Visiting Route 66's Iconic Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, New Mexico
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- Опубликовано: 17 янв 2023
- The Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, New Mexico is an iconic roadside attraction on Route 66, nut its history dates back long before The Mother Road. Or any roads for that matter.
Starting with Native Americans long before the arrival of Europeans, to Conquistadors, cowboys, railroad passengers, roadtrippers, and possibly even Billy the Kid, the Blue Hole has been a popular spot to stop during a long journey for centuries.
The water in the Blue Hole comes from a cave system near its bottom that generates about 3,000 gallons of water per minute. The constant refreshing of the water leads to it being remarkably clear. The water completely cycles out about every six hours.
The Blue is about 80 feet deep and 80 feet in diameter at the surface. It widens the deeper it goes until the diameter reaches 130 feet across. The water keeps a consistent 62 degrees year-round. Winter is apparently the busiest diving season, with other dive sites in the area being too cold.
The cave system at the bottom of the Blue Hole has led to the death of three divers, and is gated off to prevent access because of the danger of exploring it.
On our visit the weather was a bit too cold to go for a swim, but we explore the area surrounding the Blue Hole and talk about it's history.
The Blue Hole is located at: 34.941378763662165, -104.67323900001657
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Been there, done that!
Earned my Open Water Certification at the Blue Hole back in 1977.
We visited the Blue Hole in the height of summer. I was ready for a nice refreshing swim, so I jumped from the the rocks. When the water hit my body all my muscles immediately froze because the water was SO COLD. I thought "Welp, this is how I die." Totally fun experience. I encourage all to try it.
But did you die, if you know, you know, it's not that bad
Hahahaha yeah it is.
Outstanding! I spend about a decade certifying divers at the Blue Hole in the 90s. We would bring students down from Colorado Springs about once a month for a three-day immersive (pun intended) experience. Rain...shine...snow...it was always 61 degrees underwater! It doesn't look like too much has changed. Thanks for bringing back great memories!
I got certified At blue hole 🕳️ back in the 80s I lived in Colorado.
Agree, the underground water is comfortable, even for free-
diving naked people. I've enjoyed 80 degrees sea water
down to the first layer of cooler water at 30 to 50 feet. My
atoll lagoon was about 180 feet deep. Ocean-side the reef
has a vertical side. That went down about a quarter mile.
Pitch black water but clear if you have a Divers Lamp. To
go there free of charge just ask your local US Army recruiter.
@@jcee2259 Yea no, I'd rather not be sent somewhere to kill people in illegal wars that the US has a history of... The only war in the last 100 years I would have supported was WW2. THAT was justified and had a proper declaration of war.
@@jcee2259 naked people. i guess these divers love living dangerously
The "Blue Hole" is a complex network of lakes that are connected by an underground river. This system extends all the way to Carlsburg Caverns and beyond. East of Roswell NM is the "Bottomless Lakes State Park. It is part of this system. Lots of legends abound on these lakes. Like the diver who dived in one lake and was swept underground through these caverns and found days later in another lake far downstream. I have a lot of legends that have been told me and some i've witnessed. Pretty cool area. Thanks for the memories.
The river is called the Ogallala Aquifer.
I am going to doubt that a diver was found swept into another lake. That was imply significant springs/siphons along with nice big caves that can pull a flailing body through it all without anyone going in and mapping it.
Thanks for the walk down memory lane! I was a scuba instructor out of El Paso back in the late 1970s and 1980s. The blue hole was one of our regular spots for student check out dives. I logged more hours in that hole than I can remember. It certainly has been upgraded since my diving days. Back then there were no nice concrete stairs to get in or picnic tables and the road/parking area was all dirt and gravel. No permits were required. We had to drag ourselves up the rocks in all our gear to get out. And we had to bring our own dive floats/lines. There were only a few fish back in those days also. Oh to be young again and living those glorious diving days! I remember one December dive - surfacing in the middle of a snow storm that suddenly hit and not wanting to get out of that 60 degree water and into the cold blowing snow.
All that New Mexico cold wind makes it really nice getting back in the car.
