Would you like to visit one of the clearest lakes in New Mexico? In this vast and rugged land, there are plenty of hiking trails. Whether you are looking for a quick trek to pass a lazy afternoon or a grueling backpacking trip, you can find it all in this enchanting landscape. If the latter option sounds like an adventure right up your alley, you’ll want to make the trek to Lake Katherine in New Mexico. The Lake Katherine hike is a difficult one that’s quite challenging, but we think the views are worth the effort!

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Check out this amazing footage from Lake Katherine in New Mexico:

Are your bags packed yet? If you go, be sure to follow the Leave No Trace principles on your Lake Katherine hike in New Mexico to help preserve the wilderness for future generations. Keep in mind that camping sites and campfires must be located at least 200 feet from the lake.

Looking for a hike that is just a little less daunting? Round up the kiddos and head to Two Rivers Park in Ruidoso for an easy hike in New Mexico that the whole family can enjoy.

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More to Explore

lake katherine in new mexico

Where is another one of the clearest lakes in New Mexico?
Navajo Lake is hidden in Navajo Dam sitting in Navajo Lake State Park in the northwestern part of New Mexico. The lake, a part of the Colorado River Storage Project, manages the upper areas of the San Juan River competing with the lake's clear, blue beauty. Its job is to store and release water locally used for irrigation or eventually reaching the Colorado River in Utah. This world-class fishing area offers trails and camping.

Where is one of the best swimming spots in New Mexico?
Abiquiú Lake offers some of the happiest summertime fun in New Mexico. This U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-managed lake offers a swim beach, recreation areas, and a campground. The 5,200-surface-acre reservoir also offers some of the finest fishing in northern New Mexico and scenery, such as the Cerro Pedernal and colorful rock formations including Juniper, Sage, and Pinon. And for you fossil hunters out there, it is possible to find 200-million-year-old reptile fossils.

Where is one of the best museums in New Mexico?
Explore the fascinating life and what inspired this artist at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe. Being one of the most impactful 20th-century artists, O’Keeffe contributed significantly to modern art. Born on Nov. 15, 1887, O’Keeffe grew up near Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and studied at the Art Students League in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago. Art dealer and famous photographer Alfred Stieglitz, who later married O'Keefe, was the first to exhibit her work in 1916. In the summer of 1929, O’Keeffe made a decision that changed the direction of her art to take a trip to northern New Mexico. Inspired by the stark landscape and Hispanic and Native American cultures, this is where the artist spent most summers for the next two decades. So in love, she eventually made New Mexico her home in 1949.

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