Santa Rosa Lake

Santa Rosa State Park can be found about a half dozen miles north of the town of Santa Rosa, which is a neat little place alongside Route 66. The Corps of Engineers built a dam on the Pecos River and even the sign has that COE look.

So lets start off by taking a look at the dam and the adjacent four lane boat ramp. There is a nifty look out spot as well.

Directly across the lake from the ramp yields these views.

Just to the left of the photo above is a small dock at the day use area next to the Juniper Park campground

A pontoon boat headed out for some fun.

Might as well take a look at the three camping areas next.

Rocky Point is the main area with two loops, one having electricity. The restroom is blessed with warm showers and an adjacent playground for the kiddos.

So loop A at Rocky Point has about two dozen sites with power. Half can be reserved and seven have 50 amps. Loop B has 27 sites with water nearby. Freddy will take us on a walk through both loops. Our site is just behind the tree above his head.

Yep, those are sunrises. Great views from the campground. As much as Freddy likes other dogs, he loves kids. We came across this group having fun.

Don't think they should have a rope stretched across the road so the pup went and talked to them.

Juniper Park is across the dam and offers 26 campsites and a group area.

If you accidentally packed a horse along with your tent fear not! The Los Tanos area has you covered.

Your horse can hang out in the corral.

Excuse me a sec.

"Freddy, get out of the picture!"

As the sign says, this is primitive camping.

So just lay your bedroll by the fire and use your saddle as a pillow. The stars shine bright.

Back at Rocky Point campground loop B, there is a trail that leaves next to site 3 and goes down by the lake and ends back at site 18.

Head towards the lake from site B3 a bit and you will see this sign. (Missing a Y)

Then head north on a beautiful trail. Don't wear flip flops as some parts are rocky but it is mostly a level easy hike.

You might even see some deer.

At the end of the loop trail back at site B18 you will find this sign.

We recommend walking it in the direction we did if you do it in the early morning because the sun will be directly in your eyes most of the time otherwise

The views of the lake from the trail are wonderful. This was my favorite spot. As you can tell, lol.

Now Freddy loves the water. So we hiked a ways and found a secluded cove where he could be a Royal Canadian Water Dog. He hates the name Goldendoodle. I think that as long as he has a tennis ball you can call him anything you want.

Here he is in his natural habitat.

A bass fisherman came by and we watched him pull in a little fish.

Freddy likes meeting new dogs...

...but was very confused by what we found here. They were all yapping away at full volume.

"Greg, what the heck are those?"

"Those are yappy dogs. Normally you only hear them barking from inside a trailer or RV.'

"Oh, so that is what they look like. I always wondered. You know, if you smooshed them all together, you would get one good sized dog. Then I could play with it."

I had no response. Sometimes it's hard to follow his thinking.

Regards,
Greg and Freddy