I lived near the blue hole in the early 80’s. A story that was told to me was that a diver took his tank off so he could get through the gate into the cave system but was unable to get his tank through & drowned. His body was later found in Carlsbad caverns which is at the other end of the state.
I thought Carlsbad is a dry cave?
My daughter and I visited this past summer on a drive to CA. Gorgeous; a lovely change of pace from the bone-dry panhandle, the temperature of the water a delightful if shocking surprise! It is a treasure, and the nearby Santa Rosa Water Park suggests the locals know it. A really great place to visit!
My wife and I recently moved to New Mexico and have an interest in history as well as traveling, thus your channel is the perfect companion. Subscribed
Check out the Billy the Kid Museum in Fort Sumner. There is so much history and things to see in NM. Depending on what you are looking for there are countless suggestions.
We stopped at Santa Rosa for a few days. Visited blue hole. Beautiful.
I'm from Albuquerque New Mexico I Live Now in Minnesota and in the late 90s I took three of my children to the Blue Hole my middle son got the swim in there it was wonderful thanks for the video
I was there in 2009. I stopped for the night and found the blue hole on accident. It was a very neat find. I missed the museum. Shux.
I visited the Blue Hole during Easter week, 1986. A nice rest stop on the way to Dallas.
I bet it looks pretty much the same.
Thanks again for another great video, Steve. These out of the way spots are great. I’m glad you’re making memories with your family and sharing them with us.
Thank you for watching, glad you enjoyed it.
we had friends in Tucumcarri but Santa Rosa was always the stop over on our way to see Grammy in Hereford TX, then my dad would drive all the way from Hereford back to Albuquerque, he Loved road trips. Dr.Pepper, black licorice and pork rinds were his choice of road food, his kids, nsm. thanks for that nostalgic nudge.
I drove through Hertford, Texas one time. I could not understand how anyone could live there after driving past the stockyards.
I grew up in Santa Rosa. I use to go swimming in the dead of winter decades ago when it was 40°outside and windy the key is to stay in & swim around in a couple of minutes your body gets numb & then it feels like a bathtub
With those fresh water springs all over, we will never run out of water.
I been there before during the summer. The water is really cold and refreshing during the summer! Also there are some fish! They tend to be fairly deep in, or when the blue hole over fills there is a small stream leading away from it where some smaller fishes often appear and you can even have them swim right up next to you!
I always thought blue hole was kind of a magical place in New Mexico, but the state has so many other natural wonders, it is quite interesting!
I'm hoping to go back in the summer and jump in.
Thanks for showing this. We have traveled through Santa Rosa going west several times but never knew about it. Keep up the good work.
If you head back through its worth a quick stop for sure.
land of a thousand lakes.
Could you imagine all the cool 100 plus year old silver coins you could metal detect at the bottom of that thing?
I'm sure someone has already done it, but must have been a hell of a day.
I was at the Blue Hole recently, I think just before fall, and the water is soooo cold. It's beautiful though. We saw little fish and people diving in and out of the caves. You just need to be careful on those steps as they're slimy from moss and it's very easy to slip in and get a wake up call. However in your video here it looks like they've been cleaned. Check out the Bottomless Lakes for another beautiful sight!!!
I live about 20mi from a place called Blue Hole here in Alabama. Ive swam in cold water before. But this place turn the dial up to 12. It's so cold it literally takes your breath away!
I just moved to New Mexico and am eager to visit the Blue Hole now, thanks! New Mexico has so many fascinating places to visit that are off the radar…
Yes, New Mexico is so great and really doesn't get the credit it deserves.
Too bad the local governments are idiots and the sate government is corrupt as all hell. New mexico is one of the most corrupt states in America . The land is maintained horrifically poor and the amount of disrespect is seen everywhere from the trash litter blowing in the wind or horrible animal practices or land management in general. .
New mexico needs help from people who know how important the area truly is.
Do yourself a gigantic favor and visit the “San Antonio hot Springs” a couple of hours west (and a little north) of Santa Rosa. It is New Mexicos most intriguing place that I have found.
