Ep. 333: New Mexico Beach Boondocking | RV travel camping kayaking history Elephant Butte
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Elephant Butte Reservoir, 40 miles long with more than 200 miles of shoreline, is popular for boating, fishing, camping and other waterside and waterborne recreation. Much of the land surrounding the lake comprises Elephant Butte Lake State Park, the largest in New Mexico, where you can boondock, or dispersed camp in your RV, tent or boat in many areas, including on some of the long, sandy beaches along the shoreline. We love beach boondocking, so that's exactly what we've done at an elevation of 4,527 feet while visiting the area to soak in the hot springs of Truth or Consequences, do some kayaking right from camp, explore the history of the Jornada del Muerto at Fort Craig Historic Site, and grab a killer chile cheeseburger in the chile pepper capital of the world of Hatch.
Filmed: October 15-21, 2023
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:48 The drive
2:22 Elephant Butte Dam
3:22 Elephant Butte Lake State Park camping
7:57 Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
10:19 Elephant Butte kayaking
14:10 Fort Craig Historic Site
17:51 Hatch, New Mexico
20:42 Wrap-up and what's next
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Our campsite maps.app.goo.g...
Elephant Butte Lake State Park www.emnrd.nm.g...
Truth or Consequences sierracountyne...
Fort Craig Historic Site www.blm.gov/vi...
Sparky's in Hatch, New Mexico sparkysburgers...
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#rv #travel #camping #elephantbutte #newmexico #boondocking #rvlife #rvliving #rvlifestyle #rvcamping #fortcraig #hatchnm #newmexicotrue
Mark - thanks again for digging in deep & helping us to learn more about areas of the country we all to often just drive past. I grew up in southern Arizona, Sierra Vista, and have driven by Elephant Butte Lake and many of the areas you highlighted on this episode- Wow, you taught me so many things! I sure appreciate your work. Keep it up!
Thanks as always, Jim! We had a blast at Elephant Butte -- so much to offer, plus we got to enjoy it with old friends.
So much to see around elephant Butte lake. Living in Truth or consequences for years you can be on the water 30 minutes to the mountains hour away from white sands. That's for bring back good memories.
We're happy to have brought you back, Dave. Thanks for watching!
Great Grand Adventure , Mark. I am so glad to be catching up on your travels. Pam really enjoyed Zoey's swim. Thanks for being here.
And thank you for coming along, Dennis!
Great episode Mark.
Thank you Richard!
Good job!
@@AB-kg6rk Thank you, and thanks so much for watching!
Awesome video
Thanks as always, Deb!
Another "Grand" one! I grew up down that way.
Thank you Thom!
.. another new learning to be added and another story to be remembered from GREAT Adventure...
Thank you!
I love Sparky’s 🍔🫛
There's much to love about Sparky's.
Great Video! You keep giving me ideas!
That's what we're here for, Kenneth. Thanks so much for watching!
Nice video!
Thank you Eddie!
we will be heading that way in the spring,
Enjoy, Theodore!
Love the show.....the best rv show by far....what I want to see....thankyou
@@DofesMcgillicutty Thank you so very much!
Glad you and your doggy enjoyed the Butte 😊👍 !
Thank you Marc! We all certainly did.
I really enjoy all the info you have to offer Mark, thank you.
Thanks Wayne!
GBH!
Lots of them.
Love Hatch chilies, but I think I've said that before 😅 I really enjoyed this episode!!
Thank you Jesi, we're happy to hear that!
I once hauled a load of chile peppers from St. Louis to Hatch. Found it amusing that I was importing Chile peppers to the Chile capitol.
Yes Dave, that sure seems odd!
I’m visiting my son and his family in Rhode Island and my daughter in law has a jar of pickled jalapeño she grew from young plants
Great episode Marc! Thanks for sharing your adventures and always taking the time to talk about a diverse array of activities from boating, hiking, bird watching, historical sites, and of course, restaurants (and more)! Safe travels!
