Welcome to the bigroads.com travel guide to New Mexico! Hopefully this page and its information helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to New Mexico.
Take note that I build and maintain this website as both a hobby and public service. I take joy in performing travel research and sharing my experiences and adventures. I currently do not make a profit from this website, and you will see no invasive or annoying ads on it. Your constructive feedback about this site and its content is encouraged. Please email me if you have any suggestions or ideas for improvement.
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The New Mexico landscape is highly varied, with scenery ranging from forested mountains to lonely deserts. In northern New Mexico, top-rated attractions can be found just about everywhere, including museums, historical sites, nature parks, and ski areas. Albuquerque and Santa Fe are also nearby, and they themselves are only about an hour apart about from each other. The highlights of central New Mexico include several excellent national monuments and the alien-obsessed town of Roswell. Southern New Mexico has one of the best caves in the country (Carlsbad Caverns) and the largest white gypsum sand dunes in the world (White Sands National Park).
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN NEW MEXICO
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in New Mexico? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in New Mexico, in no particular order:
✮ Take a guided or self-guided cave tour at Carlsbad Caverns National Park
✮ Walk or sand-surf on the gypsum dunes of White Sands National Park
✮ Shop and dine in beautiful Santa Fe
✮ Attend the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
✮ Visit Taos, preferably in winter to hit the slopes at Taos Ski Valley
✮ Enter some ancient ruins at Bandelier National Monument
✮ Grab some delicious pistachios at McGinn's Pistachio Tree Ranch in Alamogordo
✮ Take the Sandia Peak Tramway up to scenic views of Albuquerque
✮ Hop aboard the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
✮ Drive the High Road to Taos Scenic Byway, a 105-mile scenic drive between Santa Fe and Taos
If I could select only one place to visit in New Mexico, I would choose Santa Fe. I would encourage you to stay at least 4-5 nights there to explore the city and surrounding areas (including driving to Taos and back).
For a list of 10 great attractions in each U.S. state, click here.
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN NEW MEXICO
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in New Mexico. I believe each of these attractions should be on your New Mexico bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Northwestern New Mexico (including Farmington)
✮ Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Study Area - geological wonders; off-trail hiking
✮ Aztec Ruins National Monument, Aztec - impressive ancient ruins and reconstructed kivas
✮ Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness / Bisti Badlands - some of the most fascinating "hoodoos" in the U.S.
✮ Chaco Culture National Historical Park - one of the premier ancient ruins sites in the Southwest
✮ Four Corners Monument - the only spot in the U.S. where four states border each other; note - not everyone will appreciate the novelty of this
Northcentral / Northeastern New Mexico (including Chama, Cimarron, Raton, Red River, and Taos)
✮ Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama - one of the premier scenic railroad trips in the U.S.
✮ Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu - educational and retreat center with beautiful scenery and hiking trails
✮ High Road to Taos Scenic Byway - 105-mile scenic drive from Santa Fe to Taos (2 1/2 hours one way with no stops)
✮ Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron - famous Boy Scouts of America property; must be involved in organization to experience
✮ Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, El Prado - second highest bridge on the U.S. highway system; scenic views; hiking trails
✮ Taos - an artsy mountain town with excellent skiing/snowboarding
✮ Taos Pueblo, Taos - visit ancient pueblo belonging to a Taos-speaking (Tiwa) Native American tribe of Puebloan people
✮ Taos Ski Valley - #1 ski & snowboard resort in NM; 110 trails; 3,281ft vertical drop; 12,481ft summit
✮ Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park, Angel Fire - stunning memorial placed in a beautiful location
✮ Wheeler Peak / Wheeler Peak Wilderness - great hiking & views on the highpoint of NM
✮ Whitewater rafting on the Rio Chama River - day trip or overnight whitewater rafting adventures
✮ Whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande River - day trip or overnight whitewater rafting adventures
Santa Fe & surrounding area
✮ Bandelier National Monument - impressive ancient ruins (some of which you can enter); some hiking trails have fun giant ladders to ascend
✮ Canyon Road, Santa Fe - dozens of art galleries in one of the best small cities in the U.S.
