Santa Rosa Lake is a walleye-and-bass reservoir on the Pecos River in east-central New Mexico – a 3,800-acre lake in a dramatic canyon setting just north of the Route 66 town of Santa Rosa. A state park with camping, boating and good fishing, it’s a high-plains oasis and an easy stop along I-40 between Albuquerque and the Texas line.
This guide covers Santa Rosa Lake: the fishing, the state park, and access. It’s part of our growing New Mexico Lakes Database.
Santa Rosa Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~3,800 acres on the Pecos River
- Location: Guadalupe County, east-central New Mexico (near Santa Rosa)
- Built: Santa Rosa Dam, completed 1980 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
- Top fish: walleye, largemouth & white bass, channel catfish, crappie
Fishing Santa Rosa Lake
Santa Rosa is a solid warmwater fishery: walleye are a prime target, with largemouth and white bass, channel catfish and crappie. A New Mexico fishing license is required. As a Pecos River flood-control reservoir, the lake’s level fluctuates with runoff and irrigation, which can change access and concentrate fish – check conditions before launching. The rocky canyon shoreline and points hold fish through the warm season.
The state park and recreation
Santa Rosa Lake State Park offers campgrounds, boat ramps, a visitor center and trails in the rugged Pecos canyon country, supporting boating, fishing, paddling and camping. The desert-and-mesa scenery and quiet, uncrowded feel make it a pleasant getaway. The town of Santa Rosa, famous for the Blue Hole – a crystal-clear artesian sinkhole popular with scuba divers – is just minutes away.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Santa Rosa Lake is just north of Santa Rosa off I-40 in east-central New Mexico, about 2 hours east of Albuquerque. The Blue Hole, Route 66 attractions and the Pecos River corridor are nearby.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: a New Mexico license is required.
- Fluctuating level: a flood-control reservoir – confirm ramp access before you go.
- Best seasons: spring and fall for walleye and bass; summer for boating and camping.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Santa Rosa Lake?
Walleye, largemouth and white bass, channel catfish and crappie.
Where is Santa Rosa Lake?
Just north of Santa Rosa in Guadalupe County, east-central New Mexico, off I-40, about 2 hours east of Albuquerque.
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.
