Beyond the towns and cities of New Mexico lies a landscape shaped by volcanoes. From one million years ago, until fewer that one thousand years ago, the Rio Grande Rift and the area around Valles Caldera saw a lot of volcanic activity. The resulting rock formations, paired with New Mexico’s low population density, make it easy to imagine that you’re no longer on Earth. While the space tourism industry spearheaded by Spaceport America sounds intriguing, there’s no need to sign up for a trip to outer space just yet. After all, you can always visit these surreal places instead. Check out some of the spots that are considered to have a unique landscape in New Mexico:

  1. Red Rocks Canyon, near Jemez Springs

Flickr/Barclay Nix These rocks seem better suited to Mars than Earth! You almost expect Matt Damon to drive over the ridge in his rover.

  1. Abiquiú Lake, Abiquiú

Flickr/Jared Tarbell He’d be ecstatic to find a water source like this one.

  1. Elephant Butte Lake, Elephant Butte

Flickr/Birdie Jaworski Or this one.

  1. Clayton Lake State Park, near Clayton

Flickr/Oakley Originals What the heck lives on this planet?

  1. Near Hillsboro

Flickr/Charles (Chuck) Peterson And how come the trees are so short?

  1. Near Las Cruces

Flickr/Denise Rowlands Sometimes it seems like there’s been an invasion of tumbleweeds.

  1. Pajarito Plateau, near Los Alamos

Flickr/Mark Kaletka Or as if you’re the only person for miles—or light years.

  1. Bisti Wilderness, near Nageezi

Flickr/Larry Lamsa

Flickr/Larry Lamsa Perhaps this planet is inhabited by magical creatures!

  1. Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, near Cochiti

Flickr/Shawn Brandow These type of landscapes make anything seem possible. Whether above ground…

  1. Carlsbad Caverns, near Carlsbad

Flickr/mlhradio …Or below.

  1. Rio Grande Gorge and Taos Plateau, near Taos

Flickr/Mwwile Fractures in the planet’s crust, such as The Rio Grande Rift, serve as a reminder of the powerful forces that shape our universe.

  1. Valley of Fires Recreation Area, near Carrizozo

Flickr/Phil In geological terms, some of these changes are recent. Little Black Peak erupted only 5000 or so years ago, spewing lava across the Tularosa Basin.

  1. El Malpais National Monument, near Grants

Flickr/Sharon Somero Similarly, the McCartys Lava Flow created this otherworldly landscape, which could be the surface of another planet.

  1. White Sands National Monument, near Alamogordo

Flickr/Lane B The presence of a gypsum dunefield nowhere near an ocean seems like the work of mystical forces.

  1. Roswell

Flickr/Kent Kanouse There’s even evidence of alien life forms! But at least they’re friendly.

  1. Valley of Dreams, Near Nageezi

Flickr/John Fowler Parts of New Mexico are so unearthly, that they make you think you’re dreaming.

What areas of the unique landscape in New Mexico convince you that you’ve been beamed to a different planet? Many would say the state’s famous town of Roswell literally did that, and you can experience a quirky space attraction there yourself.

Flickr/Barclay Nix

These rocks seem better suited to Mars than Earth! You almost expect Matt Damon to drive over the ridge in his rover.

Flickr/Jared Tarbell

He’d be ecstatic to find a water source like this one.

Flickr/Birdie Jaworski

Or this one.

Flickr/Oakley Originals

What the heck lives on this planet?

Flickr/Charles (Chuck) Peterson

And how come the trees are so short?

Flickr/Denise Rowlands

Sometimes it seems like there’s been an invasion of tumbleweeds.

Flickr/Mark Kaletka

Or as if you’re the only person for miles—or light years.

Flickr/Larry Lamsa

Perhaps this planet is inhabited by magical creatures!

Flickr/Shawn Brandow

These type of landscapes make anything seem possible. Whether above ground…

Flickr/mlhradio

…Or below.

Flickr/Mwwile

Fractures in the planet’s crust, such as The Rio Grande Rift, serve as a reminder of the powerful forces that shape our universe.

Flickr/Phil

In geological terms, some of these changes are recent. Little Black Peak erupted only 5000 or so years ago, spewing lava across the Tularosa Basin.

Flickr/Sharon Somero

Similarly, the McCartys Lava Flow created this otherworldly landscape, which could be the surface of another planet.

Flickr/Lane B

The presence of a gypsum dunefield nowhere near an ocean seems like the work of mystical forces.

Flickr/Kent Kanouse

There’s even evidence of alien life forms! But at least they’re friendly.