✮ Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Santa Fe - Roman Catholic cathedral; includes the oldest Madonna statue in North America
✮ Ethyl the Whale, Santa Fe - 82-foot-long, life-sized sculpture of a blue whale made out of recycled plastic
✮ Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe - learn about the artistic legacy of one of the U.S.'s most famous artists
✮ Jemez Hot Springs, Jemez Springs - soak in natural outdoor mineral water pools
✮ Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument - unique geologic features that look like tents; between Santa Fe and Albuquerque
✮ Loretto Chapel, Santa Fe - former Roman Catholic church; known for its helix-shaped spiral staircase
✮ Meow Wolf, Santa Fe - interactive and immersive art installation project; a visual extravaganza
✮ Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe - world's largest traditional folk art museum
✮ New Mexico History Museum, Santa Fe - well-regarded history museum
✮ Pecos National Historical Park - archaeological sites/ruins; hiking trails
✮ Puye Cliff Dwellings, Los Alamos - remarkable cliff dwellings & ruins
✮ Origami in the Garden, Los Cerrillos - art installation project
✮ Santa Fe / Santa Fe Plaza - hub of one of the U.S.'s best small cities; Spanish-American colonial architecture
✮ Santa Fe Opera House, Santa Fe- one of the most famous operas in the U.S.
Albuquerque & surrounding area
✮ Albuquerque Biological Park, Albuquerque - several different family-friendly attractions, including a zoo, botanical garden, and aquarium
✮ Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (event), Albuquerque - the premier hot air ballooning event in the world; typically held in early Oct
✮ Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum, Albuquerque - museum focused on the history, science, and art of ballooning
✮ Explora Science Center & Children's Museum, Albuquerque - excellent, hands-on science center
✮ Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Albuquerque - museum featuring Pueblo Indian culture, history, and art
✮ National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, Albuquerque - national repository of nuclear science information
✮ New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, Albuquerque - best natural history and science museum in NM
✮ Petroglyph National Monument - one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America; literally 1000s of petroglyphs can be found
✮ Sandia Peak Tramway, Albuquerque - one of the top 10 aerial tramways in the U.S.
✮ Unser Racing Museum, Albuquerque - one of the best racing-focused museums in the U.S.
Central New Mexico
✮ Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge - one of the finest birding sites in the southwest; watch migration of sandhill cranes in the fall
✮ El Malpais National Monument - volcanic landscapes; lava flows; lava tubes / lava tube caving; natural arch; hiking; scenic driving
✮ El Morro National Monument - interesting sandstone formations & petroglyphs
✮ Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument - outstanding cliff dwellings
✮ Riverbend Hot Springs, Truth or Consequences - one of the finest hot springs resorts in the southwest
✮ Roswell - a city obsessed with UFOs and aliens; includes world's only UFO-themed McDonald's restaurant; includes a UFO museum
✮ Sky City Cultural Center / Acoma Pueblo - historic buildings & Native American culture exhibits
✮ Three Rivers Petroglyph Site, Tularosa - one of the best petroglyph sites in the Southwest
✮ Very Large Array, Socorro - enormous radio telescopes; fantastic photo opp
Southern New Mexico
✮ Bat flight at Carlsbad Caverns National Park - one of the most amazing wildlife events in the U.S.; bats typically fly from late May through Oct
✮ Carlsbad Caverns National Park - amazing natural cave; self & guided tours available
✮ City of Rocks State Park - impressive geology/rock formations and has a great campground in a fantastic setting
✮ White Sands Missile Range Museum, White Sands Missile Range - indoor and outdoor missile museum
✮ White Sands National Park - absolutely beautiful white dunes (made of gypsum); several short hiking trails and one long one; bring a sled!
