Top Things to do in New Mexico
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Top 10 Nature & Parks in New Mexico, United States
With its rich cultural heritage from Native American and Spanish settlers, New Mexico has been both a Spanish colony and a Mexican colony, and still retains a strong individual identity within the United States. The landscape is breathtaking, the food incredible, and there is a thriving cultural scene, all of which makes New Mexico, and Santa Fe in particular, a great place all year long.
Restaurants in New Mexico
1. White Sands National Monument
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4,059 reviews
Visitors to this endless waterless sea can enjoy driving, hiking, visiting a museum and sledding down the huge dunes.
Reviewed By waynefromcali - Yucaipa, United States
Like an ocean wave of rare white crystal gypsum sand-White Sands National Monument in the desert of New Mexico is known for dramatic landscapes of rare white gypsum sand dunes.In 2019 White Sands National Monument was redesignated White Sands National Park by The United States Department of the Interior Office of National Parks. . . . . . #whitesands #newmexico #desert #nationalparks #usdeptoftheinterior #hiking #natgeoyourshot #natgeomyshot #whitesandsnationalpark #dunes #sanddunes #ilovesanddunes #route66 #alamagordo #albuquerque #deserthighway #ilovenewmexico #leicacameras #hasslebladcameras #canon #nikon #sonycameras #film
2. Big Room
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 982 reviews
The largest cavern in Carlsbad Caverns.
Reviewed By 277vincentm - New Orleans, United States
My review will focus on what to expect during the Covid pandemic. My caving has gone from Mammoth—the largest cave complex under earth on Earth—to Phra Nang Cave—hardly big enough for pirates to bury a decent-sized chest in, but notable as the sanctuary of a deity who probably pre-dates Buddhism. I’d been to Carlsbad before, but was going cross-country with a buddy and decided take a detour to the cavern. The main event at Carlsbad is the Big Room. Normally there are two ways to get to it: (A) hike down via a diabolically steep and arduous “Natural Entrance” path that goes past the Devil’s Spring and Devil’s Den, ending 750 feet underground, a 1.25 mile / 2-km hike taking you an hour or more; or (B) take an elevator down; normally the line moves reasonably fast. Where the natural entrance reaches the underground floor of the elevator, normally you have three more options: you can (C) take a ranger-guided tour through several spectacular chambers including the King’s Palace and Queen’s Chamber, (D) hike the Big Room route, or (E) do ‘em both. Either (C) or (D) will take you about 75 minutes: so you can do both in under 3 hours. Depends how long you stop to take in the views, and whether you read all the placards—I recommend you do. If you’re in a wheel-chair, you take the elevator down and then do half of the Big Room tour. You have to take a short-cut back, so you won’t see the Top of the Cross, Totem Pole, and views of the lower cave, Mirror Lake, and “bottomless pit.” Tough, but the NPS is right: just past the wheelchair barricade there’s a steep drop. Seeing the Big Room of Carlsbad Caverns really is worth the trip in itself. Three weeks ago, when I checked the website, the Covid-related rules were: (1) the Ranger-guided tours were cancelled—scratch off the royal cave-family. (2) you had to hike down via the Natural Entrance path—the only folks allowed to go by elevator were mobility-impaired visitors. (3) You had to arrive before 1:30 to be allowed in. A week ago, restrictions were relaxed a bit. All visitors can now take the elevator either up or down, but lines are slow, because (a) the elevators take several minutes to go up or down 750 ft, (b) a work crew is frequently wiping down one of the two elevators putting it out of service, and (c) Rangers limit passengers to 2 or 3 per trip—no packing everyone in like sardines. All good reasons. One plus: because folks can now take the elevators both up and down, the last entry time was changed, from 1:30 to 2:45 if memory serves me right. Unfortunately social distancing requirements will probably kill ranger tours, as they should, until the pandemic’s over. The NPS emergency rules are sensible and commendable. You could wait a year or two. I’d say, see Carlsberg now if you can. But my #1 recommendation is that you check the NPS’s Carlsbad Caverns webpage for the latest information, both as you’re planning your trip, and a day or two before your intended arrival. A single Visitor Center ranger contracting Covid-19 might shut the Cavern down.
3. Columbine Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 45 reviews
Approximately five miles one-way, this is a scenic and moderate-rated trail that leads hikers along a river and through meadows.
Reviewed By Missing-mountains - Joplin, United States
We got to explore this beautiful trail with old and young hikers (age range 8-50 years). It was a great trail will some slope and loose rock, but not a problem for our family. The water crossings were all either log bridges (so exciting for the kids) or well spaced, dry, solid stepping stones. In 1.5 hours we had seen numerous waterfalls, 2 meadows full of wild flowers and were tired enough to turn around. You can easily hike as far as you want or keep on pushing to the further trails. We took the easy going short hike. Enjoy.
