The Rio Grande bisects the county, feeding our two lakes, Elephant Butte and Caballo. Water sports of all kinds are possible here.

Thousands of visitors come to the lakes each year.  During summer weekends, both lakes—but especially Elephant Butte—turn into hubs of activity. Otherwise, the lakes offer plenty of wide open water and relative privacy.

Kayaking, canoeing and floating the river is a popular activity in summer, when the river is flowing and the weather is especially hot. The 5 1/2 hour passage from Elephant Butte State Park to Caballo Reservoir is easy—two 18″ drops in 17 miles, on a course that winds from Elephant Butte to Truth or Consequences / Williamsburg then through BLM land for the remainder of the trip.

Several organizations make use of Sierra County’s lakes and river. Check out the Las Cruces Paddling Meetup Group for info on group kayak and canoe outings. The Rio Grande Yacht Club holds regattas at the lake during winter months. In the summer, the Southwest Drag Boat Association hosts races for every kind of watercraft imaginable.

image source: Southwest Drag Boat Racing’s Facebook page