Elephant Butte Lake State Park, State park with reservoir in Sierra County, United States

Elephant Butte Lake State Park is a state park centered on a large reservoir in New Mexico's Sierra County. The grounds include sandy beaches, multiple boat ramps, and pathways that wind through areas around the shoreline.

Talk of a dam began in the 1880s after farmers in southern New Mexico, Texas and Mexico complained about their share of Rio Grande water. Crews built Elephant Butte Dam from 1911 to 1916, creating a 36,000-acre reservoir 40 miles long. The concrete dam anchors the Elephant Butte National Register Historic District, and the state park visitor center covers its construction.

The reservoir's name comes from a rock formation that resembles an elephant, a label local newspapers already used in the late 1800s for the spot where the dam would rise. The dam itself carried several names before the elephant stuck. Recreation at the reservoir is managed by New Mexico State Parks under an agreement with the United States Bureau of Reclamation.

The park is accessible by car, with parking areas spread across different locations near the water. Boat ramps and marinas provide access for boating, fishing, and other water activities throughout the day.

A stegomastodon fossil was found in the park in June 2014, an animal related to the elephant whose shape gave the butte its name. The reservoir itself was created in 1916 when the Rio Grande was dammed, and it is the largest in New Mexico.