Aztec, New Mexico's lands are diverse, encompassing high deserts, National Monuments and National Conservation Lands. Enjoy the boundless opportunities such as hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, horseback riding, and much more!
Aztec Visitor Center
City: Aztec Phone: (505) 334-9551The Aztec Visitor Center is open to all visitors of the Four Corners region. It is open Tuesday through Saturday (closed Monday). Please call for office hours: 888-543-4629.
Visit WebsiteMountain Biking
Aztec boasts over 30 miles of mountain bike trails, including the Alien Run , which is ranked among the more technically challenging and scenic single tracks in the Southwest. Routed near an alleged UFO crash site, "the Alien Run" can be navigated by a novice yet is immensely challenging for experts. More Information and PhotosNavajo Lake State Park
Nourished by the Pine and San Juan rivers, Navajo Lake is 25 miles long with more than 200 camping and picnic sites, two improved boat ramps and a marina. Recreation includes boating, sailing and other water sports, plus trophy fishing for brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout, largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish and kokanee salmon. More Information and PhotosQuality Waters of the San Juan River
Flowing from Navajo Lake, the lower San Juan River is ranked among America's top-10 trout fishing waters. A 4.5-mile, nutrient-rich section below Navajo Dam is so spectacular for fishing that it has earned “Quality Waters” designation. (Special angling regulations are in effect.) Attracting sports enthusiasts the world over, the river further compels with multi-hued sandstone canyons and desert vistas. More Information and PhotosAh-shi-sle-pah Wilderness Study Area
A BLM wilderness study area, "Ah-shi-sle-pah" are eroded badlands that like the Bisti offer some of the most unusual scenery in the Four Corners. Time and Mother Nature have etched a fantasy world of strange rock formations. Most commonly found in the Ah-shi-sle-pah are hoodoos, petrified logs and stumps, and fossils from the late Creteous era (dinosaur, crocodilian scutes, and turtle shell). More Information, Maps and PhotosAngel Peak Scenic Area
This 10,000-acre landscape is celebrated for its rugged and scenic wonders, including 7,000-foot Angel Peak. The river-deposited San Jose Formation sandstone is visible for miles in any direction. The banded colors of the badlands and the deep sculpted canyon fingers are fully revealed only to those who make the short journey along the rim. BLM managed, overnight camping and picnics. More Information, Maps and PhotosBisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness
A federal wilderness area, "the Bisti" are eroded badlands that offer some of the most unusual scenery in the Four Corners. Time and natural elements have etched a fantasy world of strange rock formations. Bisti (pronounced bis-tie) is Navajo for "a large area of shale hills." De-Na-Zin (deh-nah-zin) is Navajo for "cranes." Petroglyphs of cranes have been found south of the wilderness area. More Information, Maps and PhotosDunes OHV Area
Over 800 acres of fun is waiting for off-road enthusiasts at the Dunes Vehicle Recreation Area south of Farmington. The off-highway vehicle area contains a wide variety of topography including large sand dunes, steep to gentle hillsides, and sandy arroyo bottoms. Innumerable roads and trails exist in the Dunes, created by nearly 40 years of off-road vehicle use. The diverse landscape attracts a variety of motorized activity and provides riders a place to play, test their endurance, and improve their skills. More Information, Maps and PhotosGlade Run Recreation Area
A great spot for the weekend warrior, the Glade Run Recreation Area is comprised of 19,000 acres of sandy arroyos, slick rock and rolling terrain. Vegetation is sparse, primarily consisting of common grasses, rabbitbrush, sagebrush, junipers, and pinyons. More Information, Maps and PhotosLybrook (Badlands) Fossil Area
A BLM area designated as a 'Fossil Area' this area is commonly referred to as the Lybrook Badlands. This area is somehwat similar to the Bisti and Ah-shi-sle-pah Wilderness areas. It consists of extensively eroded badlands with scattered strange rock formations, banded clay domes, massive hoodoos, and fossils from the late Creteous era (dinosaur, crocodilian scutes, and turtle shell). More Information, Maps and PhotosSimon Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC)
Simon Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) is about 3,900 acres in size and is managed for semi-primitive forms of recreation including fishing, hiking, and backpacking. Development at the mouth of the canyon is minimal (with a parking lot, picnic table, and toilet) and provides the visitor an alternative to the more highly developed state park sites located nearby. More Information, Maps and Photos
The True Outdoors
When you visit New Mexico, recess begins the moment you cross the state line. We have world class whitewater rafting, fly fishing, kayaking, golfing, hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, ballooning, wind surfing, cycling and even scuba diving. If it's an outside activity and you like doing it, you can do it here in abundance.
