Lots of parking is available for tow vehicles and trailers, as well as another toilet facility and drinking water. I don my life jacket, paddling gloves and a protective sun hat before launching my craft. This is my first paddling of the season and I am anxious to be out there on the water. Santa Rosa Lake is not very large, but it is quite popular with eastern New Mexicans and some west Texans. It's known too for a very deep hole frequented by scuba divers.
Fishing is reportedly good and the lake is stocked frequently.
Because the winds are showing signs of getting stronger, I head north along the western shore and take advantage of the lee of cliffs. It's relatively calm once I clear the cove off to my left, where the winds are stiffly blowing down a canyon leading toward the dam. Whitecaps and foot-high waves are already making open expanses rough, but in the lee of the shore it's quite calm and much easier paddling. About two miles up the western shore I find a convenient place to stop, to take pictures and stretch my legs. Much of the shore in this area is comprised of layers of flat rock, sandstone or something similar.