The Legends Of The Bottomless Lakes In New Mexico May Send Chills Down Your Spine

Is it possible for a lake to be truly bottomless? That’s the question many visitors at Bottomless Lakes State Park ask, inspired by the supposedly bottomless lakes in New Mexico that lend the park its namesake. This state park, located approximately 14 miles southeast of Roswell, is a favorite destination for individuals of all ages and the oldest state park in the Land of Enchantment. From swimming and scuba diving to hiking and camping, it is an outdoor lover’s paradise. It's definitely a beautiful place to visit, and there's plenty of fun to be had out on the water. However, it is also one place in New Mexico with a long list of legends — each more terrifying and bizarre than the next.

Bottomless Lakes State Park in New Mexico is one state park that you must place on your bucket list. This state park consists of a series of nine sinkholes — not actual lakes.

This New Mexico state park received its name from cowboys who ventured to the area decades ago.

Shortly after discovering the bodies of water, they attempted to measure the depth of the water. They would use long pieces of rope that were tied together as a measuring device. Unfortunately, they were never able to reach the bottom and they claimed these bodies of water were bottomless.

Today, we know these bodies of water are not bottomless. They have a unique color that is created by underwater plants. This blue-green color makes the bodies of water appear to have no end, but these sinkholes actually range between 17 to 90 feet deep.

Despite multiple bodies of water, swimming is only permitted in Lea Lake. This sinkhole is approximately 90 feet deep and has a surface area of 15 acres, so there is plenty of room to enjoy the water.

You can also spend the day at the Lea Lake Day-Use Area that consists of more than two dozen picnic shelters, a playground, beach, sand volleyball court, and more. There are also campgrounds and nearby trails so you can easily enjoy a long getaway at this state park.

However, even with a long list of activities to enjoy, it is the legends of Bottomless Lakes State Park that will leave your heart pounding.

One of the most common legends is about a giant monster turtle who lives in the depths of the water. This turtle apparently roams the bottom of the lake and in the 1980s, one individual even claims to have seen the turtle come to the surface with an enormous brown shell.

Other individuals have claimed to see other unusual and peculiar creatures come to the surface such as a dragon and an octopus man.

Another popular story that is often told is of a horse that fell into one of the lakes but was pulled out of another.

Some stories even claim that objects would fall into one of the bottomless lakes in New Mexico, never to resurface again. However, these items were allegedly later found in the Carlsbad Caverns or the Gulf of Mexico. Pretty bizarre, right?

Take a look at this gorgeous drone footage to get an idea of what the park has to offer.

What do you think? Do you believe any of these legends of Bottomless Lakes State Park in New Mexico? Have you heard of any others? We’d love for you to reach out and share your thoughts!

To learn even more about this state park in the Land of Enchantment, check out our previous article on Bottomless Lakes State Park. And visit our article about Najavo Lake's underwater towns for more fascinating stories about the deepest lakes in New Mexico.