Clayton Lake State Park - Clayton, New Mexico

Clayton Lake State Park is a good place for camping, fishing and boating, but there is another compelling reason to visit: one of the largest collections of dinosaur footprints in the country. Uncovered by a flood in 1982, this cluster of some 500 tracks from the Cretaceous Period is protected by a fence, but you still can get close enough to them for a good view and photographs. There are informative placards placed along the walkway, including one which reconstructs the exact movements of a single beast that made one particular set of prints.

If you go:
Day use fee is only $5 per vehicle at this writing. Camping fees are also very reasonable. The dinosaur tracks are best viewed in early morning and late afternoon, when the sunlight strikes them at an angle.

charles.jordan@state.nm.us

Phone Numbers:

Clayton Lake State Park
+1 (575) 374-8808