Located at 1800 Tingley Drive SW along the Rio Grande Bosque, Tingley Beach is a free, public outdoor recreation area managed as part of the ABQ BioPark system in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Open daily from sunrise to sunset, the venue features three stocked fishing ponds, a designated model boat pond, picnicking facilities, and walking paths connecting directly to the Rio Grande Bosque trail network.
Tingley Beach offers year-round urban fishing, wildlife viewing, and trail access just minutes from Old Town and Downtown Albuquerque. While swimming and wading are strictly prohibited, anglers 12 and older with a valid New Mexico fishing license can fish for stocked Rainbow Trout and Channel Catfish across dedicated ponds. The park is free to access, with no entry or parking fees required.
Are you looking for a relaxing place to get outside to enjoy the unbeatable Albuquerque sunshine? Somewhere you can take the family to see wildlife while still being in city limits? Tingley Beach is the place for you!
Tingley Beach is an outdoor recreation area used for picnics, hikes, and wildlife viewing, featuring a collection of fishing ponds. It is located on Tingley Drive near the Rio Grande, ABQ BioPark Zoo, Downtown, and Old Town Albuquerque.
About Tingley Beach
Tingley Beach has a long history of transformation.
Conservancy Beach (1931 – 1949)
Once part of the Rio Grande’s natural floodplain, the area was turned into an overflow lagoon, a shallow lake, called Conservancy Beach in 1931, under the direction of Mayor (Chairman, back then) Clyde Tingley (1925 – 1935; Tingley was also New Mexico’s 11th governor from 1935 – 1939).
Tingley was praised for getting the costly project approved during the economically trying times of the Great Depression.
Conservancy Beach was a popular spot for Burqueños, including Tingley, and racers from around the country came to watch and partake in speedboat races through the 1940s.
Water aerobics and swimming were other popular activities at the beach. Rumor has it that it cost 25 cents to enter Conservancy Beach in 1931.
Ernie Pyle Beach (1949 – 2004)
In 1949, Conservancy Beach was renamed Ernie Pyle Beach, after the Duke City’s favorite WWII-era journalist and war correspondent.
Ernie Pyle Beach was a social hotspot in post-war Albuquerque. For 20 years, visitors sauntered around in bathing suits, swam in the glistening water, and waited in long lines for the chance to leap from the beach’s exciting on-premise high dive.
The Beach’s Dog Days (1969 – 2004)
The winds of change blew in once again for this beach, and in 1969, polio risk and environmental health concerns shut it down for swimming.
The history of Ernie Pyle Beach for the following 30 years is murky. Gone were the days of the city sunning its collective buns on the overflow’s shores until the City of Albuquerque initiated a $13 million dollar beach renovation project in 2004.
Tingley Beach is Born (2005 – Present)
It was in 2004 that the beloved beach was renamed in honor of Chairman/Mayor/Governor Tingley. The rejuvenated Tingley Beach opened in 2005, brimming with new life: three ponds, a dock, a gathering space, and an ABQ BioPark-linked train depot.
Although swimming isn’t a thing at this beach anymore, it offers plenty of other activities to enjoy. Tingley Beach continues to be a favorite year-round destination for locals and visitors seeking an outdoor escape from sunrise to sunset.
Things to Do
Tingley Beach is the ideal spot for outdoor fun! Cast a line in the fishing ponds, explore scenic trails through the Rio Grande Bosque, enjoy a picnic by the water, watch wildlife up close, go birdwatching, or visit the nearby ABQ BioPark attractions, all in one day.
Fishing
Tingley Beach still has three fishing ponds, each providing a unique experience to suit all anglers:
Bob Gerding Catch and Release Pond
This pond is a fly fisher’s paradise, regularly stocked with Rainbow Trout by the New Mexico BioPark Society. It’s a favorite spot for experienced anglers looking for a challenge, though little ones might be better off at the other ponds since fly fishing requires plenty of casting space.
The Central Pond
This pond is ideal for anglers of all ages! Bait and lures can be used here to catch Rainbow Trout in the colder months or Channel Catfish in the warmer ones.
The Children’s Pond
This pond is a perfect, stress-free spot for kids 12 and under to learn and practice their fishing skills at their own pace.
Model Boating
In addition to the three fishing ponds, Tingley Beach features the Model Boat Pond, a no-fishing area where you can enjoy model boating. Open from sunrise to sunset, this pond is free to use. Please note that only wind-powered or low-speed electric boats with a speed limit of 15 mph are permitted.
Walking Paths
There is no shortage of places to roam around at the Rio Grande Bosque, famous for its abundance of walking trails. Some will take you all the way to Corrales, while others are perfect for a shorter, easy-going walk.
The trails are a great place to add to your birding life list. Just be sure to keep an eye on the kids and watch for any wildlife along the way.
Wildlife Viewing & Feeding the Ducks
Wildlife is abundant around the ponds and the bosque — coyotes, turtles, ducks, roadrunners, and geese are common sights. You might even spot elephants and other animals at the ABQ BioPark Zoo from viewpoints near the ponds.