4. Wheeler Peak
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 61 reviews
An extremely challenging, eight to ten mile hike (one way).
Reviewed By 2gonesomewhere - Marathon, United States
New Mexico's highest peak at 13167 (13161?13159? anyway it's the tallest). Shortest trail is up the Williams Lake side - about 1/4 mile before the lake hang a left. Well marked. I measured about 9.5 miles round trip from trail head at Williams Lake parking area, including a short detour to Mt. Walter which shares saddle to Wheeler and as second highest (13141) should easily be honored with a visit. Great views of Williams Lake area, and Red River area on the other side. Another trail leaves from the Taos Ski Valley parking lot and is much longer via Bull-of-the Woods Trail. This is a nice hike too - we went part way to visit Fraser (Frazer) Mountain at 12163'. Nice hike too, bighorns around. If you go to Wheeler this way it is more like 13-14 miles round trip.
5. Bandelier National Monument
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,107 reviews
Bandelier National Monument is 50 square miles of the Pajarito Plateau, on the slopes of the Jemez Volcanic field in the Jemez Mountains. Over 70% of the Monument is Wilderness, with over 1 mile elevation change, from about 5000' along the Rio Grande to over 10,000' at the rim of the Valles Caldera, providing for a wide range of life zones and wildlife habitat. There are only 3 miles of road, but over 70 miles of hiking trails. The Monument, founded in 1916, protects Ancestral Pueblo archeological sites, a beautiful landscape, and the country's largest Civilian Conservation Corps National Landmark District.
Reviewed By gleasonl - Cottonwood, United States
OUTSTANDING! What a GREAT Place for a Family Outing. There are GREAT Trails for hiking and exploring, Camping areas, Visitor Center Activities and Videos, Guided Tours, Self-Guided Tours, A Wonderful Gift Shop and So MUCH to LEARN. AMAZING! Don't miss the short .5 mile hike to the Alcove House.
6. Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 72 reviews
Enchanted Forest is New Mexico's largest and only full service cross country ski area. We offer a full rental shop, PSIA XC ski lessons, ski patrol, and snack bar, all at our comfy day lodge and lesson area. With 32 km of ski trails, and 18 km of snowshoe trails we offer plenty of terrain for anyone to have fun. We also offer Summer and Winter on trail yurt rentals. Ski or Snowshoe in the Winter, or Hike or Mt. Bike in the Summer.
Reviewed By hannahlQ2040XP
This is a charming and beautiful place for Nordic skiing. The owners and staff are just lovely and we are definitely coming back!
7. Gila National Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 181 reviews
Reviewed By GretchenB143 - Phoenix, United States
Whether you are in the Gila National Forest to hike, camp, drive, visit the Gila Cliff Dwellings.... take your time and take it all in. It’s worth more than a quick day trip to really experience the wilderness. There are hiking trails for all skill levels and camping in excellent locations. There is limited to zero cellular service, so if this is important to you, be prepared to plan ahead.
8. Petroglyph National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,874 reviews
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.
Reviewed By jbushman2017 - Fresno, United States
Perfect for Covid times. This site is an archaeologists dream as there are few places where you can see so many petroglyph's in such a place as you will see here. Visitors drive to the visitor center (which is closed) to pick up a map that shows three places within the monument area where you can visit the petroglyphs. My wife and I picked up a map and then drove 10 minutes down a road to visit one of the sites. The site included three very small walking trails (all less than 500 meters) from which you could get up close to these amazing petroglyphs. Visiting is all free and it is only about 15 minutes from downtown by car. Do wear shoes and bring water. Please "like" this review if you find it helpful.
9. Lincoln National Forest
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 339 reviews
This vast 1.1 million-acre forest region is comprised of separate recreational sections including Ruidoso Valley, Cloudcroft and Carlsbad, which are all located throughout the southern Rocky Mountains of New Mexico.
Reviewed By 269marykayg - Bastrop, United States
Lincoln National Forest has it all...camp sites, great trails, wonderful views. This is a great place to enjoy Nature in a pristine environment.
10. Rockhound State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 105 reviews
A park full of beautiful and rare rocks and an ideal spot for the rock collector.
Reviewed By karih453 - Bend, United States
We had intended to camp here, but the pandemic changed our plans. We stayed in town and came out here for the day. We did the Jasper Trail only because it was a little too warm for us to do the Thunder Egg Trail. We found plenty of interesting rocks and plants. The views of the Florida Mts were lovely.
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