Bottomless Lakes State Park Campground Review

The Full Review

Bottomless Lakes nearly broke our connectivity addiction. For four nights, we had virtually no cell signal, no Wi-Fi, and no way to stream anything. What we had instead was a series of crystal-blue sinkholes set against red desert cliffs, coyote serenades at sunset, and skies so dark the Milky Way looked like someone had spilled paint across the heavens.

The park sits about 14 miles southeast of Roswell on a dead-end road through open desert. It protects nine sinkholes, natural collapsed limestone formations filled with clear, cold water that appears bottomless because of how the light plays on the depth. The largest, Lea Lake, is the only one where swimming is allowed, and it is the centerpiece of the campground area.

Site & Setup 12/20

The Lea Lake campground has about 30 sites, a mix of pull-throughs and back-ins, with electric and water hookups. No sewer at the sites. The pads are gravel and mostly level, though some on the slope need blocks. Spacing is generous. You can set up camp without being on top of your neighbor. The setting compensates for any infrastructure shortcomings. Your view is red cliffs and desert sky. The hookups are functional but basic, state park grade. Our 50-amp worked but the pedestal was older.

Connectivity 5/20

Connectivity is essentially zero. T-Mobile registered one bar intermittently. Starlink had some success but was inconsistent, likely due to the canyon-like terrain around the lakes. There is no park Wi-Fi. There is no cell signal worth mentioning. If you need to be connected, do it in Roswell before driving out. We treated the four nights as a hard digital detox and the kids did not miss it for a second. The adults adjusted after about 24 hours.

Offspring & Family 10/15

Lea Lake is the activity. The water is startlingly clear and cold, even in December. Swimming is allowed in season with a beach entry area. In winter, the kids explored the shoreline, climbed the trails to the overlook, and spent hours dropping rocks into the water and watching the ripples against the turquoise color. There is a small playground near the campground. The visitor center has interpretive displays about the geology. The junior ranger program is well-designed.

The hiking trail that connects all nine sinkholes is about 3 miles and manageable for all three kids, though Liam needed to be carried for the last quarter mile.

Unity & Community 6/10

The park was lightly occupied during our December visit. We shared the campground with maybe five other rigs. Interactions were brief but friendly. The ranger was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the geology. This is not a social park. It is a place where people come to be in nature. The silence at night is profound.

Territory & Location 18/15

The scenery is the story. These sinkholes are geological wonders. The water color ranges from emerald to turquoise depending on the light, set against red sandstone and white gypsum cliffs. It looks like something from Utah or Iceland, not the flat desert you expect around Roswell. Everything else, groceries, gas, restaurants, is 14 miles back in Roswell. Stock up before coming out.

The sunset views from the upper trails are among the best we have seen anywhere in the Southwest. The sky turns colors that do not seem real.

Essentials & Facilities 8/10

The bathhouse at Lea Lake campground is decent state park fare. Clean, hot water works, individual stalls. The flush toilets are a welcome upgrade from the vault toilets elsewhere in the park. There are no laundry facilities. The day-use area near Lea Lake has picnic shelters and a swim beach. The dump station is near the campground entrance.

Dollars & Value 14/10

New Mexico State Parks charge $14 per night for an electric/water site with an annual permit, or about $18 without. This is some of the cheapest hookup camping in the country. For the geological spectacle you get access to, the value is extraordinary. The day-use fee is $5 per vehicle. There are no hidden fees, no Wi-Fi surcharges, no resort extras. Just cheap, beautiful camping.

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