Plan your New Mexico adventure

Todo Nuevo México

Trail · Southwest NM
Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument
Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument in southwestern New Mexico protects prehistoric, historic, geologic, and biological resources across four distinct areas near Las Cruces. Open for camping, hiking, off-highway vehicle use, picnicking, wildlife viewing, and environmental education; a visitor center and interpretive programs are also available. Photography is permitted. Contact the managing agencies for current access conditions.
Hiking, ATV OHV
Trail · North Central NM
Orilla Verde Recreation Area
Orilla Verde Recreation Area lies within Rio Grande del Norte National Monument in north-central New Mexico, where campgrounds provide direct river access in the Rio Grande Gorge. Managed by the BLM Taos Field Office, the area supports camping, backpacking, hiking, fishing, boating, kayaking, whitewater rafting, swimming, picnicking, wildlife viewing, and photography; a visitor center is also available. Contact the BLM Taos Field Office for current fees and conditions.
Hiking
Trail · Central NM
Ox Canyon Trailhead
Ox Canyon Trailhead is a day-use trailhead in the Manzano Mountains of central New Mexico, managed by the USDA Forest Service (Cibola National Forest, Mountainair Ranger District). The 3.9-mile trail ascends to the Manzano Crest Trail and offers vault toilet facilities. The trailhead is typically open April through November.
3.9 mi · Hiking
Trail · North Central NM
Panchuela Trailhead
Panchuela Trailhead in north-central New Mexico sits at the end of Forest Road 305 off NM 63, approximately 22 miles north of Pecos. The trailhead is equipped with drinking water and a vault toilet, and accommodates hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding. Photography is permitted. Specific trail length, elevation, and difficulty are not listed; consult the recreation.gov listing or the managing agency for current conditions.
Hiking, Equestrian
Trail · Southeast NM
Pecos River Corridor Recreation Area
The Pecos River Corridor Recreation Area encompasses 6,000 acres along the Pecos River north of Loving in Eddy County, New Mexico, stretching to the NM-Texas state line. Managed by the BLM Carlsbad Field Office, this corridor offers water-based recreation and semi-primitive motorized recreation opportunities, including boating and fishing access via a public boat ramp on the NM side of Red Bluff Reservoir. Public lands are interspersed with private and state holdings. A 14-day stay limit applies; there are no fees.
Hiking · Fee
Trail · Southwest NM
Peloncillo Mountains Wilderness Study Area
Peloncillo Mountains Wilderness Study Area is a low-mountain landscape in southwestern New Mexico's Hidalgo County, managed by the BLM Las Cruces Field Office. The WSA borders the Peloncillo Wilderness in Arizona and features cliffs, numerous canyons, and gentle desert grassland hills within the Madrean Sky Islands ecosystem. Wildlife includes desert bighorn sheep, Gila monsters, and pincushion cacti. Access from Interstate 10 Exit 3 at Steins, NM; drive northeast on Summit Road approximately 10.5 miles. Hiking and wilderness activities permitted with a 14-day stay limit.
Hiking
Trail · Southwest NM
Peña Blanca Wilderness Study Area
Peña Blanca Wilderness Study Area in south-central New Mexico, on the eastern edge of Las Cruces in Doña Ana County, managed by BLM Las Cruces Field Office. The rock shelters here preserve the earliest known cultivated corn in the United States—a primitive eight-row variety—representing significant archaeological evidence of early agriculture. This WSA offers wilderness recreation with opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, and cultural exploration across naturally intact public lands eligible for wilderness designation.
Hiking
Trail · North Central NM
Perea Nature Trail
Perea Nature Trail is a one-mile loop in the Jemez Mountain Range foothills just outside San Ysidro, Sandoval County, in northwest New Mexico, managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The trail offers views of mountain peaks, the Rio Salado riverbed, Blanco Mesa, and Nacimiento Mountain formations. Located within a migratory bird pathway, it provides birdwatching and photography opportunities with a bench and cottonwood tree for rest.
