Six Mile Dam

About Six Mile Dam

Now a renowned birding and fishing area, Six Mile Dam serves as an example of the power of cooperation and persistence. Once known as a party spot and a place to dump trash, these lands are now used for hiking, kayaking, fishing, picnicking, and birding after years of effort by the BLM Carlsbad Field Office, the City of Carlsbad, non-profits, industry partners, and public volunteers to provide improvements to the area. Six Mile Dam is considered one of the best marsh areas remaining in the Pecos Valley and more than 300 species of birds have been spotted in the area.

How to Get There

From Carlsbad, New Mexico head south on S Canal St/US Hwy 285 S for 1.5 miles. Turn left onto NM-216E and drive for 4.3 miles before turning left on Forni Rd. Follow Forni Road for 1.4 miles before reaching Six Mile Dam.

Plan Your Visit to Six Mile Dam

Heading to Six Mile Dam? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)