Beautiful water, scary deep. Vintage autos looked awesome too! 👍👍👍👍👍👍
I did my final PADI test there when I was in 7th grade. Thanks for the video:)
Thanks for watching. Seems like an amazing place to scuba dive.
Back in the day did my open water scuba certification there. Great place!
My husband was certified there back in the late 70s. Before there was any type of changing areas. Had to change in your hotel room or your car. Great to see that the area has tables and umbrellas.
I have family that is from Santa Rosa so we've been going there for thirty years. Blue Hole is one of our favorite spots along with Hidden Lake that has a submerged plane in it
I've swam in there a few times. My kids liked to dive in it.
Thanks for sharing! I did not know about this one. I did dive in a blue hole in the Bahamas many years ago.
Nice video, always brings back memories every time someone discovers this place. We always swam at the lake next to the Blue Hole because it was warmer. But jumping off the diving platform is and experience.
My family lives in Santa Rosa, I have been going there for years. A lil secret, there's great fishing all around. But all in all it's a beautiful place to visit. Don't forget to visit the fish hatchery and Park Lake. Park Lake has activities for families during holidays (look it up). It's my lil piece of heaven that no one knows about. I'll be there this weekend to do some trout fishing 😃
My nearest fish hatchery is operated by a Tribal Nation,
Salmon aquaculture. I and they reside by the Salish Sea.
One of my favorite little towns in the world.
Hoping to go back soon. Shortly after this the weather got pretty wild and it limited our sightseeing there.
I can't thank you enough for sharing your adventures.
enjoy all your historical videos Steve. Now , the Blue Hole is a place I visited in the summer and of course had to take a refreshing swim. could not imagine going in the day you were there!
Been there a few times, it’s a busy place in the spring and summer months.
Another great video Steve, you and your family stay safe.
Thanks for this. Your video with its honest candor reminded me of how much I love rural New Mexico. The deep sky stargazing, arid desert climate, and hiking and rockhounding .. for the first time in ages I feel the urge to explore again. Peace. 🙏
Practically a born swimmer, here, and I've free dived a few times to about 20 ft, but I hear ya when you say swimming over really deep water gives the heeby-jeebies. I'm the same way, which is strange, since I never gave it much thought when I was young. Anyway, very cool (cold) video. Thanks!
I always drive by the signs on my way to AZ most winters. Thanks for checking it out, saves me the time to do it myself.
Hey, Sidetrack Family! It's been several weeks since I've stopped by for a video. Only 6 hrs to cycle the water? That's some cycling. I get the "Eebie Jeebies," as well in deep water and knowing that people lost their lives, directly below me, would keep me out of there. The Blue Hole is beautiful. Another informative, well delivered video. Great job, Steve!
Thank you, I appreciate it.
Great share. Thank you. It has been very windy and frigid cold this year in New Mexico.
6 years in New Mexico, never made it to Santa Rosa, never heard of the Blue Hole. My pickup camper had, from time to time, been parked at the Bottomless Lakes State Park Campground Southeast of Roswell. Bottomless Lakes is a series of lakes of similar "construction" to the Blue Hole. The largest lake, where the campground is, is the only one where swimming is allowed. I truly enjoyed my time in New Mexico. But, I, too, am a California boy, so I had to "go home".
Visited there a few years ago, it was beautiful. A must for Route 66. Safe travels
Monstrously cool trip you are on, Mr. Adventures! Excellent post!
Thank you.
Thank you for sharing another great informative video. Stay safe and warm in your travels and looking forward to next week with you.
Thank you.
Love your videos. Easily digestible and a fun look at things we may not otherwise know.
Glad you like them!
Enjoyed this video very much!! Looking forward to more in the future!
Oh man, coming from CA myself, I feel that cold to my bones. I've been living in NM for about 15 years now, but I remember the first winter out here. I got hives on my hands and feet, I swear, to this day, it was due to the cold. Year two I got 'em again, but not as bad. Now I wear shorts when it's 45 out and think it's reasonable.