1.0 mi · Easy · Hiking · Fee
Trail · Southwest NM
Petaca Pinta Wilderness Study Area
Petaca Pinta Wilderness Study Area is located in Cibola County in western New Mexico, managed by the Bureau of Land Management's Rio Puerco Field Office. The site features dramatic topography with lava flows, colorful mesas, and sandstone cliffs across diverse geological formations. The landscape encompasses both riparian zones and canyon-wall ecosystems with piñon-juniper, desert scrub, cottonwoods, willows, and cattails. The area contains significant geological, biological, and archaeological resources. Importantly, public access to this Wilderness Study Area is currently unavailable.
Hiking
Trail · Southwest NM
Picacho Peak Recreation Area
Picacho Peak Recreation Area is a 4,959-foot volcanic peak northwest of Las Cruces in Doña Ana County, managed by the BLM Las Cruces District Office. The area features over 15 miles of mountain biking, hiking, and equestrian trails with views of the Mesilla Valley and Organ Mountains. The signature 1.5-mile trail ascends to the summit (hiking only), passing through rough volcanic terrain. The peak was formed by rhyolite lava that solidified approximately 35 million years ago. Two shaded picnic areas are available; no drinking water, restrooms, or trash receptacles are on-site.
Hiking, Mountain Bike, Equestrian
Trail · Central NM
Pine Shadow Trailhead
Pine Shadow Trailhead in the Manzano Mountains of central New Mexico accommodates hikers, equestrian riders, and picnickers. Photography is permitted. Trail length, elevation gain, difficulty, and duration are not currently specified; consult the recreation.gov listing or the managing agency for conditions before visiting.
Hiking, Equestrian
Trail · South Central NM
Point of Rocks
Point of Rocks in south-central New Mexico is a prominent basalt outcropping that served as a crucial desert landmark for travelers historically navigating the region. The site is open for hiking and horseback riding, and features historic and cultural interest along with interpretive programs. Photography is permitted. A fee applies; contact the field office for current fee details and access information.
Hiking, Equestrian · Fee
Trail · North Central NM
Posi-Ouinge
Posi-Ouinge, also known as the Greenness Pueblo, is a large prehistoric village in north-central New Mexico within the BLM's Ojo Caliente Area of Critical Environmental Concern. The settlement was occupied from the 13th through the 16th centuries AD, and the site is open for hiking and cultural exploration; photography is permitted. Managed by the BLM Ojo Caliente ACEC — contact them for current access details.
Hiking
Trail · Southwest NM
Potrillo Mountains Wilderness Area
Potrillo Mountains Wilderness Area lies in the Chihuahuan Desert of southern New Mexico, approximately 30 miles southwest of Las Cruces. Managed by the BLM Las Cruces Field Office, the area is open for hiking. Photography is permitted. Trail length, elevation, and difficulty details are not specified; contact the BLM Las Cruces Field Office for current access conditions.
Hiking
Trail · Southwest NM
Prehistoric Trackways National Monument
Prehistoric Trackways National Monument is a 5,280-acre Bureau of Land Management site in the Robledo Mountains, 10 miles northwest of Las Cruces in Doña Ana County, south-central New Mexico. The monument preserves one of the world's most significant Early Permian paleontological sites, featuring fossilized footprints, plants, and petrified wood from approximately 280 million years ago—predating dinosaurs. Visitors hike through canyons and washes to view trace fossils from amphibians, reptiles, insects, and marine invertebrates. Collection of fossils or minerals requires a permit. Access requires a high-clearance vehicle for the final mile; water, toilets, and cell service are unavailable on-site.
