Clayton Lake State
Park, N.M.
May 27
We came to this state park mainly for the water and relaxation. We knew Ton could possibly Kayak here, weather permitting. When we booked it, the New Mexico reservation systym informed us we needed to switch sites to get 2 nights. Both sites were nice but the second one the best. They only have
16 sites and it was only $18 a night.
There we are, high on the hill over looking the lake.
The boat ramp was nearby
We saw a visitor center when we entered but it was
closed and would remain closed according to the ranger. Our water connection leaked really bad, so we reported it before hooking up. The ranger asked us
to use our own supply and fill our tank and not use it since it was broke.
He informed us that the State of New Mexico had no more funds for this park and they could just operate with one ranger and the bare minimum
of repairs. They didn't even give you a brochure about the park or the Dino Tracks they promoted. It's a shame some of the State Parks unfortunately have to come to this, but we understand too, that this park is very small and they need to try to keep some bigger ones going. We were still very happy we stopped here.
It was windy when we arrived, so Ton decided to Kayak tomorrow.
After lunch he took the 1 1/2 mile walk to the other side of the reservoir to see the Dinosaur tracks.
One of the best dinosaur track sites in the world can be viewed at Clayton Lake State Park. More than 500 fossilized footprints, with at least eight kinds of dinosaurs are visible on the Lake’s spillway. The tracks were embedded in the mud over 100 million years ago when most of New Mexico was a vast sea.
How Tracks are Preserved
When the dinosaurs walked over this muddy surface, their feet sank into the layers of clay and silt. Where the mud was stiff, the depressions kept their shape, actually showing the anatomy of the bottom of the foot. As the mud dried, dust might have blown over the surface to fill in some of the depressions, and later, perhaps as the tide flooded the surface, fine layers of sand filled each track, burying them for a millennial.
Over the millions of years since the tracks were made, the mud changed to mud-stones, and the sands to sandstone. When construction for the dam exposed this layer, no tracks could be seen. After several years of exposure to rain and snow, however, the sand layers that filled the depressions were gradually loosened, and the compacted surface of each track could be recognized.
The prints above are from large conniver dinosaurs.
The pointed claws are used to kill their prey.
The birds fly overhead
The campground taken from the dinosaur trail across the lake
A dragonfly
and a beautiful butterfly was seen along the trail.
Day 2
Today we moved to our new site along the lake
We pulled straight in to enjoy the view and privacy
Our Picnic Table was a nice place to sit
After getting settled in, My wonderful hubby left for awhile
to do what he loves
KAYAKING
So much to see.....and so little time
He wanted me to go with him, but it was too hot outside for my system
so I opted out. I can enjoy it through pictures too.
Not another sole in site
So many swallow nests between the rocks
Looking up to our site as Ton came back for lunch
he beached the kayak behind
our campsite and walked up the rocks.
I could see him coming from the RV
He went for an afternoon trip after lunch.
After he left, Being the curious sole that I am, I followed him
down because I couldn't see where the kayak was parked.
I could only see him bending over to take this picture when I spotted him.
This is where I took the following pictures from.
I settled myself between a wedge in the stones, so I couldn't slip down.
Then I watched to see where he was going. Reading the little notes I
typed on the pictures will tell you the difficulty of where he parked it.
I yelled down to him after he was finally in the boat to let him
know I was there, and that is when he shot this picture of me watching.
He climbed past this tree growing out of the stone
then down these rocks
& I still couldn't see him
OH! There he is at the end of the rocks
Gone again? He must be climbing into the boat
You can barely see him now, just starting to paddle away
]
And he's off again.
Have fun honey!
We had a great two days here.