Eagle Nest: Reservoir, Mountain Scenery and History

When planning your trip, Eagle Nest offers several distinct themes: the man-made reservoir set against a mountain backdrop, two trails with stated distances, and local and regional history. You can compare the trail details by length and endpoints; the historical sites, by contrast, tell of former names, the construction of the dam and the past of the El Monte Hotel. This lets you decide whether to focus on trails, scenery or cultural history as you explore Eagle Nest.

Lake, Mountains and the Enchanted Circle

Eagle Nest Lake is a man-made reservoir. It was created in 1918 when the Cimarron River was dammed at Eagle Nest Dam. Eagle Nest Lake State Park is on the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, surrounded by the high mountains of Moreno Valley, and offers views of Wheeler Peak. The Enchanted Circle is an 85-mile US Forest Scenic Byway connecting Taos and Questa with the resort towns of Red River, Eagle Nest and Angel Fire. Eagle Nest is one of these resort towns. This allows you to consider the park landscape and the wider byway route as distinct geographic points of reference: the view of Wheeler Peak is part of the park, while the 85-mile figure refers to the scenic byway route.

Trails by Distance and Endpoints

Two sections are listed for the Lake View Trail: 0.41 miles from the park visitor center to the town of Eagle Nest, and 1.17 miles from the town of Eagle Nest to the Moreno Day Use Area. The Eagle Nest Lake Multi-Use Trail runs five miles from the campground to the Cieneguilla Day Use Area. By length, this route is longer than both sections of the Lake View Trail. The town of Eagle Nest marks the end of the first and the start of the second section listed for the Lake View Trail. This lets you consider the stated distances together with their respective starting and ending points.

Local and Hotel History

Eagle Nest was formerly known as Therma. After Eagle Nest Lake Dam was completed, the town took its current name. A separate naming story concerns the El Monte Hotel: it was built in the 1890s, and its name was later changed to Laguna Vista Lodge. The dining room at Laguna Vista Lodge was once the lobby of the El Monte Hotel. Eagle Nest’s local history also includes gunfighters, ghost towns and gold mining.

Museum and Tour

The Gateway Museum features exhibits about gold panning and early railroads; exhibit topics may change. The museum also offers the New Mexico state-licensed “Water In the Southwest/Eagle Nest Dam Tour” program. Ask about the tour’s current availability before your visit.

Self-Guided Exploration and Brewery

Eagle Nest has a self-guided walking tour. The tour often features tracks of elk, deer, bears and mountain lions; coyotes can be heard. The family-owned Comanche Creek Brewing Company, a small brewery, is also located near Eagle Nest. It makes craft beers and adds another regional point of interest to the scenery and history themes.

Discover more destinations: Angel Fire, Springer, Raton.

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