Hiking, ATV OHV · Fee
Trail · South Central NM
Presilla Wilderness Study Area
The Presilla Wilderness Study Area is a mesa landscape with large arroyos, rugged limestone and sandstone hills, and scattered coppice dunes located approximately 10 miles east of Socorro in Socorro County, New Mexico. Managed by the BLM Socorro Field Office, this wilderness area features desert shrub vegetation and supports diverse wildlife including hawks, falcons, quail, mule deer, foxes, and reptiles. Access is via the Escondida exit (#152) from I-25, then north on NM 408 to Pueblito Road.
Hiking
Trail · South Central NM
Quebradas Backcountry Byway
An unpaved county road traversing approximately 24 miles of rugged, geologically colorful landscapes east of Socorro in Socorro County, New Mexico. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management (Socorro Field Office), the byway features rolling bench lands and north-south running ridges with alternating bands of red and yellow sandstone, red and purple shale, and white to gray limestone. Notable formations include near-vertical, multicolored cliffs, badlands, and box canyons. Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge lies to the north and Bosque del Apache to the south. High-clearance or 4-wheel drive vehicle recommended; the road becomes difficult or impassable after heavy rain.
24.0 mi · Hiking · Fee
Trail · Central NM
Red Canyon / Spruce Spring Trailhead
Red Canyon / Spruce Spring Trailhead in the Manzano Mountains of central New Mexico welcomes both hikers and equestrian riders. Photography is permitted. Trail length, elevation gain, difficulty, and duration are not currently specified; consult the recreation.gov listing or the managing agency for conditions before visiting.
Hiking, Equestrian
Trail · North Central NM
Red River Wild and Scenic River
The Red River Wild and Scenic River in north-central New Mexico holds its protected designation for its lower 4 miles before joining the Río Grande within the national monument. Managed by the BLM Taos Field Office, the corridor supports hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing, water access, and photography. A fee applies; contact the BLM Taos Field Office for current fee details and access information.
Hiking · Fee
Trail · North Central NM
Rinconada Loop Trail
Rinconada Loop Trail is a 5-mile beginner-level loop on a gravel surface managed by the BLM Taos Field Office within Wild Rivers Recreation Area in Taos County, New Mexico, 3 miles north of Questa. The mostly level trail with mild hills passes through multiple campgrounds with interpretive signs, restroom facilities, and rest areas. Located within Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, the trail crosses NM-378 at multiple signed locations.
5.0 mi · Easy · Hiking
Trail · Southeast NM
Rio Bonito Petroglyph National Recreation Trail
Rio Bonito Petroglyph National Recreation Trail in southeastern New Mexico is an easy-to-moderate 2.5-mile loop that follows the river upstream to Petroglyph Rock, combining cultural interest with outdoor recreation. Open for hiking, fishing, and picnicking; photography is permitted. Difficulty rating, elevation, and additional details are not listed; consult the BLM listing for current conditions.
Hiking
Trail · North Central NM
Rio Chama Wild and Scenic River
The Rio Chama is a major tributary of the Río Grande flowing through a multi-colored sandstone canyon in northern New Mexico, in Rio Arriba County. The Congressionally designated 24.6-mile Wild and Scenic River section features canyon walls rising up to 1,500 feet, towering cliffs, and heavily wooded side canyons. Co-managed by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service, it is a premier destination for boating, fishing, hiking, and camping. Boating requires advanced skill due to dangerous rapids and cold water conditions.
24.6 mi · Strenuous · Hiking · Fee
Trail · North Central NM
Rio Chama Wilderness Study Area
The Rio Chama Wilderness Study Area is a scenic landscape in northern New Mexico managed by the BLM's Taos Field Office, consisting of gently rolling sagebrush plains and a 900-foot-deep canyon carved by the Rio Chama with colorful siltstone and sandstone walls. The area features pinon woodlands on hillsides and ponderosa pine and Douglas fir forests on north-facing slopes, providing diverse wildlife habitat. The Rio Chama is designated as a Wild and Scenic River, offering excellent opportunities for river rafting, and the area is adjacent to the Chama River Canyon Wilderness managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Hiking
Trail · North Central NM
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument is a 243,000-acre protected area in northern New Mexico managed by the BLM's Taos Field Office. Located at roughly 7,000 feet elevation on the Taos Plateau, it features the Rio Grande plunging through an 800-foot gorge, three extinct volcanic cones (Cerro de la Olla, Cerro San Antonio, Cerro del Yuta), and over 50 miles of Wild and Scenic River including two congressionally designated wilderness areas. The landscape encompasses sagebrush plains, steep canyons, wild rivers, and native grasslands supporting diverse wildlife and unique geological resources.
