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Malpie Lake

Des Moines, New Mexico — Union County.

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32Surface acres

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 135865002).

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Malpie Lake, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Compare car rentals near this lake

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Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Location & fast facts

Where Malpie Lake is in New Mexico

The red circle marks Malpie Lake.

Fast facts

About Malpie Lake

  • County: Union
  • Nearest city: Des Moines (about 9.9 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 128 mi from Santa Fe and 184 mi from Albuquerque, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (New Mexico: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in New Mexico

Official NMDGF pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Camping. 1 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

    Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

    Lake map

    Malpie Lake shoreline

    0.1 mileN

    No public access sites are listed for this water in the OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) data.

    Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 135865002), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

    Campgrounds near Malpie Lake

    We found 1 campground and RV park within 15 miles of Malpie Lake. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

    All campgrounds & RV parks in New Mexico

    Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

    Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

    Conditions right now

    Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
    Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

    Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (36.6178, -103.9549). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Malpie Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

    Sun, moon & best fishing times

    Sun & moon at Malpie Lake

    Best fishing times

    Major periodMinor periodDaylight

      Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in MT (America/Denver), and accurate to within a few minutes.

      Contact & official info

      Questions about Malpie Lake

      How big is Malpie Lake?

      Malpie Lake covers about 32 acres in Des Moines, New Mexico (Union County).

      Are there campgrounds near Malpie Lake?

      Yes. We list 1 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.

      What towns are on Malpie Lake?

      Malpie Lake touches Des Moines in Union County, New Mexico.

      Share a tip or fishing report

      Know Malpie Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

      Lakes & ponds nearby

      Straight-line distance between lake centers. All New Mexico lakes & ponds · All waters in Des Moines