Tingley Beach and Bosque

Navigate to 1800 Tingley Drive, just south of Central Avenue. Gated vehicle entrances from Tingley Drive serve lots north of the train station and between the Central and South ponds.

Use either of the two lots entered from Tingley Drive or legal parallel spaces along the gravel road west of the ponds. Do not park on cement paths, landscaping, or the ditch maintenance road west of Tingley Drive.

The ponds, public restrooms, and trails are open every day from sunrise to sunset. The train station and cafe are currently closed, so bring water and food rather than relying on concessions.

Yes. Admission, parking, trails, and pond access are free and first-come, first-served. Anglers age 12 and older must separately obtain a current New Mexico fishing license; licenses are not sold on site.

The Children's Pond has an accessible ramp, the Central Pond has a wheelchair-accessible ramp in front of the train station, and the Model Boat Pond has a ramp to the water's edge. Fishing users with mobility disabilities receive preference at designated ramps.

Yes. Paved walking and fitness paths around the ponds connect to the Paseo del Bosque Trail, with additional unpaved multi-use paths in the Rio Grande bosque. Use the official map to choose the pond or trail connection you need.

Public restrooms are available during the posted sunrise-to-sunset park hours. Concession and train-station closures do not mean the outdoor park and public restrooms are closed.

No swimming or wading is allowed. Rafts and ordinary boats are prohibited; only designated model boats may use their specified pond. The Train Station and cafe are currently closed, and grills can close during fire restrictions.

Yes. Dogs are welcome but must remain leashed, and owners must remove all waste. Keep pets out of every pond and respect wildlife and anglers around narrow shoreline paths.

Yes. Picnic tables, covered picnic areas, and charcoal grills are located around the ponds, and visitors may bring their own food. Grilling can be prohibited during fire season, no alcohol is allowed, and events over 50 people require permits.

Central Pond allows anglers of all ages; Children's Pond is for anglers age 12 and under; Bob Gerding Pond is catch-and-release fly and lure fishing with single barbless hooks; and the separate Model Boat Pond is for qualifying model craft. Everyone age 12 or older needs a New Mexico fishing license to fish.

Tingley Beach has five shade structures: covered picnic tables on the Central Pond peninsula and at the Boat Pond, plus covered benches at the Boat Pond. Cottonwoods provide intermittent shade on bosque routes, but pond edges, parking, and long trail stretches remain exposed to high-desert sun. The seasonal cafe and train-station facilities are not dependable all-day refuges. Carry water and use an open substantial building or enclosed vehicle for lightning, high wind, dust, or dangerous heat.

The City classifies Tingley Beach as open space and does not list playground equipment there. It is intended for fishing ponds, model boats, walking, wildlife, picnics, and Bosque access; swimming and wading are prohibited. Do not confuse it with the separate Tingley Park near Coal Avenue and 10th Street, which the City lists with shaded playgrounds, fields, picnic space, and restrooms. Use the exact destination name and address before navigating, and supervise children continuously beside every pond.

No. Despite the name, Tingley Beach's ponds are for regulated fishing and designated model or rental boats; Albuquerque prohibits swimming and wading. The lakes, restrooms, and trails are free and open sunrise to sunset, but every child should remain supervised at the water's edge. Rio Grande Outdoor Pool is a separate seasonal City pool just east of Tingley Beach with admission, wristbands, and scheduled swim sessions.

ABQ RIDE Route 66 and ART Route 766 stop at Central Avenue and Tingley Drive, the official transit approach for Tingley Beach and the nearby Botanic Garden and Aquarium. From Central, walk south on Tingley Drive toward the fishing ponds; do not confuse Tingley Beach with Tingley Park near the Zoo. ABQ RIDE is zero-fare, and the City recommends its Transit app for live arrivals and construction-related changes.