Hiking · Fee
Trail · North Central NM
Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River
The Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River designates a 68.2-mile corridor in northern New Mexico (Taos and Rio Arriba Counties) where the river flows through an 800-foot-deep gorge within the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management (Taos Field Office), it was designated on October 2, 1968, as one of the first eight rivers in the National Wild and Scenic River System. The river supports diverse wildlife including bighorn sheep, river otters, and Rio Grande cutthroat trout. Visitors can enjoy hiking, fishing, whitewater boating, kayaking, wildlife viewing, birding, photography, picnicking, dispersed camping, and stargazing across two developed recreation areas (Wild Rivers and Orilla Verde).
68.2 mi · Strenuous · Hiking · Fee
Trail · Southwest NM
Robledo Mountains Wilderness Area
Robledo Mountains Wilderness Area is a 16,776-acre protected desert wilderness in Doña Ana County, south-central New Mexico, managed by the BLM Las Cruces Field Office. The area features canyons, limestone cliffs, gentle slopes, caves, and riparian corridors within the Chihuahuan Desert, with vegetation including scattered junipers, diverse cacti, mesquite, creosote bush, and grassland. Established in 2019, it is open to hiking and wilderness recreation under a 14-day maximum stay limit.
Hiking
Trail · Northeast NM
Sabinoso Wilderness Area
Sabinoso Wilderness Area is a remote 29,855-acre protected landscape in San Miguel County, northeastern New Mexico, managed by BLM's Taos Field Office. The terrain features high, narrow mesas surrounded by cliff-lined canyons with elevations from 4,500 to 6,000 feet, supporting piñon-juniper woodland, occasional ponderosa pine, and mesa-top grassland. Access is via improved dirt road from Trujillo (approximately 7 miles), then lightly-maintained route (3 miles) to trailhead; this road is impassable when wet. The area permits primitive camping, hiking, horseback riding, and hunting.
Hiking
Trail · North Central NM
San Antonio Wilderness Study Area
The San Antonio Wilderness Study Area is located in northern New Mexico at approximately 8,400 feet elevation, managed by the BLM's Taos Field Office. A flat, grass and shrub-covered plain contains a gorge about 100 feet deep carved by the Rio San Antonio. Due to upstream diversions, the lower stretches of the river often dry in summer. The gorge includes sections with Douglas fir and spruce forest coverage. No established trails exist; visitors navigate uneven roads, flat plains, and old cow trails. The area is open year-round but the access road becomes impassable during inclement weather and heavy rains.
Hiking
Trail · South Central NM
San Lorenzo Canyon
San Lorenzo Canyon is a primitive recreation area in Socorro County, New Mexico, located approximately 5 miles northwest of Lemitar. The canyon features sandstone cliffs, arches, and hoodoos with geological significance spanning millions of years, plus cottonwood vegetation, springs, and creeks. Jointly managed by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it is accessed via a maintained dirt road from Lemitar, though high-clearance or 4-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended. The area offers hiking, primitive camping, photography, and wildlife viewing; no water or restrooms are available.
Hiking
Trail · North Central NM
San Ysidro Trials Area
San Ysidro Trials Area is a technical recreation destination in Sandoval County, New Mexico, managed by the BLM Rio Puerco Field Office. Located approximately 1 mile west of San Ysidro village on Highway 550, the area features distinctive stone badland topography with tinajas (naturally formed stone water bowls) that fill during monsoon season. The site supports hiking, mountain biking, and trials riding on mixed terrain of silty dirt and slick rock. Visitors must respect cultural resources and avoid riding through tinajas with water or riparian vegetation. No fees or facilities are available on-site.
