Union County: Grasslands and Dinosaur Tracks

Union County is home to national grasslands. The county also has dinosaur tracks. This gives trip planning two clear thematic points of interest: landscape and geological history. For your stay, it is worth distinguishing between the different ways to experience them. At Clayton Lake, you can choose between close-up and distant views of the tracks; the Santa Fe Trail sites offer a different way to explore history. Which focus interests you more depends on whether you want to view dinosaur tracks from different perspectives or learn about historical connections.

Dinosaur Tracks and Fishing at Clayton Lake

At Clayton Lake State Park, you can view dinosaur tracks from two perspectives. A raised walkway at the spillway offers close-up views of the tracks; however, the path is not accessible. At the end of the Clayton Lake Dam, a viewpoint offers a wide-ranging view of more than 800 dinosaur footprints exposed at the spillway. The close-up and panoramic views offer different ways to visit: the walkway brings you close to the tracks, while the viewpoint lets you take in the large number of prints all at once. If accessibility is important for your visit, consider the path’s limitations when making your choice.

During fishing season, which usually runs from March to October, the lake at Clayton Lake State Park attracts anglers. They hope to catch trout, catfish, bass, and walleye in the lake. If your trip includes fishing, the seasonal timeframe is a useful point of reference. The fish species also mark a different focus from searching for footprints: here, the time spent on the water is the main attraction; there, the focus is on the tracks.

Santa Fe Trail History and Local History in Clayton

The Herzstein Memorial Museum features exhibits about the Santa Fe Trail and artifacts from the Dust Bowl era. It is housed in Clayton’s former Methodist Episcopal Church. Two historical themes therefore come together in one building: the Trail exhibits and objects from the Dust Bowl era. A Santa Fe Trail driving loop can be taken near the museum. The museum focuses on exhibits and artifacts; the loop offers a different way to explore Trail history.

The Luna Theater on Main Street in Clayton is a landmark. Built in 1916 as the Mission Theater, it is one of the oldest surviving theaters in New Mexico. The museum and theater offer different historical perspectives: the museum focuses on exhibits and artifacts, while the theater is distinguished by its year of construction, former name, and role as a landmark. If you are interested in history as well as nature, you will find a variety of points of interest here.

McNees Crossing is also part of the history of the Santa Fe Trail. It was an important source of water, grass, and wood for travelers on the Trail. Visitors access the site through a gate onto private grazing land. Keep this specific access requirement in mind before visiting.

The Clayton Complex includes campsites and geographic features along the Santa Fe Trail. It begins at McNees Crossing near the Oklahoma border and extends 35 miles southwest along the Trail to Round Mound (Mount Clayton). This larger area offers a different perspective from the individual crossing: McNees Crossing represents the importance of water, grass, and wood for travelers, while the Complex places the Trail in a broader context through its stated endpoints and geographic features. This lets you distinguish between a specific historic site and a wider view of the Trail.

Discover more destinations: Clayton, Roosevelt, De Baca County, Guadalupe County, Rice County, Valencia, Mora County, Los Alamos.

For the main travel overview: New Mexico.