What is the biggest lake in New Mexico?

Elephant Butte Lake, at about 27,300 acres.

What is the second biggest lake in New Mexico?

Caballo Reservoir, at 11,000 acres.

Biggest lakes in New Mexico: the top 10 by size

The ten largest lakes in New Mexico, biggest first.

The list

Sizes are the published surface area where one exists; the others are our own measure of the water's outline and read "about". Reservoirs shrink and grow with their level, so a dry year shows less water.

#	Lake	Size	Shoreline
1	Elephant Butte Lake	about 27,300 acres
2	Caballo Reservoir	11,000 acres	about 26 mi
3	Conchas Lake	9,600 acres	about 61 mi
4	Ute Lake	8,200 acres	about 54 mi
5	Heron Lake	5,900 acres	about 27 mi
6	Abiquiu Lake	5,200 acres	about 32 mi
7	Brantley Lake	4,000 acres	about 16.7 mi
8	Santa Rosa Lake	3,800 acres	about 21 mi
9	El Vado Lake	3,200 acres	about 20 mi
10	Eagle Nest Lake	2,500 acres	about 12.6 mi

1. Elephant Butte Lake

Elephant Butte Lake covers about 27,300 acres. Largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie and catfish are the draw. At about 197 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer.

Elephant Butte Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Caballo Reservoir

Caballo Reservoir spreads over 11,000 acres. The lake is about 50 miles southeast of Las Cruces. It is the Rio Grande behind Caballo Dam. Walleye, largemouth bass, catfish and crappie are the draw. The deepest water is around 75 ft.

Caballo Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Conchas Lake

Conchas Lake is a reservoir of 9,600 acres of water. The lake is about 23 miles northeast of Mosquero. Conchas Dam holds it on the Canadian. Walleye, largemouth bass, white bass and catfish are the draw. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Conchas Dam, completed in 1939 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, impounds the Canadian River.

Conchas Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Ute Lake

Ute Lake covers some 8,200 acres. You will find it about 11 miles southwest of Tucumcari. Largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and walleye are the draw. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Ute Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Heron Lake

At 5,900 acres of water, Heron Lake is a good-sized lake. The lake is about 4.8 miles east of Tierra Amarilla. It holds trout and kokanee salmon. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Heron Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Abiquiu Lake

Abiquiu Lake spreads over 5,200 acres of water. You will find it within an easy drive of Santa Fe (about 47 miles). Abiquiu Dam holds it on the Rio Chama. The usual New Mexico mix applies: trout, lake trout, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Abiquiu Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Brantley Lake

At 4,000 acres of water, Brantley Lake is a good-sized lake. It lies about 12 miles southeast of La Huerta. It is the Pecos behind Brantley Dam. It holds largemouth bass, walleye, catfish and white bass. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Brantley Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Santa Rosa Lake

At 3,800 acres, Santa Rosa Lake is a good-sized lake. You will find it near Santa Rosa. It is the Pecos behind Santa Rosa Dam. Largemouth bass, catfish and walleye are the draw. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Santa Rosa Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. El Vado Lake

El Vado Lake is a reservoir of 3,200 acres. You will find it near Tierra Amarilla. El Vado Dam holds it on the Rio Chama. The fish here are trout and kokanee salmon. At about 167 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

El Vado Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Eagle Nest Lake

Eagle Nest Lake is a reservoir of some 2,500 acres. The lake is about 6.9 miles south of Angel Fire. The fish here are trout, kokanee salmon, yellow perch and northern pike. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Eagle Nest Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Big water, big days

Large lakes make their own weather: a breeze that is nothing on a pond builds real waves over miles of open water. Check the wind on the lake page before you launch and keep to the lee shore when it picks up.