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Clayton Lake
Overview
Overview
Clayton Lake State Park and Dinosaur Trackways offers a unique blend of prehistoric history and modern outdoor recreation. Located in the rolling prairies of northeastern New Mexico, this park provides a serene escape for RV travelers looking to connect with nature. It is most famous for its incredible dinosaur trackways, which date back over 100 million years, making it a significant site for both science and tourism. The park serves as a quiet sanctuary for those navigating the wide-open spaces of the Southwest.
Location & Surroundings
The park is situated about 15 miles north of Clayton, NM, tucked away from the main highway and deep within the high plains. The surrounding landscape features rolling hills and rocky outcroppings, providing wide-open vistas and stunning sunsets. Because of its remote nature and lack of light pollution, the park is an officially designated International Dark Sky Park, offering some of the clearest stargazing opportunities in the entire region for overnight guests.
Amenities & Park Features
RVers will find a mix of developed and primitive sites at Clayton Lake. The park offers several sites with electrical hookups to accommodate modern rigs, though many sites remain primitive for a more authentic camping experience. Facilities include a convenient dump station, modern restrooms with showers, and multiple picnic areas for day-use visitors. For those bringing watercraft, there is a functional boat ramp providing access to the lake for fishing and seasonal boating activities throughout the year.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
The primary draw is the Dinosaur Trackway, accessible via a short hike across the dam. Visitors can view hundreds of fossilized footprints from at least four different species of dinosaurs preserved in the sandstone. Fishing is another popular pastime, with the lake regularly stocked with trout, catfish, and bass. Birdwatchers will enjoy spotting diverse local species, while hikers can explore the scenic trails that wind along the shoreline and through the rugged prairie terrain.
Who This Park Is Best For
This park is ideal for families and science enthusiasts who want an educational component to their camping trip. It is also a perfect destination for travelers seeking a quiet, rustic retreat away from the noise of interstate traffic and urban light. If you enjoy world-class stargazing or birding in a peaceful environment, this hidden gem in northeastern New Mexico provides an unforgettable, low-key experience that fits perfectly into a larger southwestern road trip.
Features & Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
Reviews
Sidney young
This was one of the larger campgrounds we stayed at, and we were in the South Loop at site S1, which had a beautiful view overlooking both the park and the lake. The showers weren’t bad at all, and the outhouses were honestly some of the cleanest we’ve ever used. Peaceful spot, great scenery, and overall a really solid stay. Would definitely come back!
MARK
Driving along in wide open New Mexico when the land suddenly drops into one of the prettiest little parks you could ever hope to see AND there are real dinosaur tracks. They are clearly visible with interpretive signage to explain what you see. There are numerous campsites with concrete pads, fire rings, steel pagodas and plenty of parking. I'm not a fisherman, but the sign at the entrance says this is a trophy bass lake. I did not see anyone fishing, but there were numerous strikes out on the water that looked quite large.
Danielle Meyers
There's a geocache at an awesome lookout. I saw a turkey. Or honestly could've been any turkey-looking bird because I saw it from really far away. Loved the Dino tracks! There are so many!! The staff was very nice as well. Bring cash!!!! No cards!!!!!
April Goodman
This place is great for people who like to camp in a hammock, tent or pop up trailer. We took our 26 foot bumper pull and it was a tight fit on the narrow roads. It's not well marked or well lit, but it is quiet. A great place to fish and enjoy the view of wildlife. There were a few cabins up the road from where we stayed and several playgrounds for the kids. There is no dump station in this park, but the folks at Potato Hills Central were kind enough to let us dump there.
Eric Johnson
It might have been timing but the dump station was not accessible, the restrooms near the RV sites were quite dingy with no hot water. The actual parking sites back up to a major road and not all have access to water and power unto have a really long hose and or extension cord. It was also tricky getting level. The lake was small but nice with no maintained swimming area. We didn’t feel particularly safe there and the park wasn’t very clean. We stayed one night and found a place that wasn’t as picturesque but had level sites and full hookups. When we asked about the dump station and other things the reply was “welcome to Southeast Oklahoma.”