Thank you as always, Renee, and wishing you safe travels as well.
My introduction to New Mexico has been nothing short of horrible. Killed 2 gopros traveling both ways from and to florida. 2 flat tires (1 on motorhome and 1 on car hauler trailer), 1 cracked windshield, 12 hours stuck on side of I-40 in Albuquerque. Horrible rain and wind both ways but what NM does in the inhospitable department, it more than redeems itself in places where its just beautiful.
I have watched a lot of videos on the state and would really love to come back. You were absolutely right about needing 3 days to get there... when you drive 250 miles and stop... there is nothing.. and so you drive another 250 miles and there is nothing and so you drive another 250 miles and there is a town of 3 and 2 people no longer live there... lol.
That description certainly describes the TX Panhandle. Palo Duro Canyon is a hidden gem out there, as is Lake Meredith and the Caprock. Other than that -- nothin'.
My gosh, what a NM nightmare you had!
Thanks for the video Marc! I've put Hatch on my list to visit in February
You're so very welcome! To be honest there's not much to Hatch itself; however, Las Cruces isn't very far away from there in one direction, and Elephant Butte in the other.
Well Marc... you almost made it to the Gulf this year!😂
Gord
As a family we would go from Northern Wisconsin to Southern New Mexico almost every year. This is one of the places we stopped by when I was just a youngster. All around that area is pretty awesome...Ruidoso, City of Rocks, The Gila, etc. Thanks for another awesome episode.
It sure is, Nigel. Thanks so much as always!
Enjoyed that place as a young man .Great job my friend
Thank you Carl!
Thanks marc... its another great episode.. another great adventure... hv a safe travel..
Thank you Madel, and safe travels to you as well.
Thanks , love the history and that hamburger sure looked delicious!
Thank you Kay! Make that green chile cheeseburger a must-stop when traveling through Hatch on I-25.
I always manage to hit the Frontier and the Flying Star when I’m in ABQ.
Also, check out the Range Cafe. They have several locations, but the original is in Bernalillo. Dinner to die for.
I’ll have to check those out too. New Mexican cuisine is really special!
We stopped at sparkies on our way back east. That is one of the best burgers ai have ever had. Around the corner was a really cool place full of old things. The owner was great to talk to. Thanks for the vid.
Our pleasure, and we're right there with you on that burger.
How was the hot springs thought of stopping there last year but we didn't
It was nice, Joe, but the private units are pricey and we got yelled at a few times for not whispering. 😁 They're also not natural tubs, but instead are man-made. I've had better experiences elsewhere, but it was definitely a beautiful facility.
Check out the many other hot springs spots TorC offers. Also, so many natural ones all over the state to hike too. Indian springs is the most natural in TorC. Most are fed through pipes from the springs, which you can actually feel the heat in some of the stores. Rumor has it you don’t have to drill too far to hit a hot springs, quite a few people have them in their yards.
Well Marc your beach front camping spot was fabulous, i think Zoey enjoyed it more than anyone. Your history lessons are always interesting, thanks for sharing. Travel safe.
Thank you Gary, thanks for watching, and same to you!
Gotta love New Mexico, so history to see, and some of the best food to taste also. Hopefully we'll get a chance to get out and see some of the places you have shared, thanks Mark.
You're so very welcome, Dave. Thanks so much for watching!
Another great episode. We just missed you in the area as we were in Las Cruces area. We follow you every week and will hope to catch you somewhere next season. Safe travels.
Hope to bump into you somewhere down the road, Jim. Thank you!
What a great spot to camp! That one evening with your friends looked so inviting.
The two towns looked good to explore.
Does Zoe ever try to swim out to you when you are in your kayak?
I can’t imagine being stationed out there at Fort Craig. Middle of nowhere.
Thanks for sharing this great video!