Flickr/John Fowler

Parts of New Mexico are so unearthly, that they make you think you’re dreaming.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: Jemez Springs, NM 87025, USAAddress: Abiquiu Lake, New Mexico 87017, USAAddress: 101 NM-195, Elephant Butte, NM 87935, USAAddress: Clayton Lake State Park and Dinosaur Trackways, 141 Clayton Lake Rd, Clayton, NM 88415, USAAddress: Hillsboro, NM 88042, USAAddress: Las Cruces, NM, USAAddress: Los Alamos, NM 87544, USAAddress: Bisti / De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area, County Road 7297, Bloomfield, NM 87413, USAAddress: Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, 0 NM-22, Cochiti Pueblo, NM 87072, USAAddress: Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Carlsbad, NM 88220, USAAddress: Rio Grande Gorge, New Mexico 87529, USAAddress: Valley of Fires Recreation, 6158 US-380, Carrizozo, NM 88301, USAAddress: 11000 Ice Cave Rd, Grants, NM 87020, USAAddress: White Sands, NM 88002, USAAddress: Roswell, NM, USAAddress: Nageezi, NM 87037, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Unique Landscape Of New Mexico May 06, 2020 Leah Does New Mexico have any natural wonders? When it comes to natural wonders in New Mexico, there is no shortage here. The Land of Enchantment is full of absolutely spectacular, naturally-formed places that blow people away. The Bisti Badnalds, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, Carlsbad Caverns, and White Sands all are great examples of this. Each has its own unique characteristics and mesmerizing sights. Plus, they are all accessible through parks and will show you the true wonders of New Mexico’s ever-changing landscapes. From deep underground to the towering mountains above, there is no shortage of jaw-dropping wonders in this state. What are the most well known parks in New Mexico? There are some must see places in New Mexico that have become necessary visits for anyone visiting. Well-known parks like the Gila Cliff Dwellings are worthy of their popularity. Not only is the 800-year-old cliffside structures fascinating, but the area is also known for impressive hot springs and beautiful natural areas. If you love history, the Chaco Culture National Historic Park is a great option. This spot is praised for its historical significance because of its importance to the ancient Puebloan residents of the area. There are great ways to experience this park, including hiking on nearby trails that’ll give you terrific views of the historic remnants. What are the most unique places in New Mexico? If you’re looking for more interesting places in New Mexico to explore, you have lots of options. Quirky towns like UFO-centric Roswell is just the start when it comes to unique cities. If you like Route 66 history, try visiting the town of Tucumcari. It’s almost like taking a step into the past, with preserved neon lights, retro restaurants and hotels, and even the New Mexico Route 66 Museum. Along those lines, other places in the state hold titles no other place in the country can. For example, the oldest church in the United States is in New Mexico - the San Miguel Mission in Santa Fe - and there is a church that is said to have special healing soil that thousands of people make a pilgrimage to, located in Chimayo.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Unique Landscape Of New Mexico

May 06, 2020

Leah

Does New Mexico have any natural wonders? When it comes to natural wonders in New Mexico, there is no shortage here. The Land of Enchantment is full of absolutely spectacular, naturally-formed places that blow people away. The Bisti Badnalds, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, Carlsbad Caverns, and White Sands all are great examples of this. Each has its own unique characteristics and mesmerizing sights. Plus, they are all accessible through parks and will show you the true wonders of New Mexico’s ever-changing landscapes. From deep underground to the towering mountains above, there is no shortage of jaw-dropping wonders in this state. What are the most well known parks in New Mexico? There are some must see places in New Mexico that have become necessary visits for anyone visiting. Well-known parks like the Gila Cliff Dwellings are worthy of their popularity. Not only is the 800-year-old cliffside structures fascinating, but the area is also known for impressive hot springs and beautiful natural areas. If you love history, the Chaco Culture National Historic Park is a great option. This spot is praised for its historical significance because of its importance to the ancient Puebloan residents of the area. There are great ways to experience this park, including hiking on nearby trails that’ll give you terrific views of the historic remnants. What are the most unique places in New Mexico? If you’re looking for more interesting places in New Mexico to explore, you have lots of options. Quirky towns like UFO-centric Roswell is just the start when it comes to unique cities. If you like Route 66 history, try visiting the town of Tucumcari. It’s almost like taking a step into the past, with preserved neon lights, retro restaurants and hotels, and even the New Mexico Route 66 Museum. Along those lines, other places in the state hold titles no other place in the country can. For example, the oldest church in the United States is in New Mexico - the San Miguel Mission in Santa Fe - and there is a church that is said to have special healing soil that thousands of people make a pilgrimage to, located in Chimayo.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

When it comes to natural wonders in New Mexico, there is no shortage here. The Land of Enchantment is full of absolutely spectacular, naturally-formed places that blow people away. The Bisti Badnalds, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, Carlsbad Caverns, and White Sands all are great examples of this. Each has its own unique characteristics and mesmerizing sights. Plus, they are all accessible through parks and will show you the true wonders of New Mexico’s ever-changing landscapes. From deep underground to the towering mountains above, there is no shortage of jaw-dropping wonders in this state.

What are the most well known parks in New Mexico?

There are some must see places in New Mexico that have become necessary visits for anyone visiting. Well-known parks like the Gila Cliff Dwellings are worthy of their popularity. Not only is the 800-year-old cliffside structures fascinating, but the area is also known for impressive hot springs and beautiful natural areas. If you love history, the Chaco Culture National Historic Park is a great option. This spot is praised for its historical significance because of its importance to the ancient Puebloan residents of the area. There are great ways to experience this park, including hiking on nearby trails that’ll give you terrific views of the historic remnants.

What are the most unique places in New Mexico?

If you’re looking for more interesting places in New Mexico to explore, you have lots of options. Quirky towns like UFO-centric Roswell is just the start when it comes to unique cities. If you like Route 66 history, try visiting the town of Tucumcari. It’s almost like taking a step into the past, with preserved neon lights, retro restaurants and hotels, and even the New Mexico Route 66 Museum. Along those lines, other places in the state hold titles no other place in the country can. For example, the oldest church in the United States is in New Mexico - the San Miguel Mission in Santa Fe - and there is a church that is said to have special healing soil that thousands of people make a pilgrimage to, located in Chimayo.