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Heron Lake sits in New Mexico and is classified as a reservoir. It covers roughly 5,900 surface acres (about 9 square miles). Fish documented in the area include Brook Trout, Walleye, Common Carp, and Rainbow Trout. Sitting at around 7,186 feet of elevation, it drops to a maximum depth near 210 feet. For this location, LakeRadar tracks an hourly and 7-day forecast, wind and gust outlook, water readings, fishing conditions, and activity scores for boating, paddling, and swimming. If you are planning a trip, El Vado Lake, El Vado Reservoir, and Abiquiu Reservoir are also nearby. Water data on this page comes from a mapped monitoring station near the lake. Forecasts for Heron Lake come from the National Weather Service and refresh several times a day.
Updated
No active alerts for this lake as of the last check (Oct 9, 1:56 AM MDT). Alerts are re-checked automatically; see the official source for updates.
Overall Good (86/100) across 4 activities. Best right now: Boating (100/100).
How the score is calculated →Best excellent fishing window, averaging 92/100 across these hours. Wind 5 mph from the south. Dusk hours (19:00 local). Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 7a | 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a | 6a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 46° | 45° | 43° | 42° | 40° | 39° | 40° | 42° | 47° | 53° | 59° | 64° | 67° | 69° | 72° | 70° | 69° | 68° | 64° | 60° | 57° | 55° | 53° | 53° |
| Wind (kts) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Direction | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW | SW | S | S | S | — | — | — |
| Gusts (kts) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 2% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 1 AM MDT | 46°F | Calm | 0 mph | 0% | 7% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 2 AM MDT | 45°F | Calm | 0 mph | 0% | 6% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 3 AM MDT | 43°F | Calm | 0 mph | 0% | 5% | Clear |
| Fri, 4 AM MDT | 42°F | Calm | 0 mph | 0% | 5% | Clear |
| Fri, 5 AM MDT | 40°F | Calm | 0 mph | 0% | 5% | Clear |
| Fri, 6 AM MDT | 39°F | Calm | 0 mph | 0% | 3% | Sunny |
| Fri, 7 AM MDT | 40°F | Calm | 0 mph | 0% | 7% | Sunny |
| Fri, 8 AM MDT | 42°F | Calm | 0 mph | 0% | 3% | Sunny |
| Fri, 9 AM MDT | 47°F | Calm | 0 mph | 0% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 10 AM MDT | 53°F | Calm | 0 mph | 0% | 0% | Sunny |
| Fri, 11 AM MDT | 59°F | Calm | 0 mph | 0% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 12 PM MDT | 64°F | Calm | 0 mph | 7% | 3% | Sunny |
| Fri, 1 PM MDT | 67°F | Calm | 0 mph | 7% | 5% | Sunny |
| Fri, 2 PM MDT | 69°F | Calm | 0 mph | 7% | 7% | Sunny |
| Fri, 3 PM MDT | 72°F | Calm | 1 mph | 7% | 12% | Sunny |
| Fri, 4 PM MDT | 70°F | Calm | 4 mph | 7% | 20% | Sunny |
| Fri, 5 PM MDT | 69°F | 5 mph SW (225°) | 5 mph | 7% | 22% | Sunny |
| Fri, 6 PM MDT | 68°F | 5 mph SW (225°) | 8 mph | 7% | 7% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 7 PM MDT | 64°F | 5 mph S (180°) | 7 mph | 7% | 12% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 8 PM MDT | 60°F | 5 mph S (180°) | 7 mph | 7% | 12% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 9 PM MDT | 57°F | 5 mph S (180°) | 5 mph | 4% | 17% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 10 PM MDT | 55°F | Calm | 4 mph | 4% | 10% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 11 PM MDT | 53°F | Calm | 4 mph | 4% | 9% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 12 AM MDT | 53°F | Calm | 4 mph | 2% | 20% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 1 AM MDT | 50°F | Calm | 4 mph | 2% | 21% | Mostly Clear |
Official National Weather Service hourly forecast. Showing 10 of 25 hours. Wind arrows point the way the wind is blowing; the compass point and degrees show where it comes from.
