Overlooking the Pecos River Valley, this fascinating park exhibits the varied plant and animal life of the arid Chihuahuan Desert region. Visitors can observe caged animals like snakes, lizards and birds of prey, plus larger animals such as bison and antelope, which are held in pens. Or walk along a nature trail past cacti, agaves, yuccas and other native plant life.See more..
4.0Bottomless Lakes State Park(416 reviews) - Bottomless loads of Fun !! Thursday: 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM State Parks
I’ve been to this park before and I’ve been to the campground in the park as well. This park is phenomenal !! The rock formations in the water formation ponds are fantastic there’s awesome hiking and it’s just a hell of a lot of fun. In the summer you can swim in one of the lakes as well as scuba dive. Just a great place !!!!See more..
4.5City of Rocks State Park(382 reviews) - Unplanned Stop on our Family Planned Road-trip State Parks • Parks • Geologic Formations
One of New Mexico's most visited sights, this state park is uncommercialized and filled with strange rock formations.See more..
4.5Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness(314 reviews) - Toured with navajo group State Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas
We planned Bisti over spring break. We planned a hike with navajo tours. You support the local guides and economy. You also understand the wilderness and desolation of Bisti. It was easy to book the tour online and also call over the phone. Kialo, our guide gave us gps coordinates to meet us outside the park. We booked the afternoon tour - it ran from 2:30 pm- 7:30 pm. We saw some beautiful colors over the sunset. Wear hiking boots for climbing over crumbling rocks, light jacket, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses. The dessert wind picks up and you definitely feel it in the eyes. Definitely pack water and snacks. There are restrooms at the entrance but not along the hike. We were about 9 in the group and kep a pace to cover a wide area. We enjoyed our tour. Its hard to find the best spots on your own. Definitely recommend a guide. There are no trail markers. A lot of the spots are hidden. The hoodos, petrified wood, layered colors of the rocks make this an amazing place to visit.See more..
The Rio Grande Nature Center State Park is a New Mexico State Park located adjacent to the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. The Rio Grande Nature Center is a 38-acre urban wildlife preserve established in 1982. About two thirds of the grounds of the Park are set aside as habitat for wildlife. There are indoor and outdoor wildlife viewing areas overlooking ponds, a native plant garden, and a pollinator garden as well as access to the city-managed trails to the Rio Grande and Bosque. The Visitor Center offers informative displays and a unique Nature Shop. The park is day-use only, no camping. Leashed pets are allowed in the parking area and on the adjacent city trails only.See more..
Very nice campground but do not expect to go to the lake as the locals camp on the lake. We were there on a Thursday and found they let dogs their run free and made fires despite a ban on campfires. They line their campers along the lake making it impossible to access the lake. We mentioned it to the camp host who said not much they can do. The campground is well kept and the picnic tables were under a cover.See more..
Set against the west-facing escarpment of the Sacramento Mountains, Oliver Lee Memorial State Park features scenic views from 44 campsites, historical exhibits and a fully restored 19th century ranch house. Springs from Dog Canyon support a variety of unexpected plant life on the short nature trail and for the adventurous, the Dog Canyon National Recreation Trail rises 3,100 feet in 5.5 miles. Oliver Lee's ranch house is only accessible with guided tours. Call the visitor center for the current schedule.See more..
This was our second stay and visit to Sugarite. We stayed in Soda Pocket at site #10 and had excellent views of the canyon walls to the West. The lower canyon was obstructed by trees. If you want views of the lower canyon stay further up in Soda Pocket in sites numbered in the 20’s. Deer walked through camp in the early morning and late evenings. Lots of hummingbirds (take a feeder) and bird watching. Each site had a bear box for food, etc, as well as a covered table area. Enjoyed fishing and taking photos of the area. We’ve been in Oct and July and both were great trips. The park is very well maintained and the staff is very friendly and helpful. Camp hosts are fantastic!See more..
This is a perfectly lovely well maintained park with gorgeous distance water views. It was $14!!!!! a night! (+$4 res fee). First of all bathrooms and showers were new, SPOTLESS and had hot water and plenty of toilet paper. Sites have covered picnic tables with stone wind blocks, (but it wasn’t windy when we visited) and the landscaping is so nice, the air is full of beautiful desert flower scents. Oh and that person hollering about oil flares, yeah it’s in one of my photos, see if you can find it? It’s a loooong way away. There were two flys, no mosquitios and we had a gorgeous evening dining while looking at the lake. Maybe in 2015 it wasn’t as nice but in 2022 it sure is. No problem at all getting a reservation, just go on reserveamerica. We stayed one night after visiting Carlsbad Caverns. Highly recommend.See more..
