(Truth or Consequences NM)
Below the Elephant Butte Dam is a small recreation area along the Río Grande that has hiking, picnicking, camping, tubing, and fishing. At one time, a fishery was there, but it is now abandoned.
A path by the water is mostly packed dirt and gravel with a couple of wooden boardwalks over drainages. Lots of desert vegetation like brush, cacti, and plenty of trees that provide shade. The trail loops away from the river to return below cliffs where there is a small intermittent wetlands.
On the far side of the river are hills that are pretty rugged. It includes many trails popular for hiking, some leading to a smaller dirt dam and cove within the state park. Also, over there is a spillway. One needs to be careful by the river as it moves swiftly below the dam.
The Paseo del Río Campground, run by the Bureau of Reclamation, contains dry-camping shelters, and a bathhouse. However, it was closed at this time. No cell signal gets into this deep canyon.
Although it was a hot day, I saw several people enjoying themselves walking, fishing, or wading in the water.
Camp: Friend’s Place
Scene: Path, river, dam
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