- Rafting in New Mexico
- Camping and Hiking in New Mexico
- Birding in New Mexico
- Mountain & Road Biking in New Mexico
- Fishing in New Mexico
- Golfing in New Mexico
- Ski Season In New Mexico
New Mexico State Parks
Few places on earth offer the variety and scope of natural beauty that New Mexico offers on a daily basis. Simply step outside and you'll discover mountains, rivers, caverns, majestic blue skies by day, bright star-filled skies by night, diverse wildlife, lakes, forests and unspoiled wilderness. There's beauty everywhere, all you have to do is decide which direction you want to go.
Caballo Lake State Park
City: Truth or Consequences Phone: (575) 743-3942Framed against the Caballo Mountains, this lake boasts an array of water recreation, such as boating, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, swimming, and fishing.
Visit WebsiteRockhound State Park
City: Deming Phone: (575) 546-6182The rugged slopes of the Little Florida Mountains are the setting for this park, which boasts trails, unique geology, wildflower displays, and a peaceful campground. The stunning scenery of the Spring Canyon unit of the park provides a peaceful area for hiking or picnicking.
Visit WebsiteNavajo Lake State Park
City: Navajo Dam Phone: (505) 632-2278Navajo Lake is the 2nd largest lake in the state, with multiple campgrounds, 2 marinas, and 2 boat docks. The San Juan River is a world-class fly fishing destination and features a campground, day use areas and a serene trail along the river.
Visit WebsiteBottomless Lakes State Park
City: Roswell Phone: (575) 624-6058Located just 14 miles southeast of Roswell, Bottomless Lakes State Park is your place for bottomless fun! Enjoy non-motorized boating in your kayak or canoe, camp, fish, picnic, swim, hike, go birding or even scuba dive!
Visit WebsiteSumner Lake State Park
City: Fort Sumner Phone: (575) 355-2541This lake on the grassy plains offers many activities, such as boating, swimming, fishing, wildlife viewing, and birding. Relax at a campsite with views of the lake after a hike along the lakeshore.
Visit WebsiteStorrie Lake State Park
City: Las Vegas Phone: (505) 425-7278This serene lake offers great opportunities for fishing, bird watching, and windsurfing. Choose from a variety of campsites with utility hookups for RVs. The park is conveniently located near historic Las Vegas.
Visit WebsiteCerrillos Hills State Park
City: Cerrillos Phone: (505) 876-2391Cerrillos Hills, New Mexico's 35th State Park, is a year-round, day-use park located off the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Y
Visit WebsiteVietnam Veterans Memorial State Park
City: Angel Fire Phone: (575) 377-2293The Memorial was established in 1968 by Victor and Jeanne Westphall to honor their son, Lt. David Westphall, who was killed in Vietnam in May 1968. When it opened in 1971, it was one of the first memorials of its kind in the United States dedicated to Vietnam Veterans.
Visit WebsiteVillanueva State Park
City: Villa Nueva Phone: (575) 421-2957The park is nestled between high sandstone bluffs that form a canyon along the Pecos River. Camp or picnic under the shade of cottonwood trees. Enjoy fishing, birding, wildflower viewing, or hiking the trails along the canyon walls.
Visit WebsiteRio Grande Nature Center State Park
City: Albuquerque Phone: (505) 344-0274Located on the Rio Grande flyway, the park offers excellent bird watching opportunities throughout the year. There are indoor and outdoor wildlife viewing areas overlooking ponds, and trail access to the Rio Grande.