✮ World's Largest Pistachio / McGinn's Pistachio Tree Ranch, Alamogordo - best place in the U.S. to see and buy pistachios; roadside attraction
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in New Mexico? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
For a list of 5-star attractions in neighboring states, click on any of these links:
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CO |
OK |
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UT
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN NEW MEXICO
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These towns and cities in New Mexico are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
✮ Albuquerque - a large city with excellent museums and access to many nearby national forests and mountains; not far from Santa Fe; home of the (amazing) Albuquerque International Baloon Fiesta (typically held in October)
✮ Roswell - a medium-sized city famous for its International UFO Museum & Research Center and other UFO/alien-focused attractions
✮ Santa Fe - a medium-sized city with lovely adobe architecture, baroque churches, and art galleries; this is one of the U.S.'s oldest cities; strong Native American culture and not far from Albuquerque
✮ Taos - a small town known for its art galleries, boutique shops, and its famous skiing/snowboarding resort; strong Native American culture
✮ Truth or Consequences - a small town with a hippy/art culture, hot springs, wellness tourism, and historic buildings
My favorite city in New Mexico is Santa Fe - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 4-5 nights there to explore the city and surrounding areas (including day trips to Taos and Albuquerque)
My favorite town in New Mexico is Taos - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there to explore the town and surrounding areas
If you like adobe architecture, visit Santa Fe.
If you like aliens/UFO history, visit Roswell.
If you like art galleries, visit Santa Fe.
If you like hiking, visit Albuquerque, Santa Fe, or Taos.
If you like hot springs, visit Jemez Springs or Truth or Consequences.
If you like museums, visit Albuquerque or Santa Fe.
If you like pistachios, visit Alamogordo.
If you want to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park, stay in or near Carlsbad.
If you want to visit White Sands National Park, stay in or near Alamogordo.
Albuquerque has many great attractions, but overall the city is not as attractive as Santa Fe. The two cities are about one hour apart from each other.
Santa Fe is one of the finest small cities in the U.S.. The arts, museum, and dining scene is fantastic. There is also an amazing amount of great hiking nearby, including trails in some exceptional national forests and national monuments. You can also take a day trip to Taos and back on one of the most scenic drives in New Mexico, the "High Road to Taos". If you haven't visited Santa Fe, I would spend at least 4-5 nights there.
Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire U.S.
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WHAT IS NEW MEXICO FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that New Mexico is famous or well known for:
✮ adobe dwellings/architecture
✮ atomic bomb development / testing
✮ Breaking Bad TV filming locations
✮ chili peppers
✮ cliff dwellings
✮ hot air balloons / hot air ballooning
✮ hot springs
✮ national monuments
✮ Native American culture & heritage
✮ petroglyphs
✮ Pueblo historical sites
✮ satellites
✮ southwestern art
✮ UFO sightings/aliens
✮ white sand / gypsum sand dunes
Click here if you'd like to learn what other U.S. states are famous for.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN NEW MEXICO
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There are two official national parks New Mexico, plus there are many other federally-managed parks and properties in the state, including:
National Parks
✮ Carlsbad Caverns National Park - incredible guided and self-guided cave tours; nightly bat flight show in season
✮ White Sands National Park - stunning white sand dunes composed of gypsum crystals; there is no other park like this in the United States
National Monuments
✮ Aztec Ruins National Monument
✮ Bandelier National Monument
✮ Capulin Volcano National Monument
✮ El Malpais National Monument
✮ El Morro National Monument
✮ Fort Union National Monument
✮ Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
✮ Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
✮ Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument
✮ Petroglyph National Monument
✮ Prehistoric Trackways National Monument
✮ Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
✮ Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
National Forests
✮ Carson National Forest
✮ Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands
✮ Gila National Forest
✮ Lincoln National Forest
✮ Santa Fe National Forest
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks
✮ Chaco Culture National Historical Park
✮ Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
✮ El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail
✮ Manhattan Project National Historical Park
✮ Old Spanish National Historic Trail
✮ Pecos National Historical Park
✮ Santa Fe National Historic Trail
✮ Valles Caldera National Preserve
Both Carlsbad Caverns National Park and White Sands National Park are world-class. I highly recommended both. One day is enough to visit each of these parks. If you are visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park, I would consider visiting nearby Guadalupe Peak National Park, which is just over the border in Texas.
