Top Things to do in New Mexico
10 Things to do Adventurous in New Mexico That You Shouldn't Miss
With its rich cultural heritage from Native American and Spanish settlers, New Mexico has been both a Spanish colony and a Mexican colony, and still retains a strong individual identity within the United States. The landscape is breathtaking, the food incredible, and there is a thriving cultural scene, all of which makes New Mexico, and Santa Fe in particular, a great place all year long.
Restaurants in New Mexico
1. White Sands National Monument
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4,059 reviews
Visitors to this endless waterless sea can enjoy driving, hiking, visiting a museum and sledding down the huge dunes.
Reviewed By waynefromcali - Yucaipa, United States
Like an ocean wave of rare white crystal gypsum sand-White Sands National Monument in the desert of New Mexico is known for dramatic landscapes of rare white gypsum sand dunes.In 2019 White Sands National Monument was redesignated White Sands National Park by The United States Department of the Interior Office of National Parks. . . . . . #whitesands #newmexico #desert #nationalparks #usdeptoftheinterior #hiking #natgeoyourshot #natgeomyshot #whitesandsnationalpark #dunes #sanddunes #ilovesanddunes #route66 #alamagordo #albuquerque #deserthighway #ilovenewmexico #leicacameras #hasslebladcameras #canon #nikon #sonycameras #film
2. Plaza Blanca
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 215 reviews
Beautiful white sandstone cliffs give breathtaking views.
Reviewed By Allicia_73 - Cary, United States
We went with our two girls ages 10 & 13 on our way to Ghost Ranch. I must admit, no pictures or reviews prepared me for the absolute splendor of this sacred place. At one point we were the only people there! It's an easy, mostly downhill hike from the parking lot to the rocks. I highly recommend visiting this...honestly, I would've preferred this to many of the other things listed on the "Top Ten things to see/do near Santa Fe". So, I am here to say to make it a point to visit this majestic place. The color changes from Plaza Blanca to Ghost Ranch are stunning and only within 15 miles from each other!
3. Hunziger Bowl
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 12 reviews
Ski trail in Taos.
Reviewed By jamesmH6152WP - Wichita, United States
This is a run we kept coming back to throughout last ski season, at least until they opened the Kachina Peak Lift, from which you can access the upper part of Hunziger. Hunziger bowl can be accessed by riding up lift 4, going to the left, and then climbing a slight pitch to your right, just above the Kachina Lift. Hunziger Bowl is a fairly steep bowl, wide at the top, narrowing towards the bottom. At the end, you can head off to the right, hugging the slope towards some tree runs (and continue further right to El Funko, which is also excellent), or simply go straight down, veering to the left, and back down to the base of lift 4. Hunziger is a great place to go when things are crowded elsewhere, and is well worth the slight climb to get there.
4. Big Room
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 982 reviews
The largest cavern in Carlsbad Caverns.
Reviewed By 277vincentm - New Orleans, United States
My review will focus on what to expect during the Covid pandemic. My caving has gone from Mammoth—the largest cave complex under earth on Earth—to Phra Nang Cave—hardly big enough for pirates to bury a decent-sized chest in, but notable as the sanctuary of a deity who probably pre-dates Buddhism. I’d been to Carlsbad before, but was going cross-country with a buddy and decided take a detour to the cavern. The main event at Carlsbad is the Big Room. Normally there are two ways to get to it: (A) hike down via a diabolically steep and arduous “Natural Entrance” path that goes past the Devil’s Spring and Devil’s Den, ending 750 feet underground, a 1.25 mile / 2-km hike taking you an hour or more; or (B) take an elevator down; normally the line moves reasonably fast. Where the natural entrance reaches the underground floor of the elevator, normally you have three more options: you can (C) take a ranger-guided tour through several spectacular chambers including the King’s Palace and Queen’s Chamber, (D) hike the Big Room route, or (E) do ‘em both. Either (C) or (D) will take you about 75 minutes: so you can do both in under 3 hours. Depends how long you stop to take in the views, and whether you read all the placards—I recommend you do. If you’re in a wheel-chair, you take the elevator down and then do half of the Big Room tour. You have to take a short-cut back, so you won’t see the Top of the Cross, Totem Pole, and views of the lower cave, Mirror Lake, and “bottomless pit.” Tough, but the NPS is right: just past the wheelchair barricade there’s a steep drop. Seeing