Another great video Steve! I have been there and think it is a must stop if in the area. I can't believe you went there in the dead of winter though. Brrr! Thanks for the post and the historical research.
I stopped in Santa Rosa on a cross country trip back in '95 and stayed for almost a week. great town. the blue hole was fun to swim and dive in, though I only had my snorkel setup. it was over a hundred degrees when I was there so 61 degrees felt great. thanks for the video. I have to get back there.
We stopped by the Blue Hole in the summer of 2016. It is very cold, even with the temperature in the 90's. I just wish we had more time to visit that car museum, but we swam and dove off the rocks for an hour....Definitely worth a quick stop
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing. Going to be out West in March. I'll have to see if on my trip back home we will be close cause I would like to visit this in person. Thanks again for sharing.
Excellent! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Steve! Learned first time about this - thanks!!
I am binging on your channel. Thank you for a 🙂 fine Sunday afternoon.
Awesome! Thank you!
Thanks Steve for another enjoyable video. I too never heard of this attraction in all my travels across New Mexico. Will need to add to my “interesting places” list. Continued safe travels!
I stopped there on my Route 66 trip in my 67 Nova SS, fun trip . Nice spot for sure.....great video. Hi from west coast Canada
My Wife and I did Our Scuba Advanced Certification, deep dive at the Blue Hole, it was quite an adventure.
When we took our extended summer vacations out West in the 60s we must have driven right past that on 66 because we drove on Route 66. I can’t swim anywhere if I can’t see my feet and will not even step into the ocean. I have a serious phobia. I’m all about pools but the Blue Hole is so clear I’m sure I would love 💕 to jump in on a hot summer day. Another place for my list of places that I’m learning about from you! Thanks Steve. Love your videos. 👍☮️🏊🏼♀️❤️
Thanks for your videos, enjoyed all, including this one to the Blue Hole od Santa Rosa, NM. I have enjoyed visiting New Mexico since the 1960s on family trips to visit family and experience new and exciting places throughout New Mexico.
If you have the time while you are nearby, I recommend a visit to the Trinity site within the White Sands Missile Range. Normally closed to the public, twice a year, the US Army hosts a Trinity Site Open House when the public may visit Trinity Site. I learned about this place from my best friend (of 45+ years), who wanted a reason to leave Southern California to visit Trinity. So about 10-15 years ago, when I told him I was going to visit family in NM, he came along and we timed our trip to one of the two times a year the Army opens up White Sands to the public. It was absolutely 💯 enchanting and fascinating. Also surprising was the amount of people that made the same plans to visit Trinity on that day, ...thousands!! Fortunately the place is so spread out and huge and there is so much to see, learn, and experience, that it never felt crowded. You can literally stand on the very ground where the first atomic bomb was detonate and the history of mankind changed forever by entering into the atomic age. Not to give away too much, the very ground where this first A-bomb successfully detonated, is radioactivity speaking, safe to visit. The national park rangers and other personnel present have a multitude of educational kiosk displays throughout. one of these kiosks attended by a park ranger and/or a scientist standing at a large table of Geiger counters displaying measuring roentgen radiation emanating from common items we expose ourselves to in our lives, such as: cigarettes, ionized salt, and old school glow in the dark Radium dials found on watch, clock and other instrument dials painted with luminous paint containing radium-226 . They informatively answered questions i asked regarding the blast, radiation, and whatever else related. One measuring cup was used to scoop up a sample of the soil we were standing on at Trinity and the hand held Geiger counter hovering over it showed no measurement of roentgen radiation. You will spend a full day seeing the sights and the experience will never be forgotten.
