Clear Skies Over Cochiti for Skywatch Friday

Cochiti Lake is in the northern part of New Mexico, located on the Cochiti Pueblo about 30 miles south of Santa Fe. From the lookout at the campground you can see the Sandia Mountains, the Jemez Mountains, the Bajada escarpment, Tetilla Peak, the lake itself, and the Rio Grande, which supplies the water to the manmade lake.

The skies were clear on the day that we visited. The air was still and hot and smelled of pine duff, one of my favorite fragrances. I just stood in one spot and turned in a circle to get all of these views.

Looking across the lake and toward the Sandia Mountains

Part of the campground with the Rio Grande in the background

South toward the neighboring town of Peña Blanca

A little west of Peña Blanca

Cochiti Lake Campground, looking toward the Jemez Mountains

Memorial Garden at Cochiti Lake

There are actually three places called Cochiti: The Cochiti Pueblo, Cochiti Lake, and the Town of Cochiti Lake. All are located about 50 miles north of Albuquerque and about 30 miles south of Santa Fe.

These photos are of the Memorial Garden made by volunteers from the town. It smelled of pine and roses and clean air on the day when we visited.