| Clayton Lake State Park | |
|---|---|
 Dinosaur footprint from thefossil trackway at Clayton Lake State Park | |
  Clayton Lake State Park Location in New Mexico | |
| Location | Union County, New Mexico, United States |
| Coordinates | 36°34′34″N103°18′19″W / 36.57611°N 103.30528°W /36.57611; -103.30528[1] |
| Area | 471 acres (191 ha) |
| Elevation | 5,186 ft (1,581 m)[2] |
| Established | 1965[3] |
| Administered by | New Mexico State Parks Division |
| Website | Official website |
Clayton Lake State Park is astate park ofNew Mexico, United States, featuring a 170-acre (69 ha) recreationalreservoir and afossil trackway ofdinosaur footprints. It is located 15 miles (24 km) north ofClayton, close to New Mexico's border with Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas. The park is accessed viaNew Mexico State Road 455. The landscape is characterized by rolling grasslands, volcanic rocks, and sandstone bluffs, set on the western edge of theGreat Plains. The park area was a stopover point for travelers along the Cimarron Cutoff of theSanta Fe Trail.
Visitor activities includepicnicking,camping, and fishing at the lake, as well as viewing one of the most extensive dinosaur trackways in North America. Clayton Lake was created by theNew Mexico Department of Game and Fish in 1955 as a fishing lake and winter waterfowl resting area.[3]
Adam was constructed acrossSeneca Creek, which is actually a series of seeps except after heavy rains. During the fishing season, which usually runs from March to October each year, the lake is a popular spot for anglers hoping to catchtrout,catfish,bass, andwalleye. Boats are allowed on the lake, but are restricted to trolling speeds. The lake is closed to fishing during the winter, when it serves as a stopover for waterfowl.
The park offers a group shelter and a modern comfort station. The dinosaur tracks are embedded in rock near the lake. They can be observed on the dam spillway at the end of a gentle 0.25-mile (0.40 km) trail. The best times to view the tracks are in the morning and the late afternoon. A shelteredgazebo and aboardwalk trail provide extensive information regarding the dinosaurs.[2]
In 2010, Clayton Lake State Park with the Star Point Observatory was designated by theInternational Dark-Sky Association as aDark Sky Park.[4]
