Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park
Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Nov. 1, 2023

HUGE state park with many camping options

General: There are many different camping options at this state park from dispersed (especially on the beach) to those with electric/water hookups. We stayed in the Lions Beach campground with the w/e hookups. 

Site Quality: Lions Beach is laid out much like an RV park with little to no separation between sites. Each site has a fire ring, and covered picnic table in addition to the hookups. The driveway was paved and level. 

Bath/Shower: Only vault toilets close to the Lions Beach campground. They are ADA accessible complete with a ramp but although clean, there was no hand sanitizer in any of them. The only restrooms with running water, flush toilets, and showers are located about a mile from Lions Beach and IMO, not adequate for the crowds this park attracts, especially on the weekends. The showers looked sketchy, and I decided not to use them. 

Activities: If you like to fish or have a boat, this is the place for you! There is a marina. Some hiking trails. We enjoyed Riverbed Hot Springs a few miles down the road in Truth or Consequences. We don’t have a boat or fish so although we stayed for two nights, we chose this campground because it was on our route. 

Because dispersed camping on the beach is allowed, it is very popular, especially on the weekends but be warned the sand is soft and deep – I’m not sure how vehicles without 4-wheel drive can navigate it without getting stuck. We were told there were wall-to-wall RVs on the beach on the weekend before our arrival (third weekend in April) so thankfully we were not there on a weekend! If we were to return, we would select the sites overlooking the lake on Ridge Road with no hookups but generally, not our preferred camping vibe but for others, it might be different.

Site92
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023
  • Review photo of Lower Ridge Road — Elephant Butte Lake State Park by Lee D., November 1, 2023