Hiking, Mountain Bike · Fee
Trail · Central NM
Sandia Mountains
The Sandia Mountains rise just east of Albuquerque in central New Mexico and are the most-visited mountains in the state. Open year-round for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, picnicking, wildlife viewing, and winter sports. Photography is permitted. Trail length, elevation, and difficulty vary by route; consult the recreation.gov listing or the managing agency for specific conditions.
Hiking, Mountain Bike, Equestrian
Trail · North Central NM
Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area
Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area, managed by the BLM Taos Field Office, sits at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Chimayó in north-central New Mexico. The site supports boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking, camping, picnicking, and wildlife viewing; it also holds historic and cultural significance, and photography is permitted throughout. Contact the BLM Taos Field Office for current fee and access information.
Hiking
Trail · South Central NM
Sierra de las Canas Wilderness Study Area
A rugged desert mountain range in Socorro County, west-central New Mexico, managed by BLM's Socorro Field Office. The area features the Loma de las Canas Ridgecrest with colorful multi-layered geology (sandstone, limestone, siltstone, shale), sheer rock escarpments, deep narrow canyons, mesa tops, and badlands. Desert vegetation includes yuccas, cholla, prickly pear cacti, and ocotillo; spring wildflowers appear seasonally. Located north of Socorro, accessible from I-25 Escondida exit #152 via NM 408 and the Quebradas Backcountry Byway. Dispersed camping, hiking, photography, wildlife viewing, and stargazing are permitted in this wilderness study area.
Hiking
Trail · Southwest NM
Sierra de las Uvas Mountains Wilderness Area
Sierra de las Uvas Mountains Wilderness Area is located in south-central New Mexico's Chihuahuan Desert in Doña Ana County. Managed by the BLM's Las Cruces Field Office, this wilderness comprises a mountain complex of tilted, bedded volcanic rock with gentle western slopes contrasting with eastern cliffs, plus mesas, buttes, and canyons. Vegetation ranges from desert grasses and shrubs at lower elevations to juniper on north-facing higher slopes. The rimrock formations provide nesting habitat for raptors. Officially designated as wilderness in 2019.
Hiking
Trail · South Central NM
Sierra Ladrones Wilderness Study Area
Sierra Ladrones Wilderness Study Area is a Bureau of Land Management-managed Wilderness Study Area in Socorro County, New Mexico, located in west-central New Mexico near the Rio Grande Valley. The area features Ladron Peak (9,186 ft), an igneous intrusion rising nearly 4,500 feet above the surrounding Rio Grande Valley, with diverse terrain including high mountain peaks, isolated canyons, grasslands, and piñon-juniper woodland. Named "Sierra Ladrones" (thieves' mountains) for its historical use by Navajo and Apache raiding parties and later Hispanic rustlers, the area offers primitive cross-country exploration and panoramic summit views. Managed by the Socorro Field Office (575-835-0412), the wilderness study area supports ecological significance as a "sky island" with distinct vegetation and wildlife zones.
Hiking
Trail · Southwest NM
Sierra Vista Trail
Sierra Vista Trail is a 29-mile National Recreation Trail in southwestern New Mexico, tracing the western flank of the Organ Mountains and the eastern edge of the Franklin Mountains. Managed by the BLM Las Cruces Field Office, the trail is open for hiking and wildlife viewing. Photography is permitted. Difficulty rating and duration are not listed; contact the BLM Las Cruces Field Office for current conditions.
