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Established Camping

Island View — Heron Lake State Park

Warning 5 Alerts are In Effect

There are 5 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!

OHV's are not allowed to be operated within the Park boundaries.

Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove is prohibited. The use of devices fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed. Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three (3) feet of the device. Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building.

July 1st through TBD, Rio Chama Trailhead is closed for repairs.

Please bring proof of your reservation with you to your campsite.

Make it your goal to extinguish hot coals. If your campfire is too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave. Drown it with water, stir it with a shovel, and repeat until your campfire is out cold! Learn more from Smokey Bear.

Island View — Heron Lake State Park, near Los Ojos, New Mexico, is a solid spot for those who enjoy a mix of lake views and camping. The sites here are decent in size, with some offering pretty views of Heron Lake, making it a nice backdrop for your outdoor adventures.

This campground allows for campfires, and you’ll find picnic tables and fire rings at your site, perfect for evening gatherings. Many visitors have mentioned the cleanliness of the facilities, including the showers and restrooms, which is always a plus after a day of fishing or hiking. One camper noted, “Fishing was good. Caught quite a few fish,” highlighting the lake's appeal for anglers.

If you’re up for some exploration, there are hiking trails nearby, including the Salmon Run Trail, which offers beautiful views and a chance to see some wildlife. While the campground can get busy, especially in the summer, some campers appreciated the quieter spots, especially during the week when generators are less common. So, if you’re looking for a place to unwind and enjoy nature, this campground could be just what you need.

Description

NM State Parks & Recreation

Heron Lake State Park

Physical Address: 640 State Road 95, Los Ojos, NM 87551
PAGOSA SPRINGS, CO 72 MILES; ALBURQUERQUE 158 MILES, TAOS 90 MILES, FARMINGTON 150 MILES
New Mexico is beginning our Outdoor Recreation Plan and needs your input! The plan will:

  • Address the state and nation's outdoor recreation trends and their economic impacts
  • Inventory the state's resources and address how best to protect them
  • Help determine the state's priorities for awarding federal funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund
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Location

Island View — Heron Lake State Park is located in New Mexico

Detail location of campground

Directions

Directions are as follows: From Albuquerque, NM, drive north on interstate 25 for 58 miles to Santa Fe, NM. From Santa Fe, drive north on US84/285 for 22 miles to Espanola, NM. At Espanola, cross the Rio Grande River and go north on US 84. (US84/285 forks in Espanola) Follow signs to Abiquiu, Tierra Amarilla and Chama. Continue north on US 84 for approximately 70 miles to Tierra Amarilla. At Tierra Amarilla, continue for about 2 miles to State Road 95, turn on State Road 95 and head west for 6miles. The entrance to all campgrounds will be located between mile marker 6 and mile marker 11 on State Road 95. Visitor center is located ½ mile past mile marker 6. Physical Address: 640 State Road 95, Los Ojos, NM 87551

Address

HC-75 Box 1051
Los Ojos, NM 87551

Coordinates

36.67535583 N
106.68297767 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Available
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Poor
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • 30 Amp Hookups
  • 50 Amp Hookups

Contact

General Info

Reservations

Drive Time


Reviews

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5 Reviews

Reviewed Jun. 5, 2022

Great for weekend casuals

If your idea of camping is a being stuffed into a tiny spot that sits should to shoulder with other campers, running your noisy generator and sitting in your RV all day, congrats, this place is for you. And ass an added perk, you can see the lake, but no direct access and not much going on at all. So of course you’ll need to drive out a couple miles to do anything remotely outdoorsy and be able to hear yourself think without the constant noise of your fellow campers generators

Site120
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Aug. 7, 2021

Pretty Views

Depending on which spot you book, you’ll get some decent views of Heron Lake. Campsites are decent size, with a few bigger than others…so choose wisely and pay attention to the photos supplied. But overall, the campsites are well maintained and clean. If you enjoy fishing, it’s only a small hike to the water.

Site# 67
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Island View — Heron Lake State Park by Eric G., August 7, 2021
Reviewed Jun. 14, 2021

Best view

Island view campground site 128 has the best view from campground. This is a no wake lake

Fishing was good. Caught quite a few fish

Showers and bathrooms were very clean and well stocked.

Fires were allowed. Picnic tables and fire rings provided

Site128
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Island View — Heron Lake State Park by Karen  N., June 14, 2021
  • Review photo of Island View — Heron Lake State Park by Karen  N., June 14, 2021
  • Review photo of Island View — Heron Lake State Park by Karen  N., June 14, 2021
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Apr. 25, 2021

Lakefront camping

Lake front camping Cheap lakefront camping but the lake is very low. Only saw one other person in the campground, park probably gets busier in the summer? Decent sites somewhat level, not a lot of privacy but each has a picnic table and firepit, 157 total sites when there all open. Can't beat the price!

Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Island View — Heron Lake State Park by William M., April 25, 2021
Reviewed Jul. 25, 2019

Unusually Quiet

I did a fair amount of research online regarding walk-in tent camping at Heron Lake, during the week. See the great maps and detail at https://newmexicostateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/heron-lake/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NM&parkId=430012 . I called the visitor center to confirm that being a walk-in would not be a problem during the week. Once one arrives as a walk-in, look for the campsites with a green tag on them.

The Heron Lake camp sites shown at the above reserveamerica website all have a fair amount of trees for shade. What the reserveamerica site does not show is a few more Heron Lake campgrounds southwest along Highway 95 (beyond the dam). The southwesterly sites are way more exposed to the sun than the first four campgrounds. Otherwise, the southwesterly campgrounds have fine views of the lake.

I was at Island View campground, in a loop that was convoluted enough that I do not think a trailer (with its inevitable noisy generator) could get in. I guess that this is the point. As a result, all I heard from time to time were muffled voices and no generators. It's the first tent spring-summer-fall camping I have enjoyed in years that was generator-free. I had at least one empty campsite on either side of me as an additional buffer to noise.

I walked along the lakeshore. It did not seem that low. I saw large fish jumping in one cove. I hiked the Salmon Run Trail to the dam. The Salmon Run Trail is a beautiful hike, not all level but not too steep for this older person's knees and walking poles. On the lake side of the dam, walking along the highway to get a good look at the dam, I saw several schools of large fish.

The vault bathrooms and the flush-toilet bathrooms were fine. Not super clean and not super dirty. I did not try the shower but it looked like people were using it.

This time of year, bring some bug repellent or wear jeans and a light long sleeve shirt at night. New Mexico has had a lot of moisture this season, so I think the bug-giness is higher than usual. Still, I sat outside and read for an hour or so pretty comfortably.

The camp host was lovely.

SiteIsland View, #107
Month of VisitJuly

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Island View — Heron Lake State Park have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Island View — Heron Lake State Park has 30 amp and 50 amp electric hookups, water hookups and sewer hookups.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Island View — Heron Lake State Park?

    Island View — Heron Lake State Park allows vehicles up to 35 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Island View — Heron Lake State Park?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Island View — Heron Lake State Park, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Island View — Heron Lake State Park?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is poor, and T-Mobile is unknown.