New Mexico is called the Land of Enchantment, and for good reason! Home to incredibly unique and diverse landscapes, New Mexico offers visitors endless opportunities for outdoor adventure from ancient natural wonders, to snow-white sand dunes and soaring mountain peaks, there’s truly something for everyone. Throughout the state, you’ll find strong Native American and Hispanic influences, creating a unique culture that offers an authentic taste of the American Southwest. After exploring this underrated state, you’ll find yourself wondering why more people aren’t flocking to this fantastic destination! Here are the 26 best places to visit in New Mexico that you’ll want to add to your bucket list!
Chama Village and The Chama River Valley
The pioneer village of Chama sits at the base of the 10,000-foot Cumbres Pass and is bordered by three wilderness areas; Santa Fe, Rio Grande, and Carson National Forests. Chama’s location makes this mountain town an adventurer’s paradise! Spend the day rafting down the Rio Chama or taking in views of the epic peaks of Brazos Cliffs.
Chama is home to the picturesque, Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. In addition to being one of the most scenic train rides in America, this National Historic Landmark is also the longest and highest narrow-gauge coal-fired steam fueled engines in the US! Climb aboard the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad for an unforgettable 64-mile ride winding through the Rocky and San Juan Mountains, and passing steep mountain canyons, lush meadows, and high desert views along the way.
Note: The train only runs from late May to October!
White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park is home to the world’s largest gypsum dune field and is one of the most stunning landscapes in the state. Glistening white gypsum sand has built up over time to create dunes up to 60 feet high. This extraordinary landscape will have you feeling like you’ve stepped onto another planet as you gaze out at sparkling sand as far as the eye can see! One of the most popular things to do in White Sands is sledding the dunes. Located at the entrance of the park, the visitor center sells sleds to use, or you can bring your own round plastic saucer to take on the dunes. Drive the 16-mile roundtrip Dunes Drive to get a feel for the vastness of the dunefield, and scope out your perfect dune to sled down!
There are no campgrounds in the park, but you can register for a backcountry permit to sleep on the dunes and take in the epic night sky! If you happen to be visiting during a full moon, sign up for a Full Moon Hike to see the sand under the magical glow of the moon!
Pro Tip: Park near the Alkali Flat trailhead and hike out just a bit to find your own private stretch of sand. There’s something otherworldly about being out in the dunefield with no one else in sight!
Bandelier National Monument
Bandelier National Monument spans over 33,000 acres of breathtaking volcanic terrain, soaring mountains, steep canyons, and the vibrant Rio Grande valley, providing a haven for a wide range of wildlife. The park’s natural beauty is captivating, but surprisingly, it’s not the primary attraction. The ruins are what draw visitors from across the world to Bandelier. These archaeological wonders serve as proof of the Ancestral Pueblo people’s existence for over 11,000 years. The Main (Pueblo) Loop Trail guides you past petroglyphs, masonry walls, and homes that were carved into the rocky cliffs. By climbing ladders along the trail, you can explore some of the cavates, the small human-carved alcoves that make up this Pueblo’s cliff-side village. Alcove House, a former dwelling of about 25 Ancestral Pueblo people, is perched 140 feet above the Frijoles Canyon floor. You can climb up to it via four wooden ladders and some stairs.
Bisti Badlands
The Bisti Badlands, situated in the northwestern desert region of New Mexico, can make you feel like you have been transported to an entirely different planet due to its peculiar and breathtaking scenery. The landscape is a vast expanse of vibrant undulating mounds, peculiar rock formations, fungal shapes, and multicolored badlands. You may even stumble upon scattered petrified wood if you keep a keen eye out. With no designated trails, you have the liberty to explore this surreal location as much or as little as you want!
Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness
Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness is only a 30-minute drive from Bisti Badlands, and similar to Bisti, offers an array of strange rock formations. Surrounding the strange rock formations are hoodoos of various shapes and sizes and colorful layers of rolling clay hills. If Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah wasn’t unique enough already, you can even find fossils from the late Creteous era!
There are no designated trails, so grab a backpack and head out to find your own corner of the wilderness to camp with views of the stars like nowhere else, and a stellar sunrise to complement it!
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
New Mexico has no shortage of otherworldly sites and artifacts, and Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is no exception. Famous for its tipi “tent” shaped formations rising up to 90 feet above the ground, Tent Rocks was formed from volcanic eruptions that left behind deposits of pumice and ash. The 3-mile round trip Tent Rocks Slot Canyon Trail leads you past tent rock formations and through slot canyons to a lookout with panoramic views. For a shorter trail option, take the 1.2 mile Tent Rocks Cave Loop Trail.
