Overlook Campground

Some sites sit high above, and view Santa Cruz Lake, others don't have the lake view. No water or electricity, one little vault toilet. Some sites have more privacy than others. Over all a nice little campground about a 15 or 20 minute drive to the lake, where no wake boating and fishing happen. No swimming due to potentially dangerous currents.

I think there is some cell service due to the camp's high and unobstructed location.

I can’t remember when I’ve seen a better view for less than$10 per night. New Mexico, in general, has some of the least expensive camping in the contiguous 48 states. The road in is a little rough in spots, but a pretty short drive along dirt from the pavement. 

Backing up the rig to the overview of the lake is something else. Just waiting for the sun to set over the Nacimiento Mountain range is worth the price of admission…what a show! With just a few trees the campground is great for solar power, while still providing shade for cooling off. We also had no problem connecting with Starlink to get some work done and had some LTE in the campground. 

Each campsite has a picnic table with shade structure, and a fire ring. The vault toilet was clean and well supplied, but there is no fresh drinking water. Come prepared, because the nearest town (Espanola) with food and water is about 20 minutes or so away. 

The area is good for hiking, biking, paddling and getting your fishing grove on, but there’s no easy access to take boats down to the water from the campsite. There is an excellent trail leading down for everyone to enjoy. But the boat launch is on the north end of the lake, in the aptly North Lake Campground. We stayed here for a couple of days in late fall and temperatures were just lovely!

Nice views, but no water, fires allowed, but no wood collecting? and cow pies everywhere. They don't say you can't burn them though. Aspens are turning on the mountains, see the pic s, it's Oct. 6.

Dirt road leading up to campground was totally drivable but heavily washboarded at the beginning, so be advised if you're towing.  Plenty of room for my 25ft travel trailer and larger rigs should be okay as well.

No water, power, or dump station, but there are individual garbage containers at each site.  As others have said, you can get water at the North Lake campground, but there's a pass you'll need to buy to get in.  I think it was $20 bucks for a year, and gets you access to a few other recreation areas further north.

Seems like a lot of people come to the campground for day use just to hang and look out at the lake.  If you're staying long term, I'd avoid the overlook sites as there will be noise and traffic right there.  

I stayed at one of the sites around the back which looks out at the mountains - not a bad view.

$9 per day when I was there.

Your basic BLM campground with picnic tables and privies. $9/night self registration. No water at overlook, but there is water available from spigots at the nearby North Lake Campground (currently day-use only), if you get there before 8pm. The road in is winding and rough gravel but likely possible in a 2WD vehicle if it hasn't rained. Some mesquite for shade and privacy, and each campsite has an open roof over the tables. View of Santa Cruz lake is fantastic. No water, no trash, extremely extremely windy when I was there.

The view is cool if nothing else. Sites are accommodating for tents and rigs up to 30 or so feet. Trash cans are available, which is nice, as well as fire pits and picnic tables. There is a toilet available, however it's pretty gross. I know out-houses are not always nice but this one is probably the worst I've experienced in the year that we have been living on the road.