This short 65 mile loop drive will take you on a pleasant drive to Navajo Lake and along the San Juan River. The trip can be done in a single day unless one decides to recreate on Navajo Lake or over-night at one of the many lodging facilities or camp grounds.
Navajo Lake Community, NM
Located at the junction of NM 173 (Navajo Dam Rd) and NM 511 is Navajo Lake Community. Here one can find several lodging facilities, restaurants, and fly fishing guides.
Lodging • Abe's Motel
• Fisheads San Juan River Lodge
• Las Verandas Lodge de San Juan
• Octagon Inn
• Rainbow Lodge
• San Juan Quality Water Inn
• San Juan River Haven
Restaurants • Abe's Restaurant
• Back Cast Café
• The Sportsman Bar & Grill
Fishing Guides • Blue Sky Fly Fishing Co
• Float 'n Fish
• T's Private Fly Fishing
Navajo Lake, NM
Completed in 1963 after a six-year construction on the San Juan River, the earth and rock-filled dam is nearly 0.75-miles long and 400 feet high. It is the central amenity of Navajo Lake State Park and has a world class reputation for outdoor adventure and fishing. Covering 14,500 acres and the second largest lake in New Mexico, Navajo Lake is ideal for a day of fishing, swimming, scuba-diving, water-skiing, wildlife viewing, and hiking or for a week of camping and boating. The Navajo Lake State Park is a full service park with a Visitor Center, several campground sites and group shelters, showers, electric hookup, restrooms, RV Camping and dumping stations, trails, fishing, boating ramps and a marina.
Central to the Park is the Navajo Marina and Brue Café where one can purchase items for their adventure on the lake, rent equipment or boats, or grab a bite to eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
After a morning of recreation and fun, head south on NM 511 to the community of Turley. It is here where one can find some pleasant sips and crafts.
A local favorite, the Wines of the San Juan offer a great environment for relaxing and wine tasting. Periodically, they also have festivals and special events.
For more adventure, visit Majestic Enchantment. This place encompasses a 1/2 mile along the San Juan River and provides the avid fly fisherman ample places to wade and fly fish. Also on the premise is their Southwestern Art Gallery specializing in Native arts and crafts and also an 18-hole disc golf course. Open 7 days a week, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, just call in advance.
Immediately down the road, is Lavender of the San Juan. This place grows their own lavender and produce numerous products with their locally grown lavender. On Mondays they offer a tour of their processing facility.
Lavender on the San Juan River 181 NM-511
Blanco, NM 87412
(505) 793-9787
Photos by EMKotyk
Located next door to Lavender of the San Juan River is Willow Wicks. This place has a collection of assorted soy and paraffin candles, diffuser oils, body products, lotions and more. Open by chance or call.
