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Cochiti Campground
USACEU.S. Army Corps of Engineers — PENA BLANCA · New Mexico · Cochiti Lake
| Agency | USACEU.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
|---|---|
| Area | Cochiti Lake |
| Location | PENA BLANCA · New Mexico · Cochiti Lake · 35.64167, -106.32500 · Map |
| Sites | 80 public sites counted from the federal listing — 48 standard electric; 32 standard nonelectric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 48 of 80 sites (up to 50 amp where reported) Water hookups at 34 of 80 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 80 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 80 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 50 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 80 sites · 30 ft: 80 sites · 35 ft: 75 sites · 40 ft: 65 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 3:00 PM · Out 2:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 80 sites, as reported |
| Accessible sites | 11 marked accessible in the listing |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | 505-465-2557 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-02-25.
From the official listing
Overview Cochiti Recreation Area is located in Sandoval County, New Mexico, within the boundaries of the Pueblo de Cochiti Indian Reservation.
The lake offers two public recreation areas: Cochiti on the west side of the lake and Tetilla Peak on the east side. Both sides offer spectacular scenic views of the water and surrounding mountains.
The Cochiti Dam is one of the ten largest earth-fill dams in the United States, and also one of the largest in the world. The lake derives its name from the Indian Pueblo on the Cochiti Reservation. Recreation Our quiet lake is an ideal location for all paddle, wind surfing, and sailing craft. The lake is also a popular fishing spot for species such as bass, crappie, walleye, pike, catfish, sunfish and trout.
Cochiti Recreation Area has a popular, family friendly, swim beach Day Use area for public enjoyment. It is a fee area, $5 per vehicle, but the cost is covered by the campsite fee for visitors staying in the campground. Additionally, the Cochiti picnic area has 21 covered picnic sites with a large group site that can be reserved by calling the main office.
Cochiti Day Use Areas are open from April 15th to October 15th. Facilities The campground consists of four loops. Juniper Loop campsites have electric hookups and some have water. Elk Run and Ringtail Loops are non-electric and have community water spigots. All sites in Buffalo Grove Loop have water and electric hookups.
The Cochiti boat ramp is open year-round and is accessible by a paved road. The ramp has four concrete lanes for loading and unloading. Natural Features Cochiti Lake sits at 5,343ft in elevation and is nestled in the foothills of the Jemez Mountains. Our high desert environment is dominated by juniper, pinon trees, and mixed grasslands.
There are many opportunities for wildlife viewing. Four osprey nesting platforms have been erected around the lake to provide nesting sites, as well as viewing opportunities. On the east side of the lake, deer, coyote, river otters, rabbits, beavers, and the occasional bear are often sighted. Nearby Attractions Cochiti Lake is five miles from Tent Rocks National Monument, which has fascinating geological formations.
Directions, from the listing
From Albuquerque, New Mexico, take Interstate 25 north to exit 259. Turn west on State Route 22 and proceed through Pena Blanca to the park office and recreation area.
Nearest federal campgrounds
1 mi straight-line · PENA BLANCA New MexicoNPSNational Park ServiceJuniper Campground (NM)
11 mi straight-line · Los Alamos New MexicoNPSNational Park ServicePonderosa Group Campground (NM)
13 mi straight-line · Los Alamos New MexicoFSU.S. Forest ServicePaliza
17 mi straight-line · Jemez Springs New MexicoFSU.S. Forest ServiceJemez Falls Campground
20 mi straight-line · Jemez Springs New Mexico
Trip Card — Cochiti Campground
PENA BLANCA · New Mexico · Cochiti Lake
| Agency | USACE · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
|---|---|
| Location | PENA BLANCA · New Mexico · Cochiti Lake |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | Electric at 48 |
| Max RV | Up to 50 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 80 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233461 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.