Hiking
Trail · Northwest NM
Simon Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Simon Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) is a 3,900-acre BLM-managed area north of the San Juan River, approximately 3 miles west of Navajo Reservoir in San Juan County, New Mexico. The area features moderately steep to very steep sandstone canyon terrain with riparian vegetation at the canyon floor transitioning to piñon-juniper and scattered ponderosa pine-Douglas fir at the rim. The ACEC is managed for semi-primitive recreation including fishing, hiking, backpacking, and wildlife viewing. Facilities include a gravel parking area, vault toilet, picnic area, and four primitive campsites with no drinking water on-site. Access is via non-maintained County Road 4280, approximately 3 miles from NM 173. The area contains archaeological significance including the Simon Canyon Pueblito, a Navajo defensive structure from 1754.
Hiking
Trail · Southwest NM
Snow Lake #142 Trailhead
Snow Lake #142 Trailhead provides hiking access to Snow Lake Trail #142 within the Gila area of southwestern New Mexico. Photography is permitted. Trail length, elevation, and difficulty details are not currently specified; check the recreation.gov listing or contact the managing agency for conditions before your visit.
Hiking
Trail · South Central NM
Socorro Nature Area
A 120-acre environmental education area managed by the BLM in the Rio Grande Bosque (a riparian forest along the Rio Grande) near Socorro in Socorro County, south-central New Mexico. The site features a 1.5-mile network of two trail loops with dirt and gravel surfaces, interpretive signage, and basic facilities including an amphitheater, picnic tables, and group shelter.
1.5 mi · Hiking · Fee
Trail · Southwest NM
Soledad Canyon Day Use Area
The Soledad Canyon Day Use Area is located at the junction of Bar Canyon and Soledad Canyon in the western foothills of the Organ Mountains, 10 miles east of Las Cruces in Doña Ana County, New Mexico. The area is managed by the BLM's Las Cruces Field Office and features the Bar Canyon Trail, a three-mile loop offering scenic views of the central Organ Mountains and Mesilla Valley. Open year-round with no fees; horseback riding and wildlife viewing also permitted.
3.0 mi · Easy · Hiking
Trail · North Central NM
Spence Hot Spring Trailhead
Spence Hot Spring Trailhead in north-central New Mexico lies approximately five miles north of the Jemez Ranger District office and is the starting point for a short hike to the hot spring. Parking accommodates up to seven vehicles; note that there is no on-site signage. Open for hiking; photography is permitted. Trail distance and difficulty are not specified; check the recreation.gov listing for current conditions.
Hiking
Trail · South Central NM
Stallion Wilderness Study Area
Stallion Wilderness Study Area is a BLM-managed wilderness study area near San Antonio in Socorro County, south-central New Mexico, situated east of the Rio Grande and south of Interstate 25. Managed by the BLM Socorro Field Office, the area is open for hiking. Photography is permitted. Contact the BLM Socorro Field Office for current access conditions and trail details.
Hiking
Trail · Southwest NM
Strawberry Canyon Trailhead
Strawberry Canyon Trailhead in southwestern New Mexico is situated just east of the entrance to McGaffey Campground in the Zuni Mountains. Open for hiking; photography is permitted. Trail length, elevation, and difficulty details are not specified; consult the recreation.gov listing or the managing agency for current conditions before visiting.
Hiking
Trail · North Central NM
Taos Valley Overlook Trails
Taos Valley Overlook Trails is a multi-use trail system of single-track loops and two-track dirt trails totaling approximately 16 miles, located 6 miles south of Ranchos de Taos on NM 68 in Taos County, northern New Mexico. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the system serves hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians on narrow dirt trails ranging from 4–6 feet wide. Open year-round, the area provides minimal shade and no facilities. Trails become impassable when muddy following heavy rain or snow melt. Pets must remain on a 6-foot leash; no overnight camping or firearms are permitted. Wildlife present includes snakes, lizards, deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and raptors.
16.0 mi · Hiking
Trail · South Central NM
The Box Recreation Area
The Box Recreation Area is a 640-acre BLM-managed public lands recreation site located 6 miles southwest of Socorro in Socorro County, south-central New Mexico. Managed by the BLM Socorro Field Office, the area features a scenic box canyon with five prominent rock cliffs popular for technical rock climbing and bouldering. Facilities include a developed parking area with vault toilet, kiosk, and trailhead; however, there is no drinking water available. Primitive camping is permitted in designated sites only.