My favorite national monument in New Mexico is Bandelier National Monument. Seeing and exploring the archaeological sites is an awesome experience.
My second favorite national monument in New Mexico is Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. The Slot Canyon Trail is the main highlight there, and it's a top 10 hike of New Mexico.
For more information on New Mexico's national parks, visit the New Mexico page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all U.S. national parks, click here.
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STATE PARKS IN NEW MEXICO
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New Mexico has more than 30 state parks. Many would agree that these represent New Mexico's finest state parks:
Flagship / Premier State Parks:
✮ Cimarron Canyon State Park - scenic views; hiking; camping; fly-fishing; horseback riding
✮ City of Rocks State Park - interesting geology/rock formations; hiking; mountain biking; camping
Other Notable State Parks:
✮ Bottomless Lakes State Park - swimming; camping
My favorite state park in New Mexico is City of Rocks State Park. If you enjoy camping or geologic formations, it doesn't get much better than this.
To see my list of the top 100 state parks in the country, click here.
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BEST WATERFALLS IN NEW MEXICO
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New Mexico has more than 100 natural waterfalls. Here is a list of many of the best waterfalls in New Mexico:
Northern New Mexico
✮ Jemez Falls in Santa Fe National Forest
✮ Nambe Falls in the Nambe Pueblo Reservation near Santa Fe (privately owned; public access may or may not be possible)
✮ Resumidero Falls in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness Area of Santa Fe National Forest
✮ Soda Dam in Jemez Springs
✮ Upper Frijoles Falls in Bandelier National Monument
✮ Williams Falls near Taos Ski Valley
Southern New Mexico
✮ Bar Canyon/Soledad Canyon Waterfalls in Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument
✮ Fillmore Canyon Waterfall in Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument
✮ Sitting Bull Falls in the Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area in Lincoln National Forest
For a listing of all known waterfalls in New Mexico, visit the World Waterfall Database website.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN NEW MEXICO
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Here is a list of the best scenic drives in New Mexico:
✮ Dunes Drive, White Sands National Park - an 8-mile, partially paved route through White Sands National Park in southern NM
✮ Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway - a 84-mile paved route that encircles Taos Ski Valley and Wheeler Peak (the highpoint of NM)
✮ High Road to Taos - a 70-mile paved route from Santa Fe to Taos
✮ Jemez Mountain Trail - a 170-mile paved route from Tierra Amarilla to Bernalillo via Abiquiu, Espanola, Bandelier NM, and Jemez Springs
✮ Sandia Crest Byway - a 14-mile paved route that climbs up the Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque
For a list of great scenic drives in each U.S. state, click here.
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BEST RAIL TRAILS IN NEW MEXICO
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There are only a few notable rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in New Mexico. Here are two of the best:
✮ Paseo del Bosque Trail in Albuquerque
✮ Tramway Recreation Trail in Albuquerque
For detailed information on all known rail trails in New Mexico, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN NEW MEXICO
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New Mexico currently doesn't have any major amusement parks. The only notable amusement park in New Mexico is Cliff's Amusement Park in Albuquerque.
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BEST MUSEUMS IN NEW MEXICO
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New Mexico has many excellent and unique museums. The best museums in New Mexico include:
Northern New Mexico (including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos)
✮ Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, Albuquerque
✮ Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, Albuquerque
✮ Explora Science Center and Children's Museum, Albuquerque
✮ Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe
✮ Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Albuquerque
✮ Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, Santa Fe
✮ Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe
✮ National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, Albuquerque
✮ New Mexico History Museum, Santa Fe
✮ New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Albuquerque
✮ Unser Racing Museum, Albuquerque
Central / Southern New Mexico
✮ International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell
✮ New Mexico Museum of Space History, Alamogordo
✮ White Sands Missile Range Museum, Alamogordo
As you can see above, Albuquerque and Santa Fe are both national hot spots for museums.