Feeding the ducks is also a favorite activity at Tingley Beach, but make sure to offer bird-safe food like sprouted or cooked quinoa, raw oats, or blueberries; bread isn’t good for them!
Picnicking at Tingley Beach
Pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic by the water. Tingley Beach has picnic tables scattered around the ponds, great for relaxing and taking in the view. Public restrooms are also available on-site. Be aware that no alcohol or glass containers are allowed.
Explore Nearby ABQ Biopark Attractions
Make a day of seeing all things wildlife. The central location of Tigley Beach near Downtown and Old Town Albuquerque makes it an excellent jumping-off point for you to explore the rest of the Duke City’s most popular attractions.
Tingley Beach Rules and Regulations
Before visiting Tingley Beach, be sure to check out these rules and regulations. Following these simple guidelines will help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.
General Rules
Leave the party at home because Tingley Beach prohibits smoking, alcohol, fireworks, glass containers, weapons, inflatable jumpers, hot-air balloons, and remote control airplanes.
Likewise, this beach isn’t the place for swimming, wading, or otherwise frolicing in the ponds with or without rafts and boats (except for model boats in designated areas).
Keep your pups leashed and clean up after them. Feel free to enjoy and photograph the area’s wildlife, but refrain from touching, disturbing, or capturing them.
Please use stakeless shade options like umbrellas or pop-up shelters instead of tent stakes to protect underground irrigation pipes.
Fishing Rules
Anyone 12 and older will need a valid fishing license to cast a line at Tingley Beach. Get your fishing license in advance because they aren’t available onsite.
Feel free to take home up to four trout and two catfish, but no more. You can buy a Second Rod Validation with a fishing license, but the bag limits won’t change.
Please don’t release live bait fish into the lakes! Bring your fishing pole; trotlines are not allowed, and always wait until you get home to clean your catch.
Each Tingley Beach pond has its own set of rules and regulations. You can find more details on the specific pages for each pond: Bob Gerding Catch and Release Pond, Central Pond, and Children’s Pond.
Plan Your Visit
- Stay Hydrated. Bring plenty of water, especially during hot weather.
- Watch Your Step. Trails can be uneven, and there may be loose rocks or tree roots.
- Be Aware of Wildlife. Respect animals like geese, ducks, and turtles. Keep a safe distance and avoid feeding wildlife human food (it’s not good for them!)
- Use Sunscreen and Wear a Hat. There isn’t much shade, so protect yourself from high desert sunburn.
- Secure Your Belongings. Don’t leave valuables unattended in your car or picnic areas.
- Supervise Children. Keep an eye on kids, especially near the water and walking paths.
- Watch for Cyclists. Some trails are shared with cyclists, so stay aware of your surroundings.
- Respect the Water. Swimming isn’t allowed, and the ponds can be deeper than they appear.
Spend a Sunny Day at Tingley Beach
Tingley Beach is a fantastic place to enjoy the outdoors without leaving the city. You can fish, walk the trails, watch wildlife, or just relax by the water. With no reservations required and the park open from sunrise to sunset, it’s easy to plan a visit anytime.
Just remember to read the rules and plan accordingly. So grab your fishing pole, pack a picnic, and spend the day by the water at Tingley Beach!
Tingley Beach is located at 1800 Tingley Dr. SW in Albuquerque. For more information, visit the Tingley Beach website.
Tingley Beach FAQs
No, swimming, wading, floating, and water tubing are strictly prohibited in all ponds at Tingley Beach. The ponds are managed exclusively for wildlife habitat, fishing, and model boating. Visitors seeking water recreation can explore public municipal pools or splash pads managed by the City of Albuquerque.
Yes, leashed dogs are welcome along the walking trails, picnic areas, and pond perimeters at Tingley Beach. Pet owners must keep dogs on a leash at all times and clean up after them. Pets are not permitted in the water or inside ABQ BioPark facilities accessible via the train depot.
Children aged 11 and under do not require a fishing license to fish in the Children's Pond or any other public pond at Tingley Beach. A valid New Mexico fishing license is required only for anglers aged 12 and older.
Visitors can bring pop-up shade canopies or umbrellas, provided they use stakeless weights (such as sandbags or water jugs) instead of metal ground stakes to prevent damage to underground irrigation lines. Personal charcoal or gas grills, open fires, and glass containers are strictly prohibited throughout the park.
Entry to Tingley Beach and access to the grounds, trails, and parking lots are completely free to the public. The only paid activity on site is purchasing tickets to ride the ABQ BioPark narrow-gauge train to the adjacent Zoo, Botanic Garden, or Aquarium.
While feeding ducks and geese is permitted, park guidelines require visitors to feed waterfowl healthy, species-appropriate foods such as raw oats, cooked quinoa, or fresh berries. Processed human foods like bread, crackers, and chips harm waterfowl digestive systems and degrade pond water quality.
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