Hiking at Bluewater Lake State Park, New Mexico

There are two units of Bluewater Lake State Park, Las Tusas, which is tent and primitive camping on the west side of the lake and Stoneridge which has primitive sites, tent sites,improved sites and electric sites on the east side of the lake.  Water was available throughout the campground, but none at any sites. Bob and I were in Stoneridge at an improved site (no water or electric, but a picnic table and firepit/grill). Not far from our site was one of the trailheads for Canyonside Trail.

 This trail followed switchbacks down the side of the canyon to Bluewater Creek.

 We chose to change trails after we crossed the creek on the rocks and log.

 Dam Trail went south along the creek almost all the way to the dam which forms Bluewater Lake.

 Water was pouring from this pipe in the dam. The ground was a bit too soggy for us to get too close to the dam or for us to cross the creek to get two geocaches hidden on the opposite shore.

In many places you couldn't see the water for the reeds, but you could hear it as it moved downstream.

 We retraced our steps to the log where we left Canyonside Trail and continued north on that trail. Once again we had to cross the creek. This time it was on well-placed rocks.

 Once across the creek, we were in the midst of birds flying every which way, building their nests on the canyon wall. As long as Bob and I were still, they didn't mind us watching them work.

However, when my phone made noises after I took this video, they came swooping at us from all directions!

We finished our hike by finding the cache located near the creek at the edge of the park. From there we walked through Canyonside Campground and back to Sol.

Later in the day we hiked Dam Overlook Trail. It gave us a good view of the dam.

                                     

 At one time there was a building above the dam. Bob and I couldn't decide if it was a house or an office.

Bob and I enjoyed our time at Bluewater Lake State Park, but it was time to move a little further east. Our next stop was a place we stayed once before--Santa Rosa Lake State Park, New Mexico.