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BEST DAY HIKES IN NEW MEXICO
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New Mexico has hundreds of miles of hiking trails, and there is great hiking to be found all over the state. Here are some of the best day hikes in New Mexico:
Northern New Mexico (including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos)
✮ Alcove House / Main Loop Trail - Bandelier National Monument
✮ Atalaya Mountain - Santa Fe National Forest
✮ Bisti Badlands - Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area
✮ Deception Peak / Lake Peak - Pecos Wilderness / Santa Fe National Forest
✮ Gold Hill Trail - Wheeler Peak Wilderness / Carson National Forest
✮ Kitchen Mesa - Ghost Ranch (privately owned but general public is welcome)
✮ La Luz Trail - Sandia Mountain Wilderness
✮ Mount Taylor - Cibola National Forest
✮ Nambe Lake - Santa Fe National Forest
✮ Picacho Peak Trail - Santa Fe National Forest
✮ Pueblo Alto Trail - Chaco Culture National Historical Park
✮ San Antonio Hot Springs - Santa Fe National Forest
✮ Santa Fe Baldy - Pecos Wilderness / Santa Fe National Forest
✮ Slot Canyon Trail - Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
✮ Trampas Lakes - Carson National Forest
✮ Tsankawi Ruins - Bandelier National Monument
✮ Wheeler Peak - Wheeler Peak Wilderness / Carson National Forest
✮ Williams Lake - Carson National Forest
Central New Mexico
✮ Argentina Peak & Little Bonito Trail Loop - White Mountain Wilderness
✮ Big Tubes - El Malpais National Monument
✮ Catwalk National Recreation Trail - Gila National Forest
✮ Inscription Rock / Mesa Top Loop Trail - El Morro National Monument
✮ Jordan Hot Springs - Gila Wilderness
✮ Pecos Baldy Lake - Pecos Wilderness
✮ Ruins Trail - Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
✮ Three Rivers Petroglyphs Site - BLM public lands
✮ Zuni-Acoma Trail - El Malpais National Monument
Southern New Mexico
✮ Alkali Flat Trail - White Sands National Monument
✮ Bar Canyon - Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument
✮ Dripping Springs Trail - Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument
✮ Dune Life Nature Trail - White Sands National Monument
✮ Fillmore Canyon Trail - Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument
✮ Natural Entrance Tour & Big Room Tour - Carlsbad Caverns National Park
✮ Pine Tree Trail - Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument
✮ Soledad Canyon Loop - Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument
The highpoint of New Mexico is Wheeler Peak (13,167'), and it's a fun but challenging day hike. Use the town of Taos in northern New Mexico as your base camp to hike this mountain.
To find more hikes in New Mexico or to learn more about the hikes I've listed above, I recommend purchasing hiking guidebooks on Amazon (or from your local retailer). Another option is using alltrails.com, but you have to be very careful when using that website as its information is often wrong or incomplete. Published hiking guidebooks will likely always be significantly better than the information you find online.
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN NEW MEXICO
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New Mexico offers a few excellent backpacking opportunities. Some of the premier backpacking trails/areas in New Mexico include:
✮ Continental Divide Trail
✮ Crest Trail
✮ Gila River Canyons Loop
✮ Gold Hill
✮ Horseshoe Lake
✮ Lake Katherine
✮ Mogollon Crest Trail / Mogollon Baldy
✮ Pecos Baldy Lake
✮ Pecos Skyline Trail
✮ Santa Fe Baldy
✮ Trampas Lakes
✮ Wheeler Peak
White Sands National Park used to offer primitive backcountry camping, but it looks like it may have been permanently closed by the National Park Service.