Eagle Nest Lake State Park
City: Eagle Nest Phone: (575) 377-1594Located on the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, Eagle Nest Lake is surrounded by the stunning scenery of the high mountains of the Moreno Valley. This lake is regularly stocked with trout and salmon. Anglers can fish from the banks or by boat and ice fish in the winter.
Percha Dam State Park
City: Truth or Consequences Phone: (575) 743-3942This quiet park along the Rio Grande is shaded by tall cottonwoods and provides excellent fishing, relaxing camping, and outstanding bird watching.
Leasburg Dam State Park
City: Radium Springs Phone: (575) 524-4068A short 25 minute drive from bustling Las Cruces brings you to this quiet park along the Rio Grande. Leasburg Dam State Park offers peace and relaxation, a beautiful cactus garden, several hiking trails, and opportunities for fishing, canoeing, kayaking and birding.
Visit WebsiteOasis State Park
City: Portales Phone: (575) 356-5331You'll find this true oasis just outside of Clovis, NM. Oasis State Park is set among cottonwood trees, shifting sand dunes, and a small fishing lake. Although fishing is the park's main draw, it also has several hiking trails, a peaceful and shady campground, and an abundance of birds.
Visit WebsiteCarlsbad Caverns National Park
City: Carlsbad Phone: (575) 785-2232High rising ancient sea ledges, deep rocky canyons, cactus, grasses and thorny shrubs - who would imagine the hidden treasures deep beneath this rugged landscape? Secretly tucked below the desert terrain are more than 119 known caves formed when sulfuric acid dissolved the surrounding limestone.
Visit WebsiteSanta Rosa Lake State Park
City: Santa Rosa Phone: (575) 472-3110This reservoir on the plains of eastern New Mexico offers fishing, boating, camping and hiking, as well as abundant bird watching opportunities. Equestrians are welcome at the Los Tanos Campground.
Visit WebsiteMesilla Valley Bosque State Park
City: Mesilla Phone: (575) 523-4398The park is located on the Rio Grande near Las Cruces and 1.5 miles from historic Mesilla. Visitors have many opportunities to view wildlife in natural surroundings while strolling one of the self-guided nature trails. Enjoy a fun ranger-led tour!
Visit WebsiteCity of Rocks State Park
City: Bayard Phone: (575) 536-2800Located about halfway between Silver City and Deming, City of Rocks offers camp sites, hiking trails, excellent mountain biking, wildlife viewing, birding, stargazing, picnic areas and a desert botanical garden. City of Rocks State Park is your official sponsor of adventure!
Visit WebsiteElephant Butte Lake State Park
City: Elephant Butte Phone: (575) 744-5923If you like camping, fishing, boating, or just being outdoors, Elephant Butte is for you. There is plenty of water and plenty of beach room and this is New Mexico's largest State Park.
Visit WebsiteLiving Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park
City: Carlsbad Phone: (575) 887-5516This native wildlife zoo, accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, exhibits more than 40 species of animals and hundreds of species of plants native to the Chihuahuan Desert.
Oliver Lee Memorial State Park
City: Alamogordo Phone: (575) 437-8284Set against the dramatic Sacramento Mountains, this park features a historic ranch house, quiet camping in the Chihuahuan Desert, and the unique oasis of pools of water under the cottonwood trees of Dog Canyon.
Visit WebsiteConchas Lake State Park
City: Tucumcari Phone: (575) 868-2270Just northwest of Tucumcari, this lake features secluded coves, canyons, and sandy beaches, excellent for camping, boating, and fishing.
Visit WebsiteCimarron Canyon State Park
City: Eagle Nest Phone: (575) 377-6271The Cimarron River flows through this narrow, forested canyon, located near Angel Fire on the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway. The park offers beautiful views, interesting geology, quiet camping, fly fishing, hiking and equestrian trails.
Visit WebsiteFenton Lake State Park
City: Jemez Springs Phone: (575) 829-3630The Jemez Mountains provide the backdrop for this stunning year-round retreat surrounded by beautiful ponderosa pine forests.
