Are you the owner for this storage? Make it a featured listing and be seen in the top search results!
Sumner Lake
Overview
Sumner Lake State Park offers a peaceful retreat on the high plains of New Mexico, serving as a vital sanctuary for both wildlife and travelers. Created by a dam on the Pecos River, this destination provides a significant water contrast to the surrounding arid landscape. Visitors often find themselves drawn to the expansive views and the quiet, contemplative atmosphere that characterizes this remote desert oasis under the vast New Mexico sky.
Location & Surroundings
Situated in the rolling plains of eastern New Mexico, the park is nestled within the rugged Pecos River Valley. The surrounding landscape is defined by vast grasslands, hardy cacti, and dramatic rock formations that glow at sunset. Its elevation provides slightly cooler temperatures than the lower desert plains, making it a popular scenic stopover for travelers navigating the state along historic regional routes near Fort Sumner.
Amenities & Park Features
The park features several distinct campgrounds with diverse options for RVers of all types. Many sites are designed to handle larger rigs and offer the following conveniences:
- Electric and water hookups to provide comfort during warmer months.
- Modern restrooms and facilities featuring hot showers.
- A sanitary dump station and multiple boat launch areas.
The layout is thoughtfully designed to accommodate various rig sizes, offering a mix of panoramic lakeside views and more sheltered inland spots protected from the wind.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Water-based recreation is the main event here, with fishing and boating being the primary draws. The lake is well-stocked and famous for walleye and channel catfish, attracting anglers from across the region. For those interested in the legends of the Old West, the nearby town of Fort Sumner is home to the Billy the Kid Museum. Nature lovers will also enjoy the trails that wind through the prairie and the abundant birdwatching opportunities along the Pecos flyway.
Who This Park Is Best For
This park is ideal for anglers and boating enthusiasts seeking a quiet place to launch a vessel or cast a line away from crowded city lakes. It is also an excellent choice for stargazers and road trippers looking for a serene, dark-sky environment far from urban light pollution. If you prefer a rustic, nature-focused experience with plenty of space to breathe and enjoy the outdoors, Sumner Lake will fit your travel style perfectly.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- Hunting Nearby (within 20 miles)
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Karen
We very much enjoyed our time at Sumner Lake State Park. The campsites are large with nice picnic tables in the Mesquite section. We spotted lots of wildlife! Roadrunners!! The park ranger was super nice and very helpful! This park is a great place for stargazing. On our last night we were able to see the Milky Way! Beautiful night! Would love to visit again!
Reanae Charles
This is such a wonderful park, so quiet. The showers need some work far as correct water temperature. Lots sites are level. Boondocking by the Lake . We also had fun with a Road Runner.
Paul M
Very nice campground 30 miles from nowhere. Stayed 2 nights. Roomy site with covered shelter for picnic table. Fire ring provided. Level gravel with concrete pad. Trash can provided at site. 30/20 and water. Dump station provided. Camphost welcomed us after we were set up. He gave us area information and told us to let him know if we needed anything. There is a boat ramp and a playground. Playground had a closed sign and you could see some damage to the canopy. We checked the showers. They were the type that you push a button and the water is on while the button slowly comes out. It lasted about 10-15 seconds per push. We used the shower in our rig. Excellent for viewing the sky at night due to the lack of light pollution. The first morning we got up we had some roadrunners for visitors. The two biggest problems we had here were mosquitoes and goats heads. Tons of mosquitoes at dawn and dusk. Goat heads (stickers) were everywhere. Had to pull about 20 out of the dogs paws. We would definitely stay here again.
Starlene “Mike and Star” Thompson
What a view, amazing. We pulled off for a little break. The good energy here was just what I needed.
Brenda Trujillo
One of our favorite NM State parks for camping. Quiet in the Spring and Fall and plenty of space for walking.
Cyndi Stoker
After a long day of driving through Texas and into New Mexico I stumbled upon Lake Sumner! I was just looking for an out of the way spot to park for the night, to let the dogs out for a little bit before going to sleep for the night.....but WOW! What a pleasant surprise to find this beautiful lake! It was evening when I pulled in. A few people fishing along the shore line, but as I continued into the park further, there were primitive camping sites as well as full hook up sites. I chose to continue on to the "lookout" area, and let me tell you....it was beautiful! From the top of the look out you could see most of the lake below. The area is a perfect spot for watching the sun set or rise....both were beautiful IMO... If you are traveling on hwy 84/60 and you want to add some beauty to your trip, make the drive out to the park. It's only 6 miles off the hwy, but it's well worth it!
Cassandra Andrade
Beautiful and quiet lake, so quiet you could hear people from across the lake. We stayed at Pecos Campground site 10 - spots are huge, water and electric worked great and loved the full covered patio and table. Only issue: the entire place is covered heavily in goat heads and stickers.
J. Strantz
This park was good, I just came at a bad time. The wind was blowing in from the west at 30mph but I still hit up the basketball court. The wind was strong enough to rock my van. I tried to communicate with the camp hosts Dwight and Becca, but I only heard the sound of dogs barking after a few minutes I left and found my campsite, I didn't talk to a single soul the 48 hours I stayed there, except for an awkward encounter with a ranger in the bathroom area.