Elephant Butte Canyon, also known as Lawhorn Canyon, is a

canyon A canyon (; archaic British English spelling: ''cañon''), gorge or chasm, is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales. Rivers have a natural tendency t ...

in the

Animas Mountains The Animas Mountains are a small mountain range in Hidalgo County, within the " Boot-Heel" region of far southwestern New Mexico, in the United States. Location They extend north–south for about 30 miles (50 km) along the Continental Div ...

Hidalgo County, New Mexico Hidalgo County () is the southernmost county of the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,178. The county seat and largest city is Lordsburg. A bill creating Hidalgo from the southern part of Grant County was p ...

. Its stream is a tributary of Walnut Creek.

Geography

The canyon is located within the Animas Mountains, a rugged subrange of the

Basin and Range Province The Basin and Range Province is a vast United States physiographic region, physiographic region covering much of the inland Western United States and Northern Mexico, northwestern Mexico. It is defined by unique basin and range topography, charac ...

. The region is known for its volcanic history, which has shaped the diverse geological features of the landscape. The mouth of Elephant Butte Canyon is situated at an elevation of near its confluence with Walnut Creek, just below Lawhorn Tank. The source of the canyon is located approximately 3.5 miles north-northeast of its mouth, on the southwest slope of Elephant Butte, at an elevation of .

History

The name "Elephant Butte" originates from a nearby rock formation resembling an elephant. This formation became an island after the construction of

Elephant Butte Reservoir Elephant Butte Reservoir is a reservoir on the southern part of the Rio Grande in the U.S. state of New Mexico, north of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Truth or Consequences. The reservoir is the 84th largest man-made lake in the United Sta ...

in 1916, following the completion of the

Elephant Butte Dam Elephant Butte Dam or Elephant Butte Dike, originally Engle Dam, is a concrete gravity dam on the Rio Grande near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, in the United States. The dam impounds Elephant Butte Reservoir, which is used mainly for agricu ...

. The dam plays a crucial role in water storage and management along the

Rio Grande The Rio Grande ( or ) in the United States or the Río Bravo (del Norte) in Mexico (), also known as Tó Ba'áadi in Navajo language, Navajo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the Southwestern United States a ...

, benefiting agricultural and municipal water users throughout the region.

Recreation

While Elephant Butte Canyon is relatively remote, the surrounding region offers a range of outdoor activities. The nearby

Elephant Butte Lake State Park Elephant Butte Lake State Park is a state park of New Mexico, United States, located north of Truth or Consequences along the shore of Elephant Butte Reservoir in Sierra County. Description The park is the largest state park in New Mexico and ...

is the largest state park in New Mexico and provides opportunities for

camping Camping is a form of outdoor recreation or outdoor education involving overnight stays with a basic temporary shelter such as a tent. Camping can also include a recreational vehicle, sheltered cabins, a permanent tent, a shelter such as a Bivy bag ...

fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment (Freshwater ecosystem, freshwater or Marine ecosystem, marine), but may also be caught from Fish stocking, stocked Body of water, ...

boating Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels (such as rowing and paddle boats), focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, suc ...

, and

hiking A hike is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Long hikes as part of a religious pilgrimage have existed for a much longer time. "Hi ...

. The park surrounds the Elephant Butte Reservoir, which stretches 40 miles long and has more than 200 miles of shoreline.

Conservation and Environment

The Animas Mountains, including Elephant Butte Canyon, support diverse flora and fauna. Conservation efforts focus on protecting these ecosystems from habitat fragmentation and ensuring responsible land use practices. Elephant Butte Reservoir and surrounding areas also play a key role in regional water resource management.

References

{{Authority control Landforms of Hidalgo County, New Mexico Canyons and gorges of New Mexico Rivers of New Mexico Rivers of Hidalgo County, New Mexico