Fishing, paddling, and hiking draw visitors to Santa Cruz Lake, and Overlook Campground sits above it all, positioned high enough that several sites look directly down over the water toward the Nacimiento Mountain range. The North Shore Campground at Santa Cruz Lake - CLOSED to the north holds the boat launch, so campers here reach the lake via a trail from the campsite rather than backing a boat trailer down. No swimming is recommended due to currents, but the lake supports no-wake boating and fishing.
The road in is dirt and washboarded in sections, particularly at the start. Two-wheel-drive vehicles can manage it in dry conditions, but towing a trailer warrants extra caution. Sites accommodate rigs up to around 30 feet, and some back-row sites face the mountains rather than the lake, offering a bit more separation from day-use traffic that gathers at the overlook. Shade comes from scattered mesquite, and each site has a picnic table with a covered roof structure and a fire ring.
No water is available on-site. Espanola is roughly 20 minutes away for resupply. The vault toilet's condition has varied across reviews, from well-stocked to notably unpleasant. Cell service is inconsistent but possible given the elevation and open exposure, and at least one camper has connected via Starlink. Wind can be a real factor here. No wood collecting is permitted.
At around $9 per night with individual trash cans at each site, campgrounds near Chimayo in this part of northern New Mexico represent some of the more affordable BLM camping in the region. As Shari G. put it, "backing up the rig to the overview of the lake is something else." Arrive early, as the small number of sites fills up.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsOverlook Campground is located in New Mexico near Chimayo
Coordinates
35.96465219 N
105.91854718 W
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 7/13/26
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 7/13/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 7/13/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 7/13/26
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 7/13/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 7/13/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Picnic Table
- Phone Service
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Pull-Through Sites
Drive Time
- 29 min from Santa Fe, NM
- 1 hr 18 min from Albuquerque, NM
- 3 hrs 7 min from Farmington, NM
- 3 hrs 50 min from Pueblo, CO



















