Fenton Lake State Park, New Mexico: August 2007

We met our friends, Ann and Lyn, at Fenton Lake State Park for a three day camping trip. Ann and Lynn pull a beautiful 25' Airstream with their two dogs, Peach and Casey. The State Park is high up in the Jemez Mountains about 115 miles from Santa Fe. We chose to drive to the state park by dropping down on I25 to Bernallio and then moving west on 550 and then north on Rt. 4 to the park. We avoided going through Los Alamos and taking Rt. 4 that way because Paula has a major fear of mountain passes with endless switchbacks and no guardrails. It is a spectacular drive we are told but our alternate route was pretty special once out of the Jemez Pueblo area going north on Rt. 4.

The State Park has five hook up sites and many dry camping sites. Of those five hookups I would not recommend site 1 or 2. They are right on top of one another. The other sites -- 3, 4, and 5 -- offer some space between them. When we were there the park was quiet and lightly attended. We can imagine that it is packed during high season. I would opt for the dry camping sites the next time we camp there. And we will camp there again. Those sites are spread out among the pines, are fingered with hiking trails and sit close to a small babbling stream. The downside for some campers could be the large number of cows in the campground. New Mexico is free range country and cattle do lumber throughout the park. The area is set on a small fishing lake with views of alpine covered mountains (unfortunately the mountains are scarred in places from a two year old fire). There are many hiking trails within the park and the area outside the park is loaded with more hiking opportunities.

We had five dogs between Ann and Lyn and Julie and myself. Only two -- Peach and Lola -- got along. They are running sisters. Julie and I decided that our next long trip in October would include only one of our three dogs. Reno, the old girl, gets to go. Our rig, a Winnebago View, cannot handle two adults and three large dogs for more than two camping nights.