes but was pulled out of another.
agshotime/E+ Via Getty Images
Some stories even claim that objects would fall into one of the bottomless lakes in New Mexico, never to resurface again. However, these items were allegedly later found in the Carlsbad Caverns or the Gulf of Mexico. Pretty bizarre, right?
New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department

Take a look at this gorgeous drone footage to get an idea of what the park has to offer.

What do you think? Do you believe any of these legends of Bottomless Lakes State Park in New Mexico? Have you heard of any others? We’d love for you to reach out and share your thoughts!

To learn even more about this state park in the Land of Enchantment, check out our previous article on Bottomless Lakes State Park. And visit our article about Najavo Lake’s underwater towns for more fascinating stories about the deepest lakes in New Mexico.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Places To Visit In New Mexico

Meghan Byers | May 11, 2022

How deep are the Bottomless Lakes in New Mexico?

New Mexico’s so-called Bottomless Lakes are really sinkholes ranging from 17 to 90 feet deep.

What are some other interesting places in New Mexico?

There’s no shortage of unique places in New Mexico to explore. After all, this is the Land of Enchantment. For natural wonders, try these:

  • The Carlsbad Caverns
  • White Sands National Park
  • The Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Study Area
  • The Capulin Volcano
  • Shiprock
  • Rio Grande Gorge.

Visit our guide to even more natural wonders in New Mexico.

Man-made New Mexico wonders include:

  • The House of Eternal Return in Santa Fe - a 20,000-square-foot former bowling alley that now hosts a unique art experience, complete with a non-linear narrative that visitors can piece together as they explore the house.
  • The Dwan Light Sanctuary at the United World College campus in Las Vegas, New Mexico, for an equally artistic but more peaceful experience.

 

What are some more of New Mexico’s legends?

New Mexico legends range from your classic ghost stories to the famous Roswell UFO incident, to sightings of nationally known cryptids like Bigfoot. But there are some that are a bit more unique to the region:

  • The “Taos Hum”: a low-frequency droning noise that, according to one study, can be heard by around two percent of the population in Taos, for unknown reasons. People have claimed that the sound is from the singing waters of the El Salto mountain peak, underground UFO bases, secret military experiments, and more.
  • Legendary local creatures such as the thunderbird, a legendary creature in certain indigenous cultures. This giant bird was said to create thunder and lightning just by flapping its wings and flashing its eyes. There were, in fact, giant birds called teratorns which flew over New Mexico in prehistoric times, and in 2007 one resident claimed to have seen similarly sized birds in the New Mexico mountains.

Related Articles

Explore New Mexico

Featured Addresses
Bottomless Lakes, New Mexico 88203, USA