• Guest, if you are linking to a software packge, books or such, please use the Resources tab to do so. This area is for more generic site links, and the Resource area is better for tracking specific items like books, software and such.
    If you are associated with a site linked here and would like to claim it, please contact me via the Contact us link (or start a conversation with Tracy if a member) and once confirmed, you can claim the link to perform edits to it.
    You can dismiss this notice by clicking on the "X" in the corner and it will not appear again unless updated.
    Thanks!
Clayton Lake State Park and Dinosaur Trackways (New Mexico)

IDS Site Clayton Lake State Park and Dinosaur Trackways (New Mexico)

Item details

Bortle Class (if known)
1
The landscape is characterized by rolling grasslands, volcanic rocks and sandstone bluffs. Set on the western edge of the Great Plains, it was a stopover point for travelers along the Cimarron Cutoff of the Santa Fe Trail. The park also features a Gold Credentialed International Dark Sky astronomy observatory. Visitors today can enjoy picnicking, camping, and superb fishing at the park’s 170-acre lake, as well as view one of the most extensive dinosaur trackways in North America.


THE PARK

Clayton Lake was created by the State Game and Fish Department in 1955 as a fishing lake and winter waterfowl resting area. A dam was constructed across Seneca 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 catch trout, catfish, bass and walleye. 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. Several duck species including mallards, pin tails, and teals frequent the lake, and Canadian geese and bald eagles are often seen here.

The park offers camping and picnicking facilities, a group shelter, and a modern comfort station. The dinosaur tracks are located on the dam spillway, at the end of a gentle half mile trail. Best times to view the tracks are in the morning and late afternoon. A sheltered gazebo and boardwalk trail along the trackways provide extensive information regarding the dinosaurs who traveled here so long ago.

INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY PARK

The Star Point Observatory opened in June 2006 and features a 12 x 16 foot building with a retractable roof that houses a computer operated telescope (12 inch Meade) and remote television monitor which allows for group viewing. The telescope and monitor is powered by a solar charged battery system. The astronomy club also has several additional 8 inch telescopes that its volunteers set up on concrete pads outside the building which allows other guests to observe selected targets in the sky too. The observatory is NM State Parks second to be constructed.

Comments

There are no comments to display.

Item information

Added by
Tracy
Views
58
Clicks
1
Last update
Location
141 Clayton Lake Rd, Clayton, NM 88415

Additional information

UTC Offset:  -7
Latitude:  36.5783579 (North)
Longitude:  -103.3060534 (West)

More from Tracy

  • Sales William Optics
    Our reputation for high-end but affordable telescopes and accessories has been expanding...
  • Other Telescopius
    Find asronomy targets and generate object lists for your observing and astrophotography sessions.
  • Sales Buckeye Stargazer
    My name is Joel Short, and my love of the night sky is inspired by the thought of God stretching...
  • Ostahowski Optics
    We specialize in demanding critical application optics. Our off-axis parabolas exhibit super...
  • Optiques Fullum
    Optiques Fullum is leader in custom-made high precision optics. Through world class optical...
Top