Tucumcari
Get nostalgic as you step back in time in the historic Route 66 town of Tucumcari. Tucumcari feels like it’s frozen in time with buzzing neon signs and route 66 icons lining the streets. During the day, walk around town to admire the numerous murals located here and visit the Convention Center to snap a picture in front of the world’s largest mural devoted to Route 66. Become a route 66 history buff at the New Mexico Route 66 Museum that houses the largest collection of Route 66 photos in addition to restored classic cars and vintage Route 66 signage and gas pumps. Appreciate the playful architecture outside of Tee Pee Curios and its neighboring, La Cita Restaurant, then head inside La Cita for a classic New Mexican dinner. Once the sun sets, Tucumcari illuminates under the cheerful glow of neon lights!
For overnight stays, book a room at the popular, Blue Swallow Motel that has been hosting Route 66 road-trippers since 1939!
Cloudcroft
The village of Cloudcroft sits high in the Sacramento Mountains at 9,000 feet elevation, making this quaint town a hot spot for outdoor enthusiasts! Cloudcroft is home to the southernmost ski resort in the U.S., Ski Cloudcroft, offering 25 ski trails and tubing in both the winter and summer. In addition to the popular ski resort, visitors can also enjoy excellent hiking and mountain biking. The New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association has converted abandoned railroad lines into a network of hiking trails, allowing you to hike high above the trees on an old train trestle. Mountain bikers should head to the High-Altitude Race Loop, a 8.2-mile track winding through Bailey Canyon.
After an active day on the trails, head into town for some well-earned, wood-fired pizza and beer at Cloudcroft Brewing Company.
Roswell
If you’re looking for something in New Mexico that’s truly out of this world, don’t miss the town of Roswell. Known across the globe for being the site of the 1947 “Roswell Incident”, where allegedly, a UFO crashed into a farm near the town, Roswell has truly tapped into the alien lore! From the McDonald’s shaped like a UFO, to street lamps with alien faces on them, the whole town is decked out in aliens and UFO themed items. The International UFO Museum and Research Center delves into the bizarre incidents that took place in a field in Roswell in 1947 and the subsequent events. You can explore various materials, eyewitness accounts, and artifacts to form your own conclusion about what really occurred. After exploring the museum, go on a black light journey at the Roswell UFO Spacewalk.
Get outside at nearby, Bottomless Lakes State Park. Popular because of its unique geological features, Bottomless Lakes includes seven deep, circular sinkholes filled with shimmering blue-green water, which are known as “cenotes”. These sinkholes were formed millions of years ago when underground caves collapsed and filled with water, creating a unique and picturesque landscape. Visitors can swim, fish, hike, camp, and picnic in the park while enjoying the beautiful views of the sinkholes and surrounding cliffs. The park also offers various recreational activities, including paddleboarding, kayaking, and scuba diving.
Note: For full disclosure, there’s not a lot to the town of Roswell, so I wouldn’t plan on spending long here. It is a great place to stop on your way to nearby attractions, such as Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Cloudcroft.
Albuquerque
The largest city in New Mexico, Albuquerque, is located along the Rio Grande River in a high desert environment with the Sandia Mountains defining the eastern edge of the city. Albuquerque’s claim to fame, the International Balloon Fiesta, attracts visitors from around the world that come to marvel at the colorful balloons as they fill the desert sky. Though the balloons are indeed a sight to see, there is so much more to love about this diverse and unpretentious city!
Soak up some Americana vibes along Historic Route 66 in Albuquerque’s Nob Hill district, explore the adobe adorned streets of Old Town, and take in panoramic views of the city from the summit of Sandia Peak!
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Beneath the surface of the Chihuahuan Desert lies the largest cave chamber in North America, Carlsbad Caverns. The 175-plus miles of caves are filled with enormous stalactites and stalagmites, and 18-foot gypsum “chandeliers”, that are so spectacular that UNESCO declared it a World Heritage site. Visitors can purchase a ticket for a self-guided tour of the caves on the Natural Entrance Trail where you can explore 3 miles of passageways, leading to the popular, Big Room. To visit some of the more restricted areas of the cave, you can sign up for a ranger-guided tour. Tour favorites include King’s Palace, Spider Cave and Hall of the White Giant.
Pro Tip: Don’t miss the Bat Flight Program in August and September!
Jemez Mountain Trail
Starting in the town of Los Alamos, the 132-mile loop on Jemez Mountain Trail National Scenic Byway twists and turns through an abundance of stunning natural, cultural, and historic landmarks. History buffs will appreciate the numerous opportunities to view archaeological ruins from Ancestral Pueblo peoples, and the remains of a historic village and its’ 17th century Spanish colonial mission. Outdoorsy folks will love the waterfalls and hot springs, volcanic craters, and innumerable views of colorful red rock canyons and sharp mountain peaks.
