Santa Fe, NM – Today, officials of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) State Parks Division announced Morphy Lake State Park will re-open to the public for normal operations beginning Friday, September 23. Morphy Lake State Park has been closed to protect the public from unsafe conditions resulting from the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fire. With this reopening, all 35 state parks across 25 of New Mexico’s 33 counties are open. 

Morphy Lake State Park, sitting at 8,000 feet elevation among ponderosa pines and surrounded by mountains, is the perfect place to get away from it all, catch a few fish, and enjoy the scenery. The park has 25 developed campsites and multiple day-use areas that are ideal for camping, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Campsites are furnished with tables and campfires are allowed in park-provided grills. The lake is stocked with trout, and it is still a beautiful place to launch a canoe or kayak. 

“I am pleased that New Mexicans and visitors to our state can now access Morphy Lake to camp, fish, picnic, and spend time alone or with family and friends,” said State Parks Director Toby Velasquez. “Morphy Lake is a beloved destination for the fall season.” 

Visitors should remember that Morphy Lake is situated in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range and is in the post-burn scar from the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire. The Park is located seven miles south of Mora on New Mexico Highway 94, and four miles west on a narrow county road. Travel conditions on the roads providing access to the park can be variable due to fire impacts.  

Visitors should come prepared for the unexpected and check weather conditions prior to visiting as this area may experience hazardous driving conditions along access roads, which can experience flooding and road closures due to inclement weather and wildfire impacts. Visitors must follow guidance from park officials regarding access to or exit from the park during significant precipitation events. Please remember that you should never drive across a flooded roadway where underlying conditions are unknown. 

Finally, State Park officials remind boaters to always wear a lifejacket when out on the water and to be aware of weather conditions. State law requires that you wear a lifejacket when on a canoe, kayak, or raft and that all children 12 years old and younger wear a lifejacket while on the deck of a moving vessel. The State Parks Division offers free boating safety classes around the state and online throughout the year. 

For more information, go to the State Park’s webpage https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/spd/find-a-park.