Safest Lakes to Swim In in New Mexico
19 lakes in New Mexico qualify as safest for swimming, all hold grade A or B and report chlorophyll-a (algae) under 10 µg/L. Always check local advisories on the day you swim.
Ranked List
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nla Lake | San Juan | A | 14.4 ft | 13.9 µg/L | 0.3 µg/L |
| 2 | Nla Lake | San Miguel | A | 2.3 ft | 21.7 µg/L | 2.7 µg/L |
| 3 | Nla Lake | San Miguel | A | 8.2 ft | 17.7 µg/L | 2.6 µg/L |
| 4 | Nla Lake | Colfax | A | 10.5 ft | 24.8 µg/L | 2.4 µg/L |
| 5 | Nla Lake | Colfax | A | 8.2 ft | 23.7 µg/L | 1.9 µg/L |
| 6 | Fenton Lake | Sandoval | A | 7.9 ft | 14 µg/L | 5.4 µg/L |
| 7 | Figure Eight Lake | Chaves | A | 6.9 ft | 17 µg/L | 3 µg/L |
| 8 | Heron Lake Deep Dam | Rio Arriba | B | 3.7 ft | 29 µg/L | 1.6 µg/L |
| 9 | Abiquiu Reservoir | Rio Arriba | B | 3.3 ft | 40 µg/L | 2.7 µg/L |
| 10 | Abiquiu Reservoir Chama R Inlet | Rio Arriba | B | 3.3 ft | 36 µg/L | 2.4 µg/L |
| 11 | Grindstone Canyon Reservoir Deep | Lincoln | B | 9 ft | 38 µg/L | 2 µg/L |
| 12 | Heron Lake Shallow | Rio Arriba | B | 2.5 ft | 32 µg/L | 2.1 µg/L |
| 13 | Mescalero Lake Deep | Otero | B | - | 50 µg/L | 1.2 µg/L |
| 14 | Mescalero Lake Shallow | Otero | B | - | 55 µg/L | 1.6 µg/L |
| 15 | Silver Lake Shallow | Otero | B | - | 50 µg/L | 1.9 µg/L |
| 16 | Nla Lake | Rio Arriba | B | 3.9 ft | 43.8 µg/L | 5.4 µg/L |
| 17 | Nla Lake | Mora | B | 1 ft | 34 µg/L | 6.5 µg/L |
| 18 | Brantley Reservoir Shallow | Eddy | B | 2.1 ft | 40 µg/L | 4.7 µg/L |
| 19 | Silver Lake Deep | Otero | B | - | 80 µg/L | 1.3 µg/L |