Abiquiu Lake is a strikingly beautiful reservoir in the red-rock country of northern New Mexico – a 5,200-acre lake on the Rio Chama set amid the painted mesas that Georgia O’Keeffe made famous. With bass, walleye, kokanee and trout in deep blue water beneath the flat-topped Cerro Pedernal, it pairs good fishing and boating with some of the most photogenic scenery in the state.
This guide covers Abiquiu Lake: the fishing, the boating and O’Keeffe country, and access. It’s part of our growing New Mexico Lakes Database.
Abiquiu Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~5,200 acres on the Rio Chama
- Location: Rio Arriba County, northern New Mexico (near Abiquiú & Española)
- Built: Abiquiu Dam, completed 1963 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
- Top fish: smallmouth & largemouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, crappie, kokanee, trout
O’Keeffe country
Abiquiu Lake sits in the heart of the landscape that Georgia O’Keeffe painted for decades – red and ochre cliffs, the broad Chama valley, and the unmistakable flat-topped Cerro Pedernal, the mesa she loved so much she joked it was hers “if she painted it enough.” Nearby Ghost Ranch and the white badlands of Plaza Blanca add to a setting that’s as much an art pilgrimage as a lake trip. The light and color here are extraordinary.
Fishing Abiquiu Lake
The deep, clear reservoir is a varied fishery: smallmouth and largemouth bass on the rocky shorelines, walleye in the depths, plus channel catfish, crappie, kokanee salmon and seasonally stocked trout. A New Mexico fishing license is required. The canyon walls and rocky points hold fish, and the high-desert setting makes for memorable days on the water.
Boating and recreation
A Corps recreation area provides a marina, boat ramp, campground and a swimming beach, supporting boating, sailing, paddling, swimming and fishing. The lake is popular with powerboaters and sailors alike, and the dramatic scenery makes even a slow cruise spectacular. Below the dam, the Rio Chama is a noted whitewater and float-fishing river.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Abiquiu Lake is near the village of Abiquiú off US-84, about 1 hour northwest of Santa Fe. Ghost Ranch, the Georgia O’Keeffe home and studio, and the Chama River canyon are all nearby.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: a New Mexico license is required.
- Check the level: a Corps reservoir – confirm ramp access before trailering a boat.
- Best seasons: spring through fall for fishing and boating; the scenery is stunning year-round.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Abiquiu Lake?
Smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, crappie, kokanee salmon and seasonally stocked trout.
Is Abiquiu Lake near Georgia O’Keeffe’s home?
Yes – it’s in the red-rock country O’Keeffe painted, near Ghost Ranch, her Abiquiú home, and the flat-topped Cerro Pedernal she made famous.
Where is Abiquiu Lake?
Near the village of Abiquiú in Rio Arriba County, northern New Mexico, off US-84 about an hour northwest of Santa Fe.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in New Mexico, or head back to the New Mexico Lakes Database.
Explore more New Mexico lakes: the largest lakes in New Mexico and the deepest lakes in New Mexico.
