Socorro & Elephant Butte Lake State Park, NM

September 16

In the late afternoon of the 15th we drove to Socorro along I-25. Stayed the night in the Escondida Lake Park Campground owned by the County. It was just us and the caretaker. The facilities were OK; maintenance was minimal. A decent place to spend one night. In the morning we went into Socorro to see the Old San Miguel Mission. Founded in 1598. One of the oldest Catholic Churches in the US. The Mission was established along El Camino Real; the original route from Old Mexico to Santa Fe and beyond.
Later we drove the back roads to the Elephant Butte Lake State Park. We picked a site at the tip of a small peninsula jutting into the lake. Among the most beautiful campsites we can recall. The lake/reservoir was formed by the damming of the Rio Grande River.