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Cochiti Lake east side open again
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COCHITI — Cochiti Lake along the Rio Grande is one of the closest places to Albuquerque for a quick water adventure. And in the desert Southwest, water adventures are few and far between.
The lake is about halfway between Santa Fe and Albuquerque just west of Interstate 25; watch for the brown recreation signs. Cochiti Dam is one of the 10 largest earthfill dams in the U.S., according to recreation.gov.
“It is one of the four units for flood and sediment control on the Rio Grande, operating in conjunction with Galisteo, Jemez Canyon and Abiquiú Dams,” it says.
And it has two sides to enjoy.
On the west side near the village of Cochiti, the recreation area includes a campground with hookups, a visitor’s center, an overlook of the lake, hiking trails, a boat ramp and a swimming beach. Fishing is allowed with a New Mexico fishing license.
Dogs are not allowed at the swimming beach but can take a quick dip and drink near the boat ramp and fishing area. From time-to-time, algae develops on the lake, especially in warmer months, so keep pets and children away from this slimy, green killer, park signs say.
On the east side sits the Tetilla Peak Recreation Area. It includes a campground and dirt road access directly to the water. Tetilla Peak Recreation Area opened for the season on April 15 after a winter closure. Dogs are allowed on the beaches in this area.
Tetilla is currently experiencing a water outage.
“Please bring all the water you’ll need for your visit, including drinking water,” according to the Army Corps of Engineers website.
Each recreation area has a boat ramp for launching.
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Same day, drive-up camping paid by cash is not available. Daily recreation permits can be bought at the entrance to the park for $5, but only using a credit or debit card. Campers must make reservations at recreation.gov and usable cellphone reception, especially from the lake overlook, means if spots are available, reservations may be made on site. Sites are $20, plus fees, for electric and $15 for standard sites with a covered picnic table and fire ring.
There are no fire restrictions in effect but wood fires are not allowed at any time.
The campgrounds are run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which administers the dam and its water release.
Cochiti Lake is less than 50 miles from Albuquerque, but the roads lead through the Pueblo de Cochiti lands. Be sure to follow speed limits as the road drops from 55 mph to less than 30 mph in some spots, and pueblo police stand by to enforce the limits on people in a rush to get to the lake.
The recreation area is surrounded by the Pueblo de Cochiti. There’s no longer access to the Dome Wilderness, U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management roads, or other spots from the Cochiti Highway. That means you can’t park along the highway and hike into the wilderness. The Cochiti Golf Course along the highway offers fantastic views of the Dome Wilderness while playing golf or eating in the restaurant, but the Cochiti Highway dead-ends just past the golf course. Gates and signs from the pueblo warn people against trespassing on tribal lands.
The Dixon Apple Orchard was in this area from the 1940s, but after fires and floods the land was returned to the Pueblo de Cochiti in 2016. The public cannot access the spillway below the dam in Peña Blanca. Fishermen used to congregate below the dam until the 9/11 attacks led to new federal guidelines with the Dam Safety and Security Act of 2002. Fences now block this area from public use.
In May 2023, parts of the picnic grounds and boat ramp flooded, according to reports in the Journal, but all areas have been restored.
It is a no wake lake, which means your flotation vessel must go as slow as possible while still maintaining steering control. No alcohol is allowed, so leave your alcohol at home and fill your coolers with picnics and soft drinks.