Hiking · Fee
Trail · Southeast NM
Three Rivers Petroglyph Site
Three Rivers Petroglyph Site is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) protected archaeological area in Otero County, New Mexico, located 17 miles north of Tularosa on U.S. Highway 54. The site protects over 21,000 petroglyphs carved into basaltic ridge rock by the Jornada Mogollon people between approximately 200-1450 AD, depicting birds, humans, animals, fish, insects, plants, and geometric designs. The site covers 50 acres and is managed by the BLM Las Cruces District Office, which operates a visitor center (open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Tuesday-Wednesday) and offers day-use and camping facilities. Visitors should respect that petroglyphs and artifacts are protected cultural resources and must not be touched or removed.
Hiking
Trail · Southwest NM
Tortugas Mountain Recreation Area
Tortugas Mountain Recreation Area is a small, hump-backed mountain rising to 4,928 feet above sea level near Las Cruces in Doña Ana County, New Mexico. Managed jointly by the Bureau of Land Management (eastern side) and New Mexico State University (western side), the area is named for its resemblance to turtles when viewed from the south, though locally called "A" Mountain for the university's large "A" marking on the western slope. The area offers multiple trails suitable for beginners through experienced riders, with picnic areas and facilities at Monte Vista (BLM) and Sunset (NMSU) parking areas. Historical significance includes mining, ranching, tribal ceremonies, and astronomical research activities on the summit.
Hiking
Trail · Central NM
Trail Canyon Trailhead
Trail Canyon Trailhead is a hiking access point in the Manzano Mountains of central New Mexico. Photography is permitted at this location. Trail length, elevation gain, difficulty, and duration are not currently specified; consult the recreation.gov listing or the managing agency for conditions before visiting.
Hiking
Trail · Central NM
Trigo Trailhead
Trigo Trailhead is a hiking access point in the Manzano Mountains of central New Mexico. Photography is permitted. Trail length, elevation gain, difficulty, and duration details are not currently specified; consult the recreation.gov listing or the managing agency for conditions before visiting.
Hiking
Trail · Southwest NM
Tularosa Cabin
Tularosa Cabin is a historic structure along the Walk in the Past Interpretive Trail #616 in southwestern New Mexico, offering hikers a tangible connection to the region's past. Open for hiking; photography is permitted. Trail length, difficulty, and other details are not specified; consult the recreation.gov listing or the managing agency for current conditions.
Hiking
Trail · North Central NM
Valles Caldera National Preserve
Valles Caldera National Preserve in north-central New Mexico encompasses a vast volcanic caldera of sweeping grassy meadows and large elk herds in the Jemez Mountains. Hiking is the permitted recreational use, with backcountry vehicle access managed through timed-entry reservations; entry fees apply. Photography is permitted. Reservations are required — check the NPS website for current availability and seasonal access details.
Hiking · Fee
Trail · South Central NM
Veranito Wilderness Study Area
Veranito Wilderness Study Area (WSA) is an undulating landscape in central New Mexico approximately 5 miles east of Socorro, managed by the BLM's Socorro Field Office. The terrain features parallel ridges cut by arroyos and low-lying hills with an east-facing escarpment, situated in the upper Chihuahuan Desert. The site is accessible via NM 408 from I-25 (Escondida exit) through Pueblito and Johnson Hill Road, which forms the eastern border. Allowed uses include hiking, birding, dispersed camping, photography, and stargazing. This is an undesignated wilderness study area under federal protection.