BTW, I would have swam in the Santa Rosa Blue Hole too were it not so cold, as you said in the video. I too am a So Cal native and enjoy its famously pleasant weather. I also have enjoyed surfing year round since the 1960s, albeit most of the time well protected within the warmth of a very good wetsuit. I did see, and capture photos of a hearty young surfer last Saturday (1-14-23)who jumped off the rocks to surf big waves at Sunset Cliffs in San Diego wearing only his trucks, and a leash attached to his 8' Costco Gerry Lopez soft surfboard. He wore No wetsuit at all in the middle of winter, on a foamie, to try his hand at the biggest surf in years, water temp in the 50s, very windy, overcast, and very cold!! I was dry, standing on the edge of the cliffs wearing long pants Levi's, a tshirt, a long sleeve over that, a fleeced heavy long sleeve pendleton over that and a heavy coat over that. And i was still feeling the weather. Yes. Incredible. I believe this young surfer would have swam the Santa Rosa Blue Hole right now, in his trunks, given the year round warmer 61°F water at the Blue Hole.
Cheers!!
PS: looking forward to your next video. Best of luck and Thanks again.
I put my feet in the water and I'm questioning the whole 61 degrees thing! At least for the water near the surface.
We have a video on the Trinity Site from a year or so ago. I agree, that's a great trip out there. I would definitely head out there again.
We enjoy your videos. Thanks
👍 Great video! Have been through Santa Rosa many times but never knew about this! Thanks! 😎✌️
Loved diving there.
Like other commenters, I had never heard of this place before. Only drove through NM once, but have had relatives in AZ forever and when talking about NM and possible attractions they never mentioned it. It must've seemed a miracle in the desert for pioneer folk to come across. Noticed you kept the jacket on, still hadn't defrosted in the museum!
I can only imagine those pioneers trying to figure out how deep it was and where the water was coming from too. The museum was pretty cold too, but had the advantage of no wind in there.
Make sure to stop at the Soaring Museum in Moriarity.
This is great channel. Thanks Steve! I love San Diego.
Thanks! Glad you enjoy it.
Wednesday night, January 31st in Phoenix, and the thermostat in my house says 72. Yes, Phoenix!
I MORE than sympathize with you about 30 degree, windy weather, as being Artic cold, along with low seventies being jacket weather. Honestly, my wife just walked across the room, and I put my frozen-beyond-redemption-hands on her legs, just to "punish" her for making me feel even colder than i already am!
She jumped a foot in the air, and has gone over to turn on the heat... I'll stop shivering at 75 or so...
As always, a very nicely done video!
I live in the Southwest and stopped by there with my children on a road trip one Summer, I went swimming in there for the briefest time, and got out rather quickly because of how cold the water is . . . Painfully cold to me! My children stayed swimming a bit longer, but it was too much for them too😄
Bottomless Lakes near Roswell is the same sort of underwater cave system, but much warmer! At least in Summer . . .
Another, more beautiful spot is Sitting Bull Falls, West-Southwest of Carlsbad.
Love your videos!. Thank you for all you do!
I found this very interesting and informative. I actually went scuba diving the blue hole in Belize. It was amazing!
Seeing as how Arizona is above 90 many many months of the year, I hear ya. I also adore cooler weather though. I can see how that spot would have been an AMAZING find back in the day. It's beautiful and is probably really refreshing in the heat. LOVE the underwater footage! That's awesome and well planned!
Yeah, I can just imagine the natives and early pioneers coming across this and having no idea of how deep it is too. They must have thought it was bottomless. While we were out there I wished I had one of those underwater drones.
Great dive spot! 💙🌿
Very interesting. Thank you!
great vid, i live in Silver City, New to here .,.,.,LOVE IT!.,.,.,,.Keep up the great work
I enjoy your videos. You do a really good job at narrating.
Another great side track!
So pretty! Imagine our planet back then! It's 45 degrees in the desert and I'm freezing 🥶
That wind is no joke 😅
I took a dive last summer and it's bitterly cold. The shrivel factor is real in that water 🤣
Pretty interesting! Thanks for the tour.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Ever since I seen the Creature from the Black Lagoon when I was a kid. I never did like swimming in deep water.
Yeah, who knows what's down in that cave!
Several years ago, I came down from Denver with my scuba diving class to take my "PADI" underwater test. Despite the fact I had the remnants of an ear infection, with the company of a Master Diver, I passed. But it was an unusual place to scuba dive, out on the high desert of New Mexico.