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN NEW MEXICO
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New Mexico offers many excellent adventures, including these classics:
✮ ATV/ORV-ing Red Sands OHV Area (BLM public lands)
✮ Backpacking Gila Wilderness
✮ Backpacking Pecos Wilderness
✮ Backpacking Santa Fe National Forest
✮ Backpacking Wheeler Peak Wilderness / Carson National Forest
✮ Bouldering in Ponderosa
✮ Caving in Carlsbad Caverns State Park
✮ Caving in lava tubes in El Malpais National Monument
✮ Climbing the ladders on the Alcove House Trail in Bandelier National Monument
✮ Cycling the Paseo del Bosque Trail
✮ Day hiking La Luz Trail to Sandia Crest
✮ Day hiking Lake Katherine
✮ Day hiking Wheeler Peak (NM highpoint)
✮ Day hiking to any of New Mexico's hidden hot springs
✮ Hot air ballooning in Albuquerque
✮ Hot air ballooning in Taos
✮ Llama trekking in Taos
✮ Mountain biking at the Angel Fire Bike Park in Angel Fire
✮ Mountain biking the High Desert Trails in Gallup
✮ Mountain biking the South Boundary Trail - designated by IMBA as an "epic" mountain biking trail
✮ Overlanding/4x4 driving the Carson-Santa Fe Backcountry Discovery Trail
✮ Overlanding/4x4 driving the Enchanted Rockies Trail
✮ Rock climbing at Box Recreation Area
✮ Rock climbing at Sugarite Canyon State Park
✮ Rock climbing in Taos
✮ Sledding the gypsum dunes at White Sands National Park
✮ Snowmobiling near Angel Fire, Red River, or Taos
✮ Whitewater rafting the Rio Chama River
✮ Whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande River
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SKI RESORTS IN NEW MEXICO
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There are currently 8 actively-operating ski/snowboard resorts in New Mexico. These ski resorts are generally considered the best:
Premier Ski/Snowboarding Resorts:
✮ Taos Ski Valley - 110 trails; 3,281ft vertical drop; 12,481ft summit
Other Notable Ski/Snowboarding Resorts:
✮ Angel Fire Resort - 81 trails; 2,077ft vertical drop; 10,677ft summit
✮ Ski Apache - 55 trails; 1,900ft vertical drop; 11,500ft summit
✮ Ski Santa Fe - 86 trails; 1,725ft vertical drop; 12,075ft summit
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For offbeat and unique New Mexico attractions, visit one or both of these amazing websites: Atlas Obscura and Roadside America
Many people will combine a visit to northern Mexico with attractions in southwestern Colorado. Some examples include the great city of Durango and the archaeological treasures in Mesa Verde National Park.
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN NEW MEXICO
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in New Mexico:
✮ biscochitos
✮ blue corn pancakes
✮ calabacitas
✮ carne adovada
✮ chiles rellenos
✮ frito pie
✮ green chile cheeseburger
✮ green chile pizza
✮ green chile stew
✮ hatch chilis
✮ horchata
✮ huevos rancheros
✮ pistachios
✮ posole
✮ red chile sauce
✮ sopaipilla
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in New Mexico (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each of the 50 U.S. states, click here.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in New Mexico (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY NEW MEXICO INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about New Mexico:
State Capital:
Santa Fe
Major Airports:
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
Largest Cities:
Albuquerque (568,301), Las Cruces (114,139), Rio Rancho (107,350), Santa Fe (91,417), Roswell (48,434), Farmington (46,774), Hobbs (41,786)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-10, I-25, I-40
State Highpoint:
Wheeler Peak (13,167') in the Wheeler Peak Wilderness area of Carson National Forest (northern New Mexico); a challenging day hike is required to reach the summit; watch out for thunderstorms!
Professional Sports Teams:
None
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Pie Town, Truth or Consequences, and Weed
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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natural entrance of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, New Mexico
White Sands National Park, New Mexico
Pistachioland: McGinn's Pistachio Tree Ranch in Alamogordo, New Mexico
Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico
Four Corners Monument, New Mexico
New Mexico welcome sign
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico
In addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any book cover to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com.
 
 
 
 
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MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
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Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
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As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.
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