At the park they have a fabulous museum that tells in great detail the raid on Columbus by Pancho Villa. You will become an expert on the raid after you visit the museum. The park also has a campground that has a wide variety of cactus & similar plants native to the area. The cost to enter the park is $5 & the museum is closed from noon - 1 pm for lunch. I am glad I visited.See more..
Part of the 33,1160-acre Colin Neblett Wildlife Area, the largest wildlife area in the state, this state park features the soaring 400-foot granite formations known as the Cimarron Palisades.See more..
I can't believe there aren't more reviews on this place. It is our favorite place to take the boat in NM. The lake is huge and never busy like Elephant Butte. We prefer to camp at the Cottonwood campground because it is beautiful to camp by the San Juan river however if it rains, you have to drive through a "river" to get to the campsite, you also have to take a long dirt road (about a mile) off the main road to reach it. So, if you want more convenience, I suggest staying at one of the campgrounds closer to the lake (Pine, Juniper, etc). Did I say, we absolutely love this lake?! Yes, it is lower than years past, as all lakes are in NM but it is still huge and plentiful if you have a boat. Also, some great fishing and plenty of space to wakeboard and tube. I also want to let you in on a little secret...there is a cute winery - San Juan Winery and a Lavender farm down the road about 5 miles away, they are both worth the side trip!!!See more..
My husband and I spent a Wednesday afternoon at Santa Rosa state park. The park is run by the US Army Corps of Engineers. They charge $5 per car or half-price of you have the America the Beautiful (National Park Senior) pass. The visitor center was not a place to get information but there were restrooms and a nice open air second floor lake/dam viewing area. The viewing area had stairs and a handicap ramp. There was a nice 3/4 mile Handicap & Scenic loop trail near the visitor center. I highly recommend this trail. The campsites looked nice and most had a covered picnic table. The lake looked very low and the main boat ramp was out of the water. The road to the area below the dam was closed. It is certainly worth at least a couple hours.See more..
My husband and I went to Fenton Lake State Park on a Friday morning. The park is smaller than most state parks I have been to. The lake is 37 acres in size and lots of people were fishing. There were many rangers patrolling in the park. They even got after a couple boaters in the lake. There were some canoes, kayaks and small fishing boats (without motors) in the lake. Fishermen were catching some good size trout. We were surprise to find that swimming and wading is not allowed in the lake. We had a picnic lunch while enjoying the lake view. We saw many chipmunks and birds. We even saw a bird of prey dip into the lake and grab a big fish. That was exciting. The view below the dam was pretty. It was starting to get crowded by 1 pm, probably the weekend visitors. The fee per vehicle for a day pass was $5. We spent about 2 hours at the park and it was fun.See more..
4.0Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park(49 reviews) - A Beautiful Hilly Park Along the Rio Grande River Spent 2-3 hours State Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas
First, its pronounced Mesiya. The park is located on the Rio Grande near NMSU in Las Cruces. Nice Picnic area and trails. You can get a self-guided trail booklet at the Visitors Center, if you luck. Beautiful wildlife , including many birds. Spend a few hours or the day. You won't be disappointed. 2.3 Miles Hiking Interpretive Trails Accessible Trails Visitors have many opportunities to view wildlife in natural surroundings while strolling one of the self-guided nature trails. Enjoy a fun ranger-led tour! Park Elevation 3,879 ftSee more..
Only stopped by to relax and have a snack while passing by on the freeway. The lake is pretty. People were swimming, fishing and boating. Appears everyone was social distancing. Nice ramadas to picnic. Toilet areas were clean and stocked. It was very windy which would make any activity less fun. They give you a pass when you pay so you can leave and re-enter if necessary.See more..
Once again Eagle Nest Lake does not disappoint! We fished Saturday morning into the afternoon. For for 6 hours of bank fishing. It was awesome!!!! Started off a bit slow but the action picked up. Almost losing a rod to a wide inch fighting rainbow....lol. All in all again a fabulous time with my Dad and son. See more..
I came here in December with my family. We saw that there was a state park off NM-14, so we turned off. It's a little shocking if you're not ready - you have to drive through the tiny town of Cerrillos and turn onto a 0.5-mile-long dirt road to get to the main parking area. Once you are there, though, it is the same as any state park. There is a small pay station where you can get a parking pass for a couple of dollars and a bunch of trails begin at the parking lot. We took one and hiked for about an hour. The trail had several great views of the hills and surrounding desert, and it was all so quiet and serene. It's a wonderful place to really experience the high desert landscape.See more..