| Period | Overnight October 9, 2026 | Friday October 9, 2026 | Friday Night October 9, 2026 | Saturday October 10, 2026 | Saturday Night October 10, 2026 | Sunday October 11, 2026 | Sunday Night October 11, 2026 | Columbus Day October 12, 2026 | Monday Night October 12, 2026 | Tuesday October 13, 2026 | Tuesday Night October 13, 2026 | Wednesday October 14, 2026 | Wednesday Night October 14, 2026 | Thursday October 15, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 39° | 72° | 44° | 69° | 48° | 69° | 48° | 68° | 45° | 61° | 38° | 53° | 33° | 57° |
| Wind | 0 mph | SW 0 to 5 mph | SE 0 to 5 mph | SE 0 to 5 mph | S 0 to 10 mph | SE 0 to 15 mph | S 0 to 10 mph | S 0 to 10 mph | SW 0 to 5 mph | S 0 to 15 mph | SW 5 to 10 mph | W 5 to 10 mph | NW 0 to 10 mph | SW 0 to 5 mph |
| Gusts | — | 5 mph | 8 mph | 9 mph | 12 mph | 17 mph | 15 mph | 15 mph | 5 mph | 21 mph | 13 mph | 16 mph | 12 mph | 4 mph |
| Precip % | 0% | 7% | 7% | 33% | 59% | 44% | 87% | 25% | 25% | 40% | 47% | 20% | 7% | 3% |
| Forecast |
No active USGS or USACE telemetry gauge is currently mapped to Heron Lake. Not available from a verified source for this lake.
Good for fishing (79/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 0 mph from the east-northeast. 0% chance of precipitation. Not available from a verified source for this lake: pressure trend, water temperature. Confidence is moderate (74%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Excellent for boating (100/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 0 mph from the east-northeast. Gusts to 0 mph. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility and conditions, verified water access. Confidence is moderate (84%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Fair for sailing (64/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Gusts are within 0 mph of sustained wind, so the breeze is steady. No active official alerts for this lake. Working against it: Wind 0 mph is light; expect limited sailing. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Excellent for kayaking (98/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 0 mph from the east-northeast. Gusts to 0 mph. Confidence is high (90%).
Water temperature is not available from a verified source for this lake. No swimming score is shown without it.
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Individual boat ramp GPS coordinates are maintained under the jurisdiction of NM Parks & Wildlife Authority. Public boaters should verify seasonal launch water levels, gate hours, and daily vehicle/vessel fees before traveling.
Heron Lake offers an inviting freshwater retreat in NM, overseen by state and local natural resource agencies. Its waters provide ample room for watersports, pontoon cruising, and quiet morning paddle trips along sheltered bays. Staying updated on real-time streamflow and meteorological conditions ensures a smooth trip on the water.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) is required for anglers age 12+. Digital license on mobile is accepted.
Mandatory Clean, Drain & Dry inspection. Out-of-area craft require on-site Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS Quagga/Zebra) inspection or decontamination before launch. USCG life jackets required for all.
Public shoreline and boating access managed by State & Local Authorities. Verify seasonal gate hours, launch fees, and parking rules before travel.
High-speed motorboating, pontoon cruising, wakeboarding, and water skiing across main channels. Target gamefish include Brook Trout, Walleye, Common Carp, Rainbow Trout. Morning hours typically provide optimal glassy conditions for kayak and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) touring.
Warm water temperatures, peak swimming, active watersports, and open full-service campgrounds. Highest weekly attendance; plan early arrivals on summer weekends.
Spring pre-spawn and fall feeding transitions create prime trophy angling conditions. Cooler air, lower boat traffic, and vibrant seasonal shoreline foliage.
High-altitude mountain winter climate (elevation 7,186 ft MSL). Freezing temperatures, potential snowpack or ice cover, and reduced seasonal amenities. Winter safety caution advised.
No external source rows are cited by the data currently shown on this page.
Updated
Scores are heuristics, not safety guarantees. LakeRadar scores summarize available conditions and are not a substitute for official warnings, local rules, or on-water judgment.
All telemetry for Heron Lake is synchronized directly from authorized federal and state monitoring networks (USGS, NWS, NOAA, and state environmental authorities). Observations are strictly instrumented readings — unmonitored sensors are transparently disclosed rather than synthetic estimates.
Last source audit: Oct 9, 1:56 AM MDT