Bottomless Lakes is one of the most unusual places in New Mexico – a chain of deep, blue-green sinkhole lakes in the desert east of Roswell, and the state’s very first state park. Formed where underground caverns collapsed, these strikingly clear “cenote” lakes draw swimmers, scuba divers and paddlers to water that early cowboys swore was bottomless.
This guide covers Bottomless Lakes: the geology, the swimming and scuba, the state park, and access. It’s part of our growing New Mexico Lakes Database.
Bottomless Lakes at a glance
- Type: a chain of natural sinkhole (cenote) lakes – New Mexico’s first state park (1933)
- Location: Chaves County, southeast New Mexico (east of Roswell)
- Largest: Lea Lake – the only one open to swimming and scuba diving
- Activities: swimming, scuba diving, paddling, camping; rainbow trout stocked in winter
How the lakes formed
The Bottomless Lakes aren’t reservoirs – they’re natural sinkholes. Over thousands of years, groundwater dissolved the underlying salt and gypsum bedrock until the caverns collapsed, leaving deep, water-filled pits. Their depth and the algae in the water give them a dark blue-green color that fooled early cowboys into thinking they had no bottom – hence the name. The deepest reaches about 90 feet. Reddish bluffs frame the lakes, making for a memorable desert landscape.
Swimming, scuba and recreation
Lea Lake, the largest, is the hub: it’s the only lake in the park open to swimming and scuba diving, with a beach, a bathhouse, kayak and paddleboard rentals, and a campground. The clear, deep water makes it a rare desert scuba-diving spot, and divers and snorkelers explore the sinkhole’s depths. The other lakes are for viewing and birding, with trails connecting the chain. Rainbow trout are stocked in some lakes in winter.
The state park and nearby Roswell
Bottomless Lakes State Park – established in 1933 as New Mexico’s first – offers camping, a visitor center, trails and the Lea Lake recreation area. It’s a quiet desert getaway, and its proximity to Roswell, famous for its 1947 “UFO incident” and alien-themed attractions, makes for a quirky, fun combination.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Bottomless Lakes is about 15 miles east of Roswell off US-380 and NM-409 in southeast New Mexico. Roswell’s UFO Museum and the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge are nearby.
Know before you go
- Swimming/diving: only Lea Lake is open for swimming and scuba; follow posted rules.
- Fishing license: a New Mexico license is required for the stocked trout.
- Desert heat: summers are hot – bring water and sun protection.
Frequently asked questions
Why are they called Bottomless Lakes?
Because their depth and blue-green color made early cowboys believe they had no bottom; they’re actually natural sinkholes, the deepest about 90 feet.
Can you scuba dive at Bottomless Lakes?
Yes – Lea Lake, the largest, is open to swimming and scuba diving, a rare desert dive site with clear, deep water.
Where are the Bottomless Lakes?
About 15 miles east of Roswell in Chaves County, southeast New Mexico – the state’s first state park.
Related: explore the small lakes of 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.
