4.5Petroglyph National Monument(1.967 reviews) - Easy walk, great views, dog-friendly Thursday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Historic Sites • National Parks • Geologic Formations
Up to 15,000 petroglyphs or prehistoric rock art images have been found on the West Mesa volcanic escarpment, located along a 17-mile canyon outside of Albuquerque.See more..
4.5Chaco Culture National Historical Park(752 reviews) - Fantastic experience in an isolated remote area, that happens to be a National Park National Parks
Chaco Canyon holds one of the largest collection of prehistoric buildings on the continent.See more..
4.5Pecos National Historical Park(459 reviews) - Lovely scenery, wonderful past! Thursday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours National Parks
Pecos National Historical Park commemorates thousands of years of human travel through the area. This includes hundreds of years of human habitation, such as Pecos Pueblo and the Spanish Mission Church. The Santa Fe Trail came through the park, as did the original path of Route 66. The Civil War brought the Battle of Glorieta Pass here, where Confederate ambitions for the Southwest stopped. The Forked Lightning Ranch boasted Northern New Mexico dude ranching and the home of Tex Austin, E.E. "Buddy" Fogelson, and Greer Garson. Whatever your interest in New Mexico, from archeology to modern rodeos, Pecos National Historical Park is connected!See more..
4.5Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument(366 reviews) - Fabulous Though Remote Place Thursday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Historic Sites • National Parks
Surrounded by Gila National Forest and at the edge of Gila Wilderness, this area contains dwellings of the ancient Mogollon people who lived here in the 13th century. For thousands of years, groups of nomadic people used the caves of the Gila River as temporary shelter. In the late 1200's, people of the Mogollon Culture decided it would be a good place to call home. They built rooms, crafted pottery and raised children in the cliff dwellings for about twenty years. Then the Mogollon moved on, leaving the walls for us as a glimpse into the past.See more..
Located in a breathtaking natural setting, this park is ideal for picnics and camping.See more..
4.5Fort Union National Monument(164 reviews) - Historic Fort off the beaten path that offers more than we thought Thursday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Historic Sites • National Parks • Monuments & Statues
This fort had so much to offer than we thought. Great stop to stretch your legs after a long drive. The for was very large at one time, but you can still get the perspective of how everything was laid out, and some walls and fireplaces are still standing. Great tour guides. Nice spot that is dog friendly. Clear pathed trails. Nice breeze coming through the plains on a warmer day. The Junior Park Rangers were very friendly. This sight is under construction but there was a mobile office pods in the parking lot that offers a gift shops with a bunch of fun & informative books, etc.See more..
One can debate what was done here and why and if the scientists really realized what they were doing but the actual park on it's own merits is incredibly well done and worthwhile visit. From the lodge, the museum, the pond, the bathtub row of houses... the original farming area small wooden house and the rock pit houses.. it's all here the last 1000 years very interesting.See more..
Hiked the Pine Tree Trail which is a 4-mile loop. The trailhead is about a 35-minute drive from Las Cruces and on the east side of the Organ Mountains. As you approach the campground and parking area by car, you get stunning views of the jagged mountains. The hike itself takes you even closer to the mountains as you gain steady elevation. We started at about 8:15am and spotted lots of wildlife: deer, roadrunner, cottontail, lizards and even a rattlesnake! The latter was to the side of the path and we startled each other at first. Then he pretty quickly moved off the path and we were able to continue. Highly recommend this hike!See more..
4.5White Sands National Park(69 reviews) - Great Addition to the National Park System National Parks
White Sands is now a full fledged National Park and probably the best reason to come to Alamogordo, NM. It is a great companion park to Carlsbad Caverns also in New Mexico. This park is the largest gypsum dune field in the world and it is truly other worldly to visit especially the far reaches in the Alkali Flats Trail. However, be sure to visit at different times of the day. We visited at sunset and in the morning and it was so different. In the morning you are truly blinded by the white sand that is like hiking in fresh snow. At sunset, White Sands is incredible, truly magical. The soft light changes the colors of the sands and the mountains. It is amazing. For me, the sunset experience highlights why White Sands is more than a monument and rightfully designated a national park now. Come to Alamogordo to see this great addition to the park system.See more..
We planned a day trip to the NWR specifically to bird, and were not disappointed! We literally had the entire place to ourselves, and took our time walking the paths, and driving slowly along the roads.... Birds sighted - New to our birding list - Yellow-Headed Blackbird Sage Thrasher Northern Harriers Scaled Quail Brewer's Sparrow Green-Tailed Towhee What a delightful place!See more..
4.0Caballo Lake State Park(42 reviews) - Stay and unwind Spent 1-2 hours National Parks • Hiking Trails
A great well maintained park with lots of walking trails that are not strenuous. Quite and relaxing. Rv spots were easy to get into with little to no backing up required . Also some nice boondock camping near lake.See more..
These grasslands stretch for miles, dotted with occasional trees and derelict buildings that were once prairie homesteads. The fields are alive with birds and small mammals, as well as grassland insects. This is a place where you can wander for hours or days to your heart's content. there are no developed facilities, just simple spots to camp and small towns in which to find a diner and a conversation.See more..
Welcome to Carlsbad, one of the most popular places in the Land of Enchantment. Once known as the Pearl of the Pecos, the picturesque town is famous for its tree-lined streets, public parks, unrivaled recreation areas and friendly ambiance. From the otherworldly landscape of Carlsbad Caverns National Park to compelling historic sites, trails that wind through ancient landscapes, art, culture, shopping and more, Carlsbad draws visitors back again and again with its unique beauty and charm.See more..
