Manzano State Park

Nice place to camp. Clean rest rooms, some sites have electricity. Water on the grounds, and a dump station. The campsites are well maintained.

I asked to stay in a tent area. When I got there at night it was very quiet, but I did notice that there were a lot of RVs in my area. I felt like I was staying in a trailer park more than a camping ground. I woke up to horrible music and motorcycles and when I got out of my tent it looked like I was out in the trailer park projects. They offered bathrooms on the campgrounds. When I got to the bathroom there was only a porta potty toilet, nothing more. I was fine with the bathroom I just didn't like the environment. I grew up camping and I grew up in Boy Scouts and this is not a place for camping.

This state park is situated in tall pines and piñon trees. It is close to Albuquerque and we go there from time to time. It does get busy in the summer months and reservations are suggested. The Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument ( Quarai, Abo and Gran Quivira) are a nice day trip if you are tired of fishing at Manzano lake. On a recent visit, a bird conservator from Bosque Farms provided a thoroughly detailed and enjoyable presentation on birds for about an hour. She presented a Turkey Vulture, a Hawk and an Owl. Everyone, children and adults alike seemed interested and actively participated in her presentation. On the downside, the well servicing this park is not working so be prepared to 'dry camp' here until a new well is operational.