One of the best NM state parks we have camped in! Sites were nicely spaced with some foliage in between. There was a protected (shaded) area for the picnic table, near the fire ring. Nice views of what used to be the river (was totally dry when we visited) and the surrounding mountains. Myriads of coyotes heard at night, along with the train and sandhill cranes in the morning. Trails are throughout the park but were a bit overgrown in some areas. Pit toilets in each campground and main shower and flush toilet building not far away. Kid's playground. Quiet setting!See more..
4.0Heron Lake State Park(39 reviews) - Stay in the campground for 4 nights had a great view State Parks • Bodies of Water
Known for excellent sailing, fishing, hiking and cross-country skiing, this scenic park offers a 6,000-acre lake where boats can only operate at no-wake speeds.See more..
We have not had the best of luck with visiting NM State Parks; they have been lacking in one or more areas. But this one was great! We camped on a holiday weekend, so reservations were a must. The campsites are spaced nicely apart. There was a protective sunshade over the picnic table as most of the campsites are exposed. Pit toilets are in every camp loop and flush toilets along with showers are at the visitors center. Note: the visitors center information area is still closed. The hosts greeted us warmly and enthusiastically. The canyon trail was an amazing experience. A tranquil path went along the creek with many birds flying and calling. I spotted an eagles nest! Many folks were dispersed camping along the lake side; that's just not our thing. No fire ban was on, so we were able to have a campfire. We'd definitely come back!See more..
4.0Villanueva State Park(28 reviews) - Wonderful for the 'shoulder' seasons State Parks
We just bought a travel trailer and decided to travel about 100 miles from home for an overnight 'shake down' cruise. I've passed the exit to Villanueva on I-25 many times and finally decided to visit. Driving down from the north you pass wonderful Spanish villages with great character and history. The park itself was very clean, quiet and, this fall, with the cottonwoods in full color. The hiking is great and we found the host and rangers to be very engaging and friendly. Maybe it's too loud in summer, but fall is a great time to visit. We'll definitely be back.See more..
This.park is about 30 miles south of I-40 east of Albuquerque. It is fairly primitive with a few hiking trails some up to 2 miles long. There is an office where you can get a trail map and map of campsites. There are 37 sites, none with water. 16 sites have electric-those are $14/night. Day use fee is $5 per car. Quiet place with great smell of pine all around.See more..
4.0Sumner Lake State Park(20 reviews) - Family Fun Camping, Fishing, Boating State Parks • Parks
It is a beautiful lake with interesting shape. Nice boat ramp and plenty of room to walk and fish and sit and enjoy the landscape. During February, it is quiet and feels like you have the place to yourself. The park ranger is helpful and friendly.See more..
1,730 acres located in New Mexico's northern mountains, this park region offers plenty of outdoor recreation such as fishing, boating, winter cross-country skiing, hiking and camping.See more..
Conchas Lake State Park The campsites appear close together, as you cross over the dam, but as you get closer, you notice the sites are nicely spaced and 2 levels for a RV, a vehicle, and a boat. There are 2 separate campgrounds, the North and the Bell Point. We stayed at the later. Each site has a Pueblo cabana with an enclosed picnic table and benches. They are designed with 3 window openings and provide a nice breeze. It was at least 10-15 degrees cooler sitting in one. I was impressed! There is a a large fire ring, but fires and grills were prohibited when we were there, in late May. Smaller trees are all around, but don’t provide much shade. There is one bath house for each campground to share. Most people seem to be self-contained, so they never seemed crowded. They were cleaned daily.See more..
We camped here during a fishing trip and the shower was a God-send. Fishing can be tight if there's a lot of people there (and there was one day), but there's room to explore. Great campsites with a wide variety of spots from "neighbors" to "all alone". We'll be back.See more..
3.0Percha Dam State Park(9 reviews) - Camping - could've been better. State Parks • Parks
Percha dam has probably seen better days and the ongoing drought isint helping. The campsites are in a pebble filled cul-de sac that backs into a field of chiles, Little pergolas are provided at each campsite with a table beneath them for shade. We set up our tent behind the structure and had a peaceful nights sleep ... or would have if not for the loud and obnoxious "neighbor" trying to set up camp at 11. Whats usually a 10 minute affair, turned into an hour long duel with an obviously inebriated patriarch yelling at the kids with unclear instructions. Our quiet tent turned into a nightclub with flashlights being aimed (not really) around at a dizzying pace. To make matters worse the restrooms were full of bugs and flies and only one was open. The showers were a boon and is what gives it 3 stars. The tent sites did seem more isolated and calmer and the camp hosts/rangers seemed like nice folks.See more..
Stumbled across this lake when exploring outside of Las Vegas, and we were glad we found it! Very quiet and quaint, this lake offers amazing views and landscape.See more..
