Union County is home to national grasslands and dinosaur tracks. In Clayton, exhibits and historic buildings reveal different aspects of the history of the Santa Fe Trail and the region. At Clayton Lake State Park, meanwhile, you can view the exposed footprints from different perspectives. Discoveries range from landscapes and natural traces to museum exhibits and architectural history.

Dinosaur Tracks Up Close and from Above

At Clayton Lake State Park, a raised walkway over the spillway offers close-up views of the dinosaur tracks. However, the path is not accessible. At the end of the dam, a viewpoint offers a wide-ranging view of more than 800 dinosaur footprints exposed at the spillway. The walkway provides a close-up perspective, while the viewpoint offers an overview of the large number of exposed tracks.

The lake also has seasonal appeal for anglers. The fishing season usually runs from March to October; during this time, the lake attracts anglers hoping to catch trout, catfish, bass, and walleye. These fish species and the seasonal timeframe give this experience its own focus alongside the dinosaur tracks.

The Santa Fe Trail and Historic Buildings

The Herzstein Memorial Museum features exhibits on the history of the Santa Fe Trail. The exhibits also include artifacts from the Dust Bowl era. The museum is housed in the former Methodist Episcopal Church of Clayton. Its exhibits are therefore presented in a building that once served another purpose.

Nearby, you can also drive a loop route along the Santa Fe Trail. The Trail can thus be experienced both through the exhibits and on a loop route in the surrounding area.

The Luna Theater stands on Main Street in Clayton. It was built in 1916 as the Mission Theater. It is a landmark on Main Street and is one of the oldest surviving theaters in New Mexico. Its original name and year of construction place the building in a specific historical context: alongside the museum exhibits, a surviving theater building also tells a story of the past.

Continuing along the historic Santa Fe Trail, the route leads to McNees Crossing. For travelers on the Trail, it was an important source of water, grass, and wood. The Clayton Complex includes campsites and geographic features of the Trail. It begins at McNees Crossing near the Oklahoma border and extends 35 miles southwest along the Trail to Round Mound (Mount Clayton).

Visitors reach McNees Crossing through a gate onto private pastureland. Take this access arrangement into account when planning your visit.

Discover more destinations: Clayton, Chaves County, Mckinley County, Luna, San Juan, Socorro, Grant County, Guadalupe County.

For the main travel overview: New Mexico.