Cochiti Campground
Cochiti Recreation Area is located in Sandoval County, New Mexico, within the boundaries of the Pueblo de Cochiti Indian Reservation. The lake offers two public recreation areas: Cochiti on the west side of the lake and Tetilla Peak on the east side. Both sides offer spectacular scenic views of the water and surrounding mountains. The Cochiti Dam is one of the ten largest earth-fill dams in the United States, and also one of the largest in the world. The lake derives its name from the Indian Pueblo on the Cochiti Reservation.
The campground consists of four loops. Juniper Loop campsites have electric hookups and some have water. Elk Run and Ringtail Loops are non-electric and have community water spigots. All sites in Buffalo Grove Loop have water and electric hookups. The Cochiti boat ramp is open year-round and is accessible by a paved road. The ramp has four concrete lanes for loading and unloading.
Need to Know
NO ALCOHOL IS ALLOWED
Check-in Time is 3:00pm. Check-out Time is 2:00pm
- All camping units or vehicles must be registered
- Juniper Loop guests must bring a 100 foot hose; spigots are shared between sites
- The campground does not meet accessibility standards
- A campground attendant is on duty
- This is a no-wake lake
- No cutting of trees, dead or alive, is allowed
- Wood Campfires are not permitted
- Off-road vehicles are not permitted
ALCOHOL IS NOT PERMITTED
- Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.
Natural Features
Cochiti Lake sits at 5,343ft in elevation and is nestled in the foothills of the Jemez Mountains. Our high desert environment is dominated by juniper, pinon trees, and mixed grasslands. There are many opportunities for wildlife viewing. Four osprey nesting platforms have been erected around the lake to provide nesting sites, as well as viewing opportunities. On the east side of the lake, deer, coyote, river otters, rabbits, beavers, and the occasional bear are often sighted.
Nearby Attractions
Cochiti Lake is five miles from Tent Rocks National Monument, which has fascinating geological formations.
Recreation
Our quiet lake is an ideal location for all paddle, wind surfing, and sailing craft. The lake is also a popular fishing spot for species such as bass, crappie, walleye, pike, catfish, sunfish and trout. Cochiti Recreation Area has a popular, family friendly, swim beach Day Use area for public enjoyment. It is a fee area, $5 per vehicle, but the cost is covered by the campsite fee for visitors staying in the campground. Additionally, the Cochiti picnic area has 21 covered picnic sites with a large group site that can be reserved by calling the main office. Cochiti Day Use Areas are open from April 15th to October 15th.
Contact Information
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82 DAM CREST RD PENA BLANCA NM 87041
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 505-465-2557
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Albuquerque, New Mexico, take Interstate 25 north to exit 259. Turn west on State Route 22 and proceed through Pena Blanca to the park office and recreation area.
Available Campsites
- Site 19, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 053, Loop BUFFALO GROVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 074, Loop RINGTAIL CAT, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 34, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 052, Loop BUFFALO GROVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 29, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 30, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 06, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 072, Loop RINGTAIL CAT, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 21, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 10, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 079, Loop RINGTAIL CAT, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 061, Loop BUFFALO GROVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 042, Loop ELK RUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 070, Loop RINGTAIL CAT, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 15, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 07, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 069, Loop RINGTAIL CAT, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 26, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 20, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 03, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 05, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 01, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 080, Loop RINGTAIL CAT, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 09, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 059, Loop BUFFALO GROVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 02, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 041, Loop ELK RUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 040, Loop ELK RUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 068, Loop RINGTAIL CAT, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 057, Loop BUFFALO GROVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 062, Loop BUFFALO GROVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 065, Loop BUFFALO GROVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 077, Loop RINGTAIL CAT, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 047, Loop ELK RUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 049, Loop ELK RUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 14, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 075, Loop RINGTAIL CAT, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 071, Loop RINGTAIL CAT, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 036, Loop ELK RUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 055, Loop BUFFALO GROVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 23, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 12, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 037, Loop ELK RUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 17, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 054, Loop BUFFALO GROVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 064, Loop BUFFALO GROVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 24, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 067, Loop RINGTAIL CAT, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 056, Loop BUFFALO GROVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 063, Loop BUFFALO GROVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 043, Loop ELK RUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 32, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 04, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 045, Loop ELK RUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 060, Loop BUFFALO GROVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 076, Loop RINGTAIL CAT, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 13, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 33, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 058, Loop BUFFALO GROVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 27, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 073, Loop RINGTAIL CAT, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 048, Loop ELK RUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 08, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 25, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 038, Loop ELK RUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 16, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 28, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 046, Loop ELK RUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 051, Loop BUFFALO GROVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 11, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 22, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 044, Loop ELK RUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 31, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 066, Loop BUFFALO GROVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 18, Loop JUNI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 035, Loop ELK RUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 078, Loop RINGTAIL CAT, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 039, Loop ELK RUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 050, Loop ELK RUN, Type Standard Nonelectric