Ram
👍🏼👍🏾
Thanks Ram! Zoe has never tried to swim out to me, but if you remember Maggie our golden retriever mix, she did. After we rescued her, Maggie always had to be next to me. She was also very protective of me. I was tent camping with a buddy by remote Alexander Lake up in the Uinta Mountains of NE Utah. Oddly enough, by complete chance we bumped into another guy I know at the same remote lake with some of his friends. We decided to all camp together.
I went kayaking. I paddled about a half mile across the lake, turned around and saw Maggie swimming after me, a couple of hundred feet behind. I used the boat to direct her back to camp and leashed her. I told the other guys that once I was out of sight around the corner, it would be OK to unleash her. I went back out onto the lake, turned the corner, turned around...and there she was again! The guys had followed my instructions, but once let off the leash she immediately headed out in the direction I was last seen by her.
@@GrandAdventure WOW!
CHEERS Marc loved the vid I lived in Alamogordo for about 20 years loved the Bute and noting better than Hatch chilies still try and get some today.
I didn't realize that you lived in Alamogordo, Norm. This was our first time in Elephant Butte and we had a wonderful stay. See you soon!
Marc...I WANT YOUR LIFE!!! Lol
Thank you Brenda! It's not all rainbows and puppy kisses, but it works out well sometimes.
Great video Marc. this video brings back sooooo many memories. Our fishing partner, has great blue herons come in his back yard, and steal the Koi in his pond. He had to purchase a motion sensor, that would spray water in direction of the movement. It took him a couple weeks, to remember to stop going outside at night. 🤦♀️
Tracy, that's hilarious! Happy that we could bring you back. See ya soon!
Lived in torc & elephant butte & at the state park campground on the lake. TorC has some great music at the brewery, as does sparkys in Hatch, check out the Gila, Ruidoso & also silver city. Oh and Jemez too.
We've added Jemez to the list, but we've done Gila and Silver City ua-cam.com/video/HkbYCBrw4i8/v-deo.html as well as Ruidoso ua-cam.com/video/nWDgepkyt1E/v-deo.html and enjoyed both. Thank you!
Wow, you and your group, sure wasn't short with dinner on the beach of NM. Nice and quiet week. Thanks Don
😆 Frank's a grillmaster, and we love to eat.
The scenes and gorgeous sights in your camping vlog were stunning. Now I'm inspired to plan camping for my birthday next month. Your vlogging style adds a special touch. Like and support from Bangalore.
Thank you very much!!
My dad lives in Williamsburg, NM literally 10 mins from elephant butte! I grew up at that lake, it’s dropped so much from when I was little😢The green chile milkshakes at sparkys are yummy!
We somehow missed those green chile milkshakes! Hopefully the water levels will return some day.
Neat place, Marc. I found the reservoir interesting and peaceful. But I could tell by the murky water that it was sand mixed with mud by the shore.
I never knew the story about the town of 'Truth Or Consequences'. That was interesting.
Incidentally, you can't get out of the kayak until you first throw the ball. That's an order, according to Zoe.😅
Gord
And Zoe makes the rules.
The lake water was just a little cloudy with suspended sediment, but not too milky. That's the case with many desert lakes as a lot of silt washes in.
@@GrandAdventure I believe you right, Marc. Yeah, it wasn't too murky... just a little.
What was the deal with that tree growing out in the middle the lake? 😳
Gord
@@gorrdd I honestly couldn't figure that out because the water level is low, not high. And it wasn't the only one, either. In another spot there was actually a full-on grove of trees.
@@GrandAdventure They must be a species that has adapted to the water. It would be interesting to know what they are for future reference. Thanks for all your sharing, Marc.
Gord
Have you ever been to the Brazos or Chama area of NM?
@@garyrafferty7625 no we haven't, but it's been on our list for years.
That area looks like an interesting place to camp. I am planning to be in New Mexico in April next year. I wonder what the weather is like in April?
I would think that time of year would be close to ideal.
