New Mexico

Completed in 1965, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is the seventh highest bridge in the United States. The design is a steel deck arch bridge than spans 1280 feet and sits 565 feet high. The bridge has sidewalks and viewpoints of the gorge on each side with parking at the Rio Grande Gorge Rest Area prov...

This is one of the most photographed festivals in the world. Professionals and amateurs gather here each year to take millions of photos, and your goal (albeit a difficult one) is to capture a unique perspective at this event. Something that conveys the particular emotion of what the balloon festiva...

Mount Wheeler is the highest peak in New Mexico at 13,161 feet and is considered the 8th highest state peak. The hike begins just over 10,000 feet near the Bavarian Restaurant. Drive past the Taos Ski Resort and follow the signs for the restaurant until the road ends. The 6.2 mile trek begins at the...

Hyde Memorial State Park yurts are nestled high in the Sangre de Cristo mountains amongst the ponderosa pines, and sleep six and provide a modern setting with roots in ancient tradition. Their location in the State Park provide easy access to park's vast trail system. Each bed has an encapsulated de...

Park in the Parking area at the end of Aguirre Springs Loop. The trailhead is across the road. The trail will take you in a loop. Enjoy the diversity of plant life and the varied landscape. There are numerous interesting geological and ecological features in these foothills.

The Carlsbad Caverns have a self-guided tour sections and a handful of guided tours you have to pay extra for. For $7 for adults and $3.50 for children, a park ranger puts on an act and even dresses the part of the late Jim White, founder of the Carlsbad Caverns, while taking you on an adventure by ...

Start at the Sandia Mountain base terminal where you can purchase your tickets to ride the tram (Tip: If you make reservations at the peaks restaurant, High Finance , you can get a discount on your ticket). Enjoy the 15 minute ride to the peak while taking in beautiful city views of Albuquerque as w...

Up near the iconic La Luz Trailhead is a smaller and somewhat hidden trail a little farther up the road, Piedra Lisa Trail. This short two mile climb to the ridge that divides the view of Albuquerque and Placitas tops out at a rocky outcrop that provides simply stellar views of the city and to the o...

There are no trails or marked vista points in the wilderness so you're free to explore in any direction you please though the odds of stumbling upon anything interesting are fairly slim if you're just wandering around aimlessly. Most visitors heading to Bisti are usually on the hunt for the infamous...

Situated on the border of Arizona and New Mexico is an ancient throat of a volcano. You can see Shiprock for miles, as you approach the quiet New Mexico town. It's jagged edges and large spine, that extends to the South, cut straight out of vast flat landscape that surrounds it. You cannot miss it, ...

Fairly easy trail on an old railroad bed. The trail is not steep and has nice scenery. The waterfall is sall but scenic, it is nice to see soe running water in the desert.

Leaving from the foothills above Albuquerque this trail leads you from the desert up to the peaks of the Sandia Mountains. You'll climb from the city at 7000 ft above sea level all the way up to 10,378 ft in altitude along a trail the changes from high desert to deep pine forest. The views along the...

This is a very scenic moderate 3,5 mile hike featuring beautiful views, rare plants and the ruins of the historic Dripping springs resort. Lots of wildflowers in the summer. In the winter you may encounter some snow and ice at the end of the trail. The trail is rather busy on week-ends but not so mu...

The Basics: 8,304 foot Devisadero Peak, which literally translates to "lookout," does not actually provide a great view from its treed summit. However, this lollipop loop hike has many vantage points over the Taos Valley as it snakes up and around this foothill mountain. To get to the trailhead: Fro...

75 minutes north of Albuquerque, Las Conchas is a trailhead that sits right off the highway with two accessible, although small, parking lots. Right out of the gate the wide and well worn trail drops down to follow the river north through a wide mountain valley lined with large stands of trees, beau...

These are well maintained BLM campsites just outside of Las Cruces. It's a great option for setting up a tent, car camping, or parking an RV. There are no facilities so remember to always pack in and pack out.