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page 30<br />
Mountains & <strong>Mesas</strong><br />
Water, water,<br />
everywhere<br />
by Colette M. Armijo, Tom Macedo,<br />
and Paula M. Manini<br />
Our tricounty area may seem dry at first, but<br />
look again and you’ll find multiple lakes, each<br />
<strong>with</strong> different associated trails and activities,<br />
around out entire area.<br />
Starting in Colfax County, anyone interested<br />
in lake-centric activities should check out Vermejo<br />
Park.<br />
Located 40 miles west of Raton on Highway<br />
555, Vermejo Park boasts a variety of forestry and<br />
wildlife programs, twenty one lakes, and over 30<br />
miles of fishable stream. The park also has hiking<br />
trails, horseback riding, skeet and sporting clay<br />
shooting, wildlife viewing and birding, pre-history<br />
and historic site visits, photo tours, geological/botanical<br />
tours, and more. It is definitely<br />
worth a stop.<br />
Lake Maloya, 10 miles northeast of Raton, is<br />
another excellent place to visit. From Raton, take<br />
NM 72 E heading east for about five miles, then<br />
veer left onto NM 526 E for another five miles. The<br />
lake does not allow gasoline motors, so it is popular<br />
for sailing, flat water kayaking, and canoeing.<br />
Fishing is allowed, but swimming is not. There<br />
are places to picnic and hike. On New Year’s Day,<br />
residents of Raton gather at the South Boat Ramp<br />
at Lake Maloya for the Polar Bear Plunge, followed<br />
by snow bowling, ice-skating, sledding, and<br />
more. On your way up to Lake Maloya, stop off<br />
at Lake Alice (it will be on the same road) for more<br />
fishing and campsites. Boats <strong>with</strong> gasoline motors<br />
are allowed on Lake Alice.<br />
Both lakes are located <strong>with</strong>in the Sugarite<br />
Canyon State Park, managed by New Mexico State<br />
Parks. For more information, call 505-445-5607 or<br />
visit www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/. You can also<br />
Lake Maloya, in Sugarite State Park
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