Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area, located 30 miles northeast of Santa Fe near Chimayo, offers a boat ramp and fishing pier at the North Shore area with day-use parking (first-come, first-served).

The scenic 121-acre lake at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains is a no-wake, 5 MPH zone suitable for canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, and motorboats, with a self-service fee station requiring exact change ($5 per vehicle day-use).

Note that vehicles with trailers longer than 30 feet are not permitted on the entrance road due to tight turns, and all boats must be out of the water 30 minutes before closing time.