Aztec Ruins National Monument
Aztec Ruins National Monument provides visitors the opportunity to intimately explore Ancestral Pueblo ruins that are over 900-years old! You can take a 0.5-mile self-guided tour through the Pueblo Great House, which comprises more than 400 masonry rooms, and see the original timber that supports the ceilings. Aztec Ruins is best known by the ceremonial, Great Kiva, which is the oldest and largest reconstructed Kiva in North America. The Great Kiva, with a 40-foot diameter, was a central religious site for the early Puebloans, and visitors are lucky enough to be able to walk inside of this special piece of history!
Capulin Volcano National Monument
Capulin Volcano National Monument is a dormant, cinder cone volcano located in the Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field. Volcano Road, a 2-mile paved road, spirals around the volcano taking visitors up to a parking lot at the rim, offering 360-degree views of the Rocky Mountains and the surrounding areas. The parking lot also provides access to hiking trails that circle the rim of the volcano and lead down into the mouth of the volcano. After taking in views from the top of Capulin Volcano, head down to the base of the volcano to explore Capulin’s lava flow.
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument exhibits ancient cliff dwellings constructed by the Mogollon Native Americans circa 1300, where they built 42 rooms across six caves. To witness these dwellings, visitors can either take a hike along the Cliff Dweller Trail or book a guided tour through the park service. The site also offers natural caves and hot springs that can be explored, with most starting at the visitor center.
Pecos National Historical Park
Pecos National Historic Park is a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts. Located against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the park features an array of attractions, including a Civil War battleground and ancient cave dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo people, dating back to the 14th century. The 2.25-mile Glorieta Pass trail offers visitors the opportunity to explore the westernmost Civil War battle site. The Ancestral Sites trail is a 1.25-mile loop trail that takes you past the historic Pecos Pueblo Mission Church and other ancestral sites. To gain a deeper understanding of the park, visitors can opt for a ranger-guided tour or explore the on-site museum, which houses Pueblo tools and pottery, as well as Civil War weapons and artifacts.
Santa Rosa Blue Hole
Santa Rosa Blue Hole is a geological wonder that draws swimmers and scuba divers alike with its stunning Caribbean blue waters. The 80-foot deep spring is part of a larger, unexplored cave network and was formed when limestone bedrock was eroded and collapsed by an underground aquifer. The amount of water that flows through the hole is so abundant that it could fill an Olympic-size swimming pool every three hours! The constant flow of water ensures that Blue Hole remains crystal clear, making it an ideal location for scuba diving. Even though the water remains cold all year, it provides a refreshing respite on a hot New Mexico summer day!
Shiprock
Shiprock is a 7,177-foot high volcanic plug that rises above the desert plains of Navajo Nation. This towering rock was formed when a volcano erupted and the lava interacted with water to form a volcanic vent. Over time, the top layers of the volcano eroded leaving behind the rock mountain seen today. This towering peak is sacred to the Navajo people, who call it Tse Bitโ aโi, which means, “rock with wings”. The pinnacle is popular among photographers and has also appeared in several movies including Transformers, The Lone Ranger, and Jumanji: The Next Level, just to name a few.
Note: To access Shiprock, visitors are asked to view and photograph it from a paved roadway, driving on the dirt road that leads to Shiprock is prohibited.
Wheeler Peak Wilderness
The Wheeler Peak Wilderness Area offers a stunning landscape of picturesque lakes, majestic mountain peaks, sprawling fields of wildflowers, and towering pine trees. Not only that, but the area is also home to a diverse range of wildlife, including elk, bighorn sheep, marmots, and mule deer. To fully experience the beauty of the area, hiking is the way to go, and the most popular trail is the hike to the top of Wheeler Peak. Standing at a height of 13,161 feet, the summit of Wheeler Peak is the highest point in New Mexico and is a bucket-list hike for Highpointers. The 7.9-mile trail, which includes steep switchbacks and rocky terrain, offers stunning panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains and Williams Lake below, making the strenuous hike a truly rewarding experience.
Ghost Ranch
A former dude ranch northwest of Santa Fe, Ghost Ranch, was made famous by painter, Georgia O’Keeffe. Encompassing 21,000 acres of vivid colors, towering rock walls, and bright blue open skies, the landscape of Ghost Ranch inspired many of Georgia O’Keeffe’s famous paintings, and a visit to this ranch and retreat center is sure to inspire your inner artist as well!
Immerse yourself in nature on one of the many trails winding through the property or take a dip in Abiquiu Lake. The ranch offers horseback riding and Georgia O’Keeffe inspired painting tours in addition to two museums. Regardless of how you choose to spend your time here, the landscape is sure to have you feeling at ease! Visitors wishing to stay the night can book a room at the lodge, or reserve a campsite to sleep under the stars!