Hiking
Trail · Southwest NM
Water Canyon Trailhead (Mount Taylor)
Water Canyon Trailhead provides access to hiking, backpacking, and mountain biking in the Mount Taylor area of the Cibola National Forest, managed by the USDA Forest Service Mt. Taylor Ranger District. Located at 10,570 feet elevation in Cibola County, accessed via Forest Road 453 near Grants, New Mexico. Mount Taylor (11,305 ft) is a dormant stratovolcano and holds significant sacred value for Navajo, Acoma, Laguna, Zuni, and Hopi peoples. No potable water or restrooms are available at the trailhead.
Hiking
Trail · Southwest NM
West Malpais Wilderness Area
West Malpais Wilderness Area in southwestern New Mexico is a largely flat volcanic landscape of lava flows encompassing three distinct ecotypes. Managed by the BLM Rio Puerco Field Office, the area is open for hiking, wildlife viewing, and photography. A fee may apply; confirm current requirements with the BLM Rio Puerco Field Office before visiting.
Hiking · Fee
Trail · Central NM
White Ridge Bike Trails
White Ridge Bike Trails is a 12-mile mountain biking system managed by the BLM Rio Puerco Field Office, located southwest of San Ysidro in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Two concentric loops wind across gypsum-rich mesa ridgelines with fast, flowing singletrack, steep climbs, and technical descents featuring approximately 1,000 feet of total elevation gain. Hikers are welcome on all trails; one segment is designated for equestrian use. The site is accessible via Cabezon Road (County Road 906) approximately 4.4 miles from the trailhead; high-clearance vehicles are preferred but the road is passable when dry. No water, toilets, or cell service are available on-site. Primitive dispersed camping is permitted on adjacent BLM lands with a 14-day stay limit.
12.0 mi · Hiking, Mountain Bike, Equestrian · Fee
Trail · Southeast NM
White Sands National Park Tours
White Sands National Park rises from the heart of New Mexico's southeastern Tularosa Basin, showcasing one of the world's great natural wonders — vast fields of glistening white gypsum sand dunes. Hiking is the permitted use, and photography is allowed throughout. Trail length, difficulty, and duration details are not specified in this listing; visit the park website for current route information and entry requirements.
Hiking
Trail · North Central NM
Wild Rivers Backcountry Byway
A 13-mile paved loop road providing access to BLM's Wild Rivers Recreation Area within Rio Grande del Norte National Monument in Taos County, northern New Mexico, 26 miles north of Taos. Managed by the BLM, the byway features scenic canyon views of the Rio Grande gorge, an 800-foot-deep gorge carved through volcanic flows. Amenities include a visitor center, five campgrounds (El Aguaje, La Junta, Montoso, Little Arsenic, Big Arsenic), day-use parking areas, and scenic overlooks. The road is open year-round, though winter snow may temporarily restrict access. The area supports wildlife including elk, bighorn sheep, and mule deer.
13.0 mi · Hiking, Equestrian
Trail · North Central NM
Winsor Creek Fishing Area and Trailhead
Winsor Creek Fishing Area and Trailhead in north-central New Mexico is reached approximately 20 miles north of Pecos on NM 63, then 1.5 miles on Forest Road 121. Open for fishing, hiking, and backpacking; note that camping, potable water, and horse trailer access are not available at this site. Photography is permitted. Consult the recreation.gov listing for current conditions.
Hiking
Trail · North Central NM
Winsor Ridge Trailhead
Winsor Ridge Trailhead in north-central New Mexico provides access to Winsor Ridge Trail #271 and the connector trail to Panchuela, located approximately 20 miles north of Pecos on NM 63. The trailhead supports hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, and horse camping. Photography is permitted. Trail length, elevation, and difficulty are not listed; consult the recreation.gov listing for current conditions.
Hiking, Equestrian
Trail · North Central NM
Winsor Trailhead #254
Winsor Trailhead #254 in north-central New Mexico is a well-used gateway into the Pecos Wilderness, located at the Santa Fe Ski Basin parking lot. Open for hiking; photography is permitted. Trail length, elevation, and difficulty details are not listed; consult the recreation.gov listing or the managing agency for current conditions before heading out.
Hiking

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