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Navajo Lake/Sims Mesa
Overview
Navajo Lake State Park - Sims Mesa offers a serene retreat on the southeastern shore of New Mexico's second-largest lake. While the main Pine Site often attracts larger crowds, Sims Mesa provides a more tranquil experience atop high-desert ridges. Visitors can expect sweeping views of the deep blue water contrasted against the red rock landscape and pinon-juniper forests, making it a perfect scenic base for exploration.
Location & Surroundings
Situated near Navajo Dam, NM, the campground is perched on a mesa overlooking the expansive Navajo Reservoir. The drive to the park takes travelers through winding roads and rugged canyons, showcasing the geological diversity of the Four Corners region. At an elevation of approximately 6,000 feet, the climate stays relatively mild, offering cool breezes off the water and exceptionally clear night skies for stargazing.
Amenities & Park Features
This facility is thoughtfully designed to cater to self-contained travelers while providing necessary comforts. The park includes a visitor center where guests can learn about the local ecosystem and purchase park passes.
- Spacious sites offering electric and water hookups suitable for most RV lengths.
- Access to a multi-lane boat ramp specifically serving the Sims Mesa area.
- Clean restroom facilities and hot showers located near the camping loops.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Anglers will find themselves a short drive from the world-renowned San Juan River, which is celebrated for its Quality Waters and world-class trout fishing. Boating and kayaking are the primary draws on the lake itself, with plenty of hidden coves to discover. For a change of pace, the Aztec Ruins National Monument provides a fascinating look at ancestral Puebloan architecture just an hour away.
Who This Park Is Best For
This park is ideal for travelers who prefer a remote atmosphere over a busy resort setting. It is a premier choice for fishing enthusiasts and boaters who value easy water access without the congestion of more populated park entrances. If you appreciate rugged solitude, quiet evenings by a campfire, and immediate access to outdoor recreation, this mesa-top destination will likely fit your travel style.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- Hunting Nearby (within 20 miles)
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Crystal Stewart
This is our favorite spot for our Family yearly camping trip. Have been going here for years. It used to be first come first serve but now you have to reserve it, if you're going for any holiday make sure to reserve your spot in January. Highly recommend this area!
Heather Harrison
We had a nice time at this campground with the family. I wanted to leave a review because it was hard to find information about this campground online. While it says online there are vault toilets, that's only in the day use areas. In the campgrounds they have regular flushing toilets and there are also showers. The facilities are clean. The campsites are clean, however, the only problem I ran into was there are a ton of goat heads everywhere. So pack good shoes and you may want to bring a broom or rake to clear up the area you will be staying in. If you don't have a boat it's about a 30-minute drive to the main Marina, if you need ice or any other basic things, and they do have some activities at the main Marina, like bumper boats, and kayak rentals.
Daniel Sperry
Had a great time at this beautiful, quiet campground on the east side of Navajo Lake. Clean site, restrooms, and dump station with drinking water access. Even though it showed 100% booked online, the campground was mostly empty when we stayed the last weekend in April. Dog friendly with leash rules; 10 feet max leash, I think. Was told there are showers at the campground, but we did not see/use them. Great lake views from the southeastern M loop sites . Easy lake access a short walk away with fishing spots. Access to boat ramp Sims marina. Saw some bass cruising the edges of the lake near the day use area. Road to the campground is a bit bumpy, but nothing terrible. Just watch for potholes or deteriorating edges. The park office was closed when we visited.
Guillermo Loubriel
The place is great. The Marina on this side of the lake was disappointing. They didn't have ice. You cannot rent water craft there. You can only have one boat in the ramp at a time. It seems that they could move the ramps to allow for 2 boats to get in and out of the water at a time. Fishing was ok. My friend caught 3 fish, returned 2 and we cooked one.
Anthony Rodriguez
7/28/19. This campground is a quiet place to relax and enjoy the lake. It is a much smaller campsite as compared to the sites across the lake which is very crowded due to the large number of sites. My Foster kids enjoyed their first time at the lake and the water typical was around 74 degrees. Bathrooms are clean with two showers. One regular and the other handicap. The marina store is very small so bring what you need.