Yes, there are fish, at least they were in the depths.
Thanks. I'd have liked to have gotten some more drone shots once it was more exposed, but too many people at that point.
One more spot to add to my list.
Super, c'est dans ma liste pour mon prochain voyage.
My husband and I drove Route 66 the end of October. This is a beautiful spot! Tons of divers there in the fall!!!
Awesome content!
I think that older building was for vendors selling snacks. I live in Colorado and I agree with you, Steve; anything below 70 Degrease is too cold to be out with at least a jacket on. Thanks for another great video!
Many, many memories of Santa Rosa. My ex's great great great grandfather (Don Celso Baca) founded Santa Rosa. We spent many a summer day in the area (coupled with the connected Hidden Lake - very spooky). Local kids would do blind dives from above, taking a running jump over the stairs. It is beautiful, peaceful, so, so cold.
there's a Tank, an M728 CEV in Santa Rosa, just off the highway at the other end of town. in summer of 2020 I ended up sleeping the night in that tank during my cross country motorcycle trip. I had slung my hammock between it and the tree, and it started raining hard. so I popped the hatch and climbed in. it was surprisingly complete on the inside.
Never heard of the Blue Hole in New Mexico until I watched your video just now. Pretty cool spot! When you initially mentioned that the water comes from a cave system, I was hoping you would talk more about the cave system. And you did! That’s interesting that they gated it off so divers can’t descend into the cave’s depths. It’s nice to see that people are allowed to swim there at their own risk and enjoy the site without having to pay an admission fee. I wonder how crowded it gets on a hot summer day? Not sure what the population is in that general area, but maybe there aren’t enough people to make over-crowding a problem. That was interesting seeing the outflow creek. I hear you on the weather, man - I was out in the desert recently doing some hiking and it was in the low 40s. Like you, that’s freezing to me!
I definitely want to head back through during the summer and check it out. I bet it doesn't get too packed just because of how deep it is and not allowing any floatation devices. That would probably eliminate a lot of families.
No actually it gets insanely overcrowded in the summer and they do charge for parking. Which isn't even the problem. If swimming in a small spot with literally dozens and dozens of people and many more waiting to take a turn then you'll probably like it but my family and I didn't stay long at all. We live not far from it and we rather go swimming in one of the many mountain lakes in our area.
@@SidetrackAdventures That’s interesting that flotation devices are not allowed. I wonder what the thinking is behind that?
@@prophez23 Yeah, that doesn’t sound too thrilling. Your idea about heading to a mountain lake is better.
@@prophez23 I've been there quite a few times and it has rarely been very crowded in the summer. The last time it was, but it was 4th of July
Bottomless Lakes near Roswell NM are similar. The 9 lakes are along the Pecos River near the Goodnight-Loving Trail.
This is really cool. I want to stop by on our next RV trip I would love to swim there.
It looked like you'd have no problem parking an RV in the parking lot there.
I’ll have to add it to my road trip plans
Good stuff👍
O lugar é lindo! Muito Obrigado por mais um vídeo excelente e interessante! 😊👍🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Great video. Man I can't believe I missed this stop on my way back from Wichita, KS, who knows when I'll be back thru this way again. I think at the time I was trying to make it from Tucumcari to Flagstaff then home to CA with a day or two to unwind (?)
Nice video🤙 We we’re able to take a plunge into the Blue Hole last summer and will likely be a must stop on future road trips. See you on the road.
Not surprised at the wind. Welcome to Eastern New Mexico!
Whenever I'm in New Mexico I always get a burrito (or three!) at Alsups!
I always stopped at the hotel right across the street from the blue hole. I was a truck driver. Santa Rosa is justva nice little town.
Nice video❤
I live two hours from he Blue Hole in Amarillo Tx it gets very windy in this area. I jumped into the blue hole a few times on a extremely hot day. Kinda freaked me out because it’s so deep, I ended up going to the water park next door.
Thanks! Steve
Thank you for watching.
I'm gonna be headed that way at the end of the month to up my scuba diving game.