Itching to head out into the great outdoors? Parts of New Mexico may be off-limits these days, but they aren’t going away any time soon. Check out some of our favorite places we can’t wait to visit!
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- Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness
David Schroeder/Flickr Also referred to as the Bisti Badlands, these hauntingly beautiful badlands showcase just the kind of natural beauty you might stumble across while hiking New Mexico’s landscape. Every inch of this place looks strikingly different.
- Blue Hole
Kyle Hearn/Google The ultimate summer swimming hole for any New Mexican is the Blue Hole near Santa Rosa. The deep blue swimming hole is an oasis, a lovely desert gem that extends down some 80 feet.
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park
JanetandPhil/Flickr Tucked away underground, Carlsbad Caverns is hiding around 100 caves of varying sizes — and the journey down through the entrance trail is an incredible sight. We can’t wait to see this area in summer since the bats will be roosting and flying.
- Cimarron Canyon State Park
rudy tafoya/Google Most people are familiar with these jagged cliffs at Cimarron Canyon State Park but we absolutely love the forested views along the river. This is a great getaway for hiking, camping, and even fishing.
- Hyde Memorial State Park
Tatyana Sokolova/Google Located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, this state park was also New Mexico’s very first. The beautiful forest here is also hiding hiking trails, campsites, and some incredible snow-covered hills during winter and early spring.
- Jemez Falls
Andy Langager/Flickr Can you think of anything more refreshing than a dip in the pool at the bottom of Jemez Falls? The short hike also makes this location a fairly easy find, so paradise is easy to access here.
- White Sands National Park
Steven Christenson/Flickr New Mexico’s newest national park, White Sands is a striking sight at any time of year. However, we think it looks most impressive on an empty day with almost no one else in sight.
- Williams Lake
sarowen/Flickr This area is tucked away in Taos’ alpine forest, with New Mexico’s highest point — Wheeler Peak — within easy view. This place is just as lovely in person as it appears in photos.
- Valles Caldera
Thomas Shahan/Flickr This pretty valley is actually part of a massive caldera in northern New Mexico. In addition to a beautiful landscape, this area also has hot springs, streams, and is teeming with wildlife.
Another lovely location you’ll want to visit is the legendary Ghost Ranch, located near Abiquiu. Read about this secluded hideaway in Feel A Million Miles Away From It All When You Take In The Natural Beauty Of Ghost Ranch Near Abiquiu, New Mexico.
David Schroeder/Flickr
Also referred to as the Bisti Badlands, these hauntingly beautiful badlands showcase just the kind of natural beauty you might stumble across while hiking New Mexico’s landscape. Every inch of this place looks strikingly different.
Kyle Hearn/Google
The ultimate summer swimming hole for any New Mexican is the Blue Hole near Santa Rosa. The deep blue swimming hole is an oasis, a lovely desert gem that extends down some 80 feet.
JanetandPhil/Flickr
Tucked away underground, Carlsbad Caverns is hiding around 100 caves of varying sizes — and the journey down through the entrance trail is an incredible sight. We can’t wait to see this area in summer since the bats will be roosting and flying.
rudy tafoya/Google
Most people are familiar with these jagged cliffs at Cimarron Canyon State Park but we absolutely love the forested views along the river. This is a great getaway for hiking, camping, and even fishing.
Tatyana Sokolova/Google
Located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, this state park was also New Mexico’s very first. The beautiful forest here is also hiding hiking trails, campsites, and some incredible snow-covered hills during winter and early spring.
Andy Langager/Flickr
Can you think of anything more refreshing than a dip in the pool at the bottom of Jemez Falls? The short hike also makes this location a fairly easy find, so paradise is easy to access here.
Steven Christenson/Flickr
New Mexico’s newest national park, White Sands is a striking sight at any time of year. However, we think it looks most impressive on an empty day with almost no one else in sight.
sarowen/Flickr
This area is tucked away in Taos’ alpine forest, with New Mexico’s highest point — Wheeler Peak — within easy view. This place is just as lovely in person as it appears in photos.
Thomas Shahan/Flickr
This pretty valley is actually part of a massive caldera in northern New Mexico. In addition to a beautiful landscape, this area also has hot springs, streams, and is teeming with wildlife.
Do you have suggestions for fantastic locations around New Mexico that everyone should see or visit? Share your favorite business, restaurant, or other attraction on our nomination page and we may feature it in a future article!
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Address: Bisti Badlands, New Mexico 87499, USAAddress: The Blue Hole, 1085 Blue Hole Rd, Santa Rosa, NM 88435, USAAddress: Carlsbad Cavern Natural Entrance, New Mexico 88220, USAAddress: Cimarron Canyon, Ute Park, NM 87749, USAAddress: 740 Hyde Park Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USAAddress: Jemez Falls, New Mexico 87025, USAAddress: White Sands, NM 88002, USAAddress: Williams Lake, New Mexico 87525, USAAddress: Valles Caldera, New Mexico 87025, USA