As a long-time visitor to Elephant Butte, I can tell you that the weather in April can vary a lot, especially in early April. Late April and May can be really nice before the crowds start the week before Memorial Day. Keep your eye on the forecast. It can be as nice as you saw in this video, but can also dip below freezing at night in early April (but unlikely). The worst problem is the typical Spring winds, which can become fierce. As the lake has been low for decades nows, there is a lot of sandy beaches. If it has been dry for a few days, the winds will kick up that sand and ruin your day. However, there should be very little traffic during April, so it should be serene. Chances are that it will be very nice and comfortable, but watch the wind forecast more than the temperature. If it does turn windy, plan to head into T or C for the day and browse the downtown area.
@@joeluehring4676 thanks for providing that feedback!
My sisters family in the 70's lived on a hill across the highway from that lake. Her husband worked in T or C. Also how in the world do your friends manage 3 big dogs in that truck camper??
They lived in a beautiful spot, Sheron. Don't know how they all fit in that truck camper, but those friends are dedicated to canine rescue and love those dogs intensely. I'm sure that's how they make it work.
My sister had a German shepherd while living there. Plenty of stories about that dog (captain) and their 2 young boys' antics. Good times. 😊
New Mexico is my favorite state.
What made the burger great the beef or the green Chili? How was the kayaking on the lake? Shallow or deep away from the shore? Doggie was great- here’s the ball throw it NOW
Both actually, Thomas. The beef was top notch and cooked rare to order, the way I like it. The cheese was perfectly gooey and oh, the flavor of those chiles!
The lake was shallow for a very long distance from shore. I had to stay further out just to keep my paddle blade from bottoming out.
@@GrandAdventure found the footage from the kayakers that did Palouse falls
Just a simple drop…..Not!
ua-cam.com/video/Q4Q2NzAOx9k/v-deo.htmlsi=4R-Kfj1wiZCVzk7f
Another "Grand" video.
Thank you William!
We spent a few days at Elephant Butte in the Fall of 2016. Lovely area except for the flies that came out at sunset. Did you experience that?
Thankfully not while we were there, Gerry.
Lots of dangerous broken glass in the sand/water... hopefully the pups don't step on glass. People have told me they saw rattle snakes in the sand but I've never seen one there.
We fortunately saw neither, Mike, broken glass or rattlers.
That's great, I guess they cleaned up all the glass. I love it out there, probably will head out that way in a few weeks. Safe and happy travels to you.@@GrandAdventure
@@Hiker_Mike Thank you Mike, and same to you!
Great video! Now that New Mexico has regained their sanity and gotten past their covid mask hysteria it's a place worth exploring.
We have been avoiding it for a couple of years, but this year we had some great adventures to Anthony, Las Cruces and White Sands NP.
Looking forward to our travels in NM next year!
Thank you Alan! Funny that you mention that, for we spent the lockdown year 2020 aiming from state to state to the least locked-down ones.
Any tips/advice on not getting stuck in the sand at Elephant Butte, or anywhere else, when lake boondocking? I travel/camp/kayak by myself and am fearful of getting stuck in the sand all alone.
Walk it first. Figure out where you want to set up, then plot a course over firmer sand. If in doubt, air down your tow vehicle tires to around 18-20 psi -- that'll make them float on top of the sand more than sink in -- but be sure to air back up when you get back out to pavement.
While beach docking have you ever seen sand fleas? We had a bad experience with beach camping that involved fleas living in the beach sand.
We've seen them, but not here or anywhere else we've boondocked, for that matter.
My moth is watering over those peppers. MMM...
Mine sure was, Larry.
8$ per night is not!!! Boondocking
Au contraire. Boondocking is camping on public land outside of an established campground or campsite without hookups. The fact that the land manager charges a small permit fee takes nothing away from that.
Boondocking is not paying to sleep, it means sleeping free.
You and I will disagree on that. For us, boondocking means camping on public land outside of an established campground. There are many, many situations where permit fees are required to dispersed camp on public land.