Seneca
Clayton Lake, 12 miles north of Clayton on Hwy 370, was created by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department in 1955 as a fishing lake and winter waterfowl resting area. A dam was constructed across Seneca Creek. During the fishing season from April to October, the lake is a popular spot for anglers hoping to catch trout, catfish, bass and walleye. The area is also a popular spot for waterfowl. Mallards, pintails and teals frequent the lake and Canada geese and bald eagles are often seen here. The park offers camping and picnicking facilities, a group shelter and a modern comfort station.
100 million year old tracks at Clayton Lake State Park
On the dam spillway at Clayton State Park, at the end of a gentle .5 mile trail, are ancient dinosaur tracks. Locals advise that the best times to view the tracks are in the morning and late afternoon. A sheltered gazebo and boardwalk are placed along the trackway, with extensive information about the dinosaurs who lived here so long ago. More than 100 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed this area, leaving traces of their presence that are still evident today. This part of New Mexico was on the western shore of a vast seaway extending from today's Gulf of Mexico to Canada. Days were warm and humid, and the fragrance of flowers spread across the landscape. Dinosaurs crossing the muddy shoreline left footprints, much like animals leave their tracks around watering holes today. More than 500 dinosaur footprints have been identified and preserved. Some of these majestic creatures were large plant-eaters and others were carnivores. One particular track was made by a dinosaur which had webbed feet and swam in the shoreline's shallow waters. There are tracks made by a baby dinosaur, as well as some made by the famed winged pterodactyl. Overall, at least eight different kinds of dinosaurs left their marks on this ancient mudflat.
Clayton Lake State Park
RR Box 20
Seneca, NM 88437
575-374-8808
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