Big Circle – Bottomless Lakes State Park

When I was five years old, my family took a vacation throughout Texas and New Mexico. It was the only vacation we ever took that wasn’t to my grandparents’ in Tennessee or to the east coast of Florida. I have extremely vivid memories of three of the places we went: San Antonio, White Sands and Bottomless Lakes State Park.

This trip gave me an opportunity to revisit two of three (I have been back to San Antonio a number of times, but never have I returned to White Sands or Bottomless Lakes.

Returning after many years

Of the two, my strongest memories are of Bottomless Lakes because I was intrigued (frightened) of the name: I envisioned monsters writhing on the deep, deep bottom. I also remember standing with my dad on the top of a very high (to me) cliff looking down at the lake and at an adjacent swimming pool. 

The lake and the pool pulled from an old family movie

I was entranced by the juxtaposition of the dark blue lake and the aqua swimming pool.

Old postcard

So, after Carlsbad, I headed toward the state park, which is very close to Roswell (I know you think Roswell is the alien capital of New Mexico, but the sign says it’s the dairy capital!).

Who knew?

Established in 1933, Bottomless Lakes was the first state park in New Mexico. It takes its name from nine small, deep lakes located along the eastern escarpment (an ancient limestone reef similar to Carlsbad Caverns) of the Pecos River valley. Caves within the limestone collapsed as the river eroded the escarpment, leaving behind nine deep, almost circular lakes known as cenotes.

Cenote

Most are completely surrounded by cliffs, except Lea Lake and Lazy Lagoon. Lea Lake has a large, sandy shoreline on the western side and tall cliffs on the eastern side and is where a marina, picnic area and campground are located.

Lake

It is also the site of the swimming pool, which was destroyed years ago when a portion of the cliff collapsed and created a mini-tsunami.

Ruins

Lazy Lagoon’s cliff is completely eroded away and I didn’t even realize it was one of the lakes. It looks marshy and shallow (turns out in actual has three sinkholes, one of which is 90 feet deep). I didn't take any pictures of Lazy Lagoon.

Mirror Lake is presumably reflective on days when the wind is blowing (it was windy when I was there).

No reflection today

Devil's Inkwell, the smallest, gets its name from the dark color of the water caused by steep sides and algae growth. 

Devil's Inkwell

Figure Eight Lake is two lakes separated by a thin strip of land that merge when the water is high. Irrigation has lowered the water table, so the two lakes rarely join to form a single lake anymore. Cottonwood gets its name from surrounding trees. Pasture Lake is the shallowest of the lakes. Lost Lake is somewhat isolated by cliffs. 

Distant view

The lakes are not fed by streams, but rather by underground water percolating through the rocks and rain. The evaporation rate in the hot climate exceeds the rate at they refill, so they are brackish water in the summer. Eight of the lakes are in the park. The ninth, Dimmitt Lake, is owned by a hunting and fishing club.

The cliff I remembered was about a third of the height I remembered and you can no longer walk to the edge, but otherwise, it was pretty much as I recalled. 

Wind-surfer

I picnicked at Lea Lake and stuck my feet in the gorgeous clear, refreshing water. 

Aaahhhh

I started to take a stroll around the lake, but was driven back by mosquitoes (yes, I forgot repellent). Still, it was great to see it again after 56 years.

Trip date: September 24-October 7, 2014