New MexicoReservoirSierra County

Elephant Butte Reservoir

Fed by the Rio Grande, Elephant Butte Reservoir holds roughly 36,500 acres of water in New Mexico. You will find it in Sierra County. Management is in the hands of NM EMNRD State Parks Division. This guide maps 1 named swimming spot around its shoreline.

Photo: Project Apollo Archive · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

CountiesSierra County

Coordinates33.1540, -107.1921

Surface area36,500 acres

RiverRio Grande

Managed byNM EMNRD State Parks Division

Swimming beaches on Elephant Butte Reservoir

1 named swimming spot and shoreline access points, from USGS GNIS, Recreation.gov and the Forest Service. None is staffed by a lifeguard unless the operating agency posts one.

Elephant Butte Reservoir

Lions Beach

Sierra County; 3.0 mi from the lake center.

USGS GNISSwimming

Elephant Butte Reservoir on the map

Lake center, swimming spots and access points.

Get directions

Weather and water temperature

Air temperature and wind from Open-Meteo. Water temperature only when the lake has a public sensor.

Weather data by Open-Meteo

Elephant Butte Reservoir: beaches, ramps and water level

Elephant Butte Reservoir sits at 33.1540, -107.1921. Outflow feeds the Rio Grande. Surface elevation is about 4,414 feet.

Public access at Elephant Butte Reservoir covers 1 named swimming spot. These come from USGS GNIS. Lions Beach are on the list. None is staffed by a lifeguard unless the managing agency posts one.

Swimming season in New Mexico runs through the warm months, and day-use areas set their own opening dates. Water temperature is not measured at this lake by any public agency we read. Freshwater advisories are issued locally, so check the state health department before you swim.

Local marinas and park offices usually know the current state of the water better than any feed. Water level is missing from this page on purpose: no public feed covers Elephant Butte Reservoir.

The closest lakes in this guide are Caballo Lake (New Mexico, 17 mi), Lyman Lake (Arizona, 151 mi) and Bluewater Lake (New Mexico, 157 mi). New Mexico has 16 lakes on this site in total.

Questions about Elephant Butte Reservoir

Can you swim in Elephant Butte Reservoir?

Yes. This guide maps 1 named swimming spot around the lake, including Lions Beach. None is staffed by a lifeguard unless the operating agency posts one.

How big is Elephant Butte Reservoir?

About 36,500 acres.

What other lakes are near Elephant Butte Reservoir?

The closest in this guide is Caballo Lake, about 17 miles away in New Mexico.