Visit WebsiteSmokey Bear Historical Park
City: Capitan Phone: (575) 354-2748Smokey Bear Historical Park is the only park in New Mexico operated by the New Mexico State Forestry division of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. It is located in Capitan, New Mexico. It is the final resting place of the living symbol of wildfire prevention, Smokey Bear.
Visit WebsitePancho Villa State Park
City: Columbus Phone: (575) 531-2711Located at the border of Mexico, the park exhibit hall and historic structures capture the history of the Pancho Villa Raid and historic Camp Furlong. The large campground offers utility hookups for campers with RVs, and a playground for the kids.
Visit WebsiteChaco Canyon National Historic Park
City: Farmington Phone: (505) 786-7014Today the massive buildings of the ancestral Pueblo peoples still testify to the organizational and engineering abilities not seen anywhere else in the American Southwest. For a deeper contact with the canyon that was central to thousands of people between 850 and 1250 A.D.
Visit WebsiteEl Vado Lake State Park
City: Tierra Amarilla Phone: (575) 588-7247Located in New Mexico's northern mountains, El Vado Lake State Park offers fishing, boating, camping, hiking, winter cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Visit WebsiteMorphy Lake State Park
City: Mora Phone: (575) 387-2328Nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at 8,000 feet in elevation, this hidden lake sits at the edge of the Pecos Wilderness.
Visit WebsiteClayton Lake State Park
City: Clayton Phone: (575) 374-8808The park is an oasis in the rolling grasslands of northeastern New Mexico. Enjoy boating, picnicking, camping, fishing and hiking. Get a unique glimpse of the past when you explore one of the most extensive dinosaur trackways in North America and a close-up look at the stars at the Lake Observatory.
Hyde Memorial State Park
City: Santa Fe Phone: (505) 983-7175New Mexico's first State Park is set in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains amongst a forest of pines along Little Tesuque Creek. The park is a short drive from Santa Fe and offers excellent group facilities and campsites. There are beautiful hiking trails with spectacular views.
Visit WebsiteManzano Mountains State Park
City: Mountainair Phone: (505) 847-2820Manzano Mountains State Park is an excellent destination for hiking and camping. Nestled in the wooded foothills of the Manzanos, this park provides a quiet retreat and is a nice family get-away. Wildlife viewing, birding and photography are great activities at this park.
Visit WebsiteBluewater Lake State Park
City: Grants-Milan Phone: (505) 876-2391This serene lake, located 40 miles west of Grants, is set in a pinon-juniper landscape with views towards the Zuni Mountains. The park offers boating, camping, hiking, birding and fishing. And not just any fishing – you'll find some of the best tiger muskie fishing anywhere at Bluewater Lake!
Visit WebsiteBrantley Lake State Park
City: Carlsbad Phone: (575) 457-2384The southernmost lake in New Mexico is an oasis of water, wildlife, plant life, gorgeous sunsets and stunning night skies. Located less than twenty miles from Carlsbad, NM, the park offers boating, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, hiking trails, exceptional bird watching and camping.
Visit WebsiteUte Lake State Park
City: Logan Phone: (575) 487-2284This reservoir on the Canadian River is one of the longest lakes in the state at nearly 13 miles, and boasts a wide variety of fun water sports like motorized boating, canoeing, kayaking, sailing and water skiing.
Visit WebsiteHeron Lake State Park
City: Los Ojos Phone: (575) 588-7470A picturesque lake set among the tall pines of northern New Mexico, Heron Lake is known for its excellent sailing, fishing, cross-country skiing, and hiking.
Visit WebsiteCoyote Creek State Park
City: Mora Phone: (575) 387-2328Coyote Creek State Park, about an hour southeast of Taos, is nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains along a meandering stream.
Visit WebsiteSugarite Canyon State Park
City: Raton Phone: (575) 445-5607The nature enthusiast will appreciate the abundance of wildlife, birds, butterflies, and wildflowers among the lakes, creeks, forests, and meadows. Nearly all outdoor recreation activities are possible: Fishing, boating, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, and camping.
