Hotels in Clayton, New Mexico

A little about Clayton...

Clayton is a town in Union County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 2,524 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Union County. The biggest celebrations held in Clayton New Mexico are the July 4th celebrations. Rodeos, Chili Cookoff's, Homebrew Beer Brewoff's, Huge BBQ, Street Dance, Softball Tournaments, Horseshœ Tournaments, Parades, Fireworks display and more.

Clayton hosts two museums. The Herzstein Memorial Museum, run by the Union County Historical Society is Clayton's largest museum, open daily and by appointment.

Clayton Lake State Park is located 15 miles north of Clayton, close to New Mexico's border with Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas. The landscape is characterized by rolling grasslands, volcanic rocks, and sandstone bluffs, set on the western edge of the Great Plains. The area was a stopover point for travelers along the Cimarron Cutoff of the Santa Fe Trail.

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 track ways in North America. 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 water fowl.
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 1/4 mile trail. Best times to view the tracks are in the morning and the late afternoon. A sheltered gazebo and a boardwalk trail along the track way provide extensive information regarding the dinosaurs who traveled here so long ago.