Santa Fe
The capital of New Mexico and America’s second oldest city, Santa Fe is filled with rich history, stunning landscapes, and mouth-watering cuisine! From its iconic adobe architecture to its vibrant art scene, Santa Fe offers a unique blend of European, Native, and Hispanic cultures that are waiting to be explored.
Take a stroll through the historic Santa Fe Plaza and discover the city’s art scene with the many galleries and museums located in the area. Popular destinations around the plaza include; the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Palace of the Governors, The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, and a visit to the iconic Loretto Chapel – known for its miraculous spiral staircase.
After exploring the plaza, make your way to nearby Canyon Road – a must for art-lovers – this charming street is lined with stunning adobe exteriors and countless galleries! For an immersive art-experience like no-other, pay a visit to Meow Wolf, a mind-bending art installation that will transport you to otherworldly dimensions. If you’re looking for some outdoor adventure, Santa Fe has plenty of options. The nearby Sangre de Cristo Mountains offer hiking trails for all skill levels, and you can also go mountain biking or horseback riding. If you’re looking for something a bit more relaxing, head to one of the city’s many spas or hot springs.
Experience the flavors of Santa Fe by indulging in classic New Mexican cuisine. La Choza is a local favorite for their hearty plates of enchiladas, tamales, and chile rellenos. For contemporary takes on southwestern cuisine, check out The Shed or Cafe Pasqual’s. For a sweet treat, pay a visit to Kakawa Chocolate House and sample their award-winning chocolates, infused with unique flavors inspired by historic recipes. If you’re not ready to stop exploring after dinner, grab an iconic swirl margarita at Tomasita’s, or see how many stops you can check off along the Santa Fe Margarita Trail!
Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventure, art and culture, or delicious cuisine, Santa Fe has it all. Plan your getaway to this charming and enchanting city and prepare to be captivated by everything it has to offer.
El Morro National Monument
El Morro National Monument is a sandstone monolith that towers above the high desert plains and is a sight to behold. View the 2,000 carved petroglyphs, signatures, and messages left behind by Ancestral Puebloans, Spanish conquistadors, and American settlers that once passed through the area. The visitor center and museum educates visitors on the 700 years of human history at the monument in addition to offering a guide booklet that explains stops along the trails located here. Head to the top of the mesa for an elevated view of the landscape surrounding this historic monument!
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Chaco Culture National Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a hidden gem that requires some effort to get to, but visitors are rewarded with an up-close view of some of the best-preserved ancestral Pueblo structures, kivas, and petroglyphs. From AD 800 to 1200, the Puebloan people inhabited Chaco Canyon. A scenic 9-mile loop drive takes you through the park’s remaining structures and highlights, including stunning views of Fajada Butte. There are numerous ruins to explore, with Pueblo Bonito being the largest, this one is not to be missed…you even get to walk inside of the structures! Casa Rinconada is another must see, offering a glimpse into a huge ceremonial structure.
Note: To reach the park, you must drive down an unpaved road for several miles. We were able to get there in our sedan, just be prepared to take it slow:)
Taos
Sitting at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the town of Taos has something for everyone. Filled with historic adobes, a vibrant arts scene, a world-class ski resort, and breathtaking landscapes, Taos is a destination not to be missed! No trip to Taos is complete without a visit to Taos Pueblo, an adobe settlement with the oldest continuously inhabited dwellings in the United States. The residents of Taos Pueblo welcome visitors to tour their community that has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and a National Historic Landmark.
Spend an afternoon shopping for handmade tribal pottery and jewelry in Historic Taos Plaza or head to the completely sustainable, Earthship community, to admire the otherworldly and fascinating homes made out of recycled materials. Take in views of the historic San Francisco de Asis Church and enjoy the jaw dropping view from Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Outdoor enthusiasts should head to Wheeler Peak to summit the tallest mountain in New Mexico or hit the slopes at Taos Ski Valley.
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
With the Rio Grande running through its 57,000 acres of wilderness, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for birds and wildlife enthusiasts alike. It’s especially popular for bird-watching during the winter months, as tens of thousands of cranes, geese, and ducks flock here to roost. To witness this remarkable sight, it’s recommended to visit from late October to mid-February. While there, drive the 12-mile loop route and discover the observation decks and nature trails to fully experience the refuge.
Four Corners Monument
Ever wanted to be in four places at once? At Four Corners Monument you can! The only place in the United States where four states meet, Four Corners Monument joins New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. Crab-walk your way over the plaque to be in four states at once!
For full disclosure. the monument is in a very rural area and there is not a lot around, but we feel it is worthy of a mention if you happen to be passing through the area. The closest gas station is several miles away, so come prepared!
