New Mexico · Camping · Near Arroyo Seco

Cabresto Lake

Jun, Sep
best months

Is Cabresto Lake open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Carson National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Carson National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

  • At 9,173 ftHigh camp: expect cold nights, even in summer
  • Questa Ranger DistrictCarson National Forest

Cabresto Lake is a small Forest Service campground in the Questa Ranger District of Carson National Forest in northern New Mexico. It sits at about 9,500 feet on a level ridge overlooking the 15-acre lake, which is the head of a 4-mile trail to Heart Lake. The site has three campsites and vault toilets, and it is one of the few places in the state where you can catch brook trout. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Red River show July highs around 75°F with lows near 42°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s. Several other destinations lie within a few miles. Lake Fork Trail (82) is about 2.3 miles away, and Elephant Rock campground is about 3.7 miles off. Climbers can head to Questa Dome, about 3.8 miles away, and paddlers to the Red River, about 4.4 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Cabresto Lake

    Campground

    Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Vine

    Restaurant

    Open after 6
  • If it rainsKhlnmusa, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Harwood Museum of Art

    Museum

    Museum · 24 mi from Arroyo Seco

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Khlnmusa, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Arroyo Seco

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit Cabresto Lake

    Best months: June and September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      35° / 7°

      7 wet

    2. Feb

      37° / 9°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      45° / 16°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      52° / 23°

      9 wet

    5. May

      62° / 30°

      9 wet

    6. Jun

      72° / 36°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      75° / 42°

      15 wet

    8. Aug

      72° / 40°

      16 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 34°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      56° / 25°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      44° / 16°

      7 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 8°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Red River, NM, 5.2 mi away at 8,667 ft. The station sits about 500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Facts about this campground

Rules & access

Fee
No fee

Source: USDA Forest Service recreation sites (EDW)