the Big Room of Carlsbad Caverns really is worth the trip in itself. Three weeks ago, when I checked the website, the Covid-related rules were: (1) the Ranger-guided tours were cancelled—scratch off the royal cave-family. (2) you had to hike down via the Natural Entrance path—the only folks allowed to go by elevator were mobility-impaired visitors. (3) You had to arrive before 1:30 to be allowed in. A week ago, restrictions were relaxed a bit. All visitors can now take the elevator either up or down, but lines are slow, because (a) the elevators take several minutes to go up or down 750 ft, (b) a work crew is frequently wiping down one of the two elevators putting it out of service, and (c) Rangers limit passengers to 2 or 3 per trip—no packing everyone in like sardines. All good reasons. One plus: because folks can now take the elevators both up and down, the last entry time was changed, from 1:30 to 2:45 if memory serves me right. Unfortunately social distancing requirements will probably kill ranger tours, as they should, until the pandemic’s over. The NPS emergency rules are sensible and commendable. You could wait a year or two. I’d say, see Carlsberg now if you can. But my #1 recommendation is that you check the NPS’s Carlsbad Caverns webpage for the latest information, both as you’re planning your trip, and a day or two before your intended arrival. A single Visitor Center ranger contracting Covid-19 might shut the Cavern down.
5. Bandelier National Monument
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,107 reviews
Bandelier National Monument is 50 square miles of the Pajarito Plateau, on the slopes of the Jemez Volcanic field in the Jemez Mountains. Over 70% of the Monument is Wilderness, with over 1 mile elevation change, from about 5000' along the Rio Grande to over 10,000' at the rim of the Valles Caldera, providing for a wide range of life zones and wildlife habitat. There are only 3 miles of road, but over 70 miles of hiking trails. The Monument, founded in 1916, protects Ancestral Pueblo archeological sites, a beautiful landscape, and the country's largest Civilian Conservation Corps National Landmark District.
Reviewed By gleasonl - Cottonwood, United States
OUTSTANDING! What a GREAT Place for a Family Outing. There are GREAT Trails for hiking and exploring, Camping areas, Visitor Center Activities and Videos, Guided Tours, Self-Guided Tours, A Wonderful Gift Shop and So MUCH to LEARN. AMAZING! Don't miss the short .5 mile hike to the Alcove House.
6. Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,563 reviews
ALERT: The Monument is currently closed due to COVID-19. For updates visit: https://www.blm.gov/alert/nm-covid-19-updates
Reviewed By prashant_newaskar - Dallas, United States
Santa Fe - the capital of New Mexico is a unique city in the US. It is the oldest capital city in the US. At an elevation of 7,199 feet above the main sea level it is also the highest capital city in the US. Although it has a population of about 84,000 it has about 250 art galleries and many museums. Approximately two million visitors stay over night in Santa Fe. There are many attractions in and around Santa Fe such as the Bandelier National Monument, kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, Taos Peublo, Taos Plaza, Rio Grande River Gorge Bridge, Valles Caldera, Jemez Peublo, Manhattan Project National History Park, Bradbury Science museum, Sky slopes etc.
7. Canyon Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 158 reviews
Reviewed By melissawbs - Brooklyn, United States
If you look for short hike don’t require staying in the tent - just go there. Great view along the hike, beautiful scenery and not too crowded.
8. Wild Rivers Recreation Area
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 174 reviews
Reviewed By cavers2
Want to visit a beautiful, scenic area without the crowds you'd find at a national park? This is the place. You're on a high plataeu above the Rio Grande Gorge with plenty of camping, hiking, rafting, & biking options. The remoteness of the area allows for amazing night skies so camping out is highly recommended.The campgrounds at Wild Rivers are first come, first served so try to arrive early in the day to secure your site. A favortie hike of ours is the Arsenic Springs trail to the river and petroglyph viewing - try it!
9. Carlsbad Caverns National Park Visitor Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,120 reviews
Reviewed By melissabubash - Cincinnati, United States
CCNP is so unique which is why I would put it in my top 5 favorite parks. It won't take a long time to really visit the park which is nice too. Two days is plenty but you could still see a lot in just one day. I would highly recommend booking a tour for Hall of Great White (requires crawling and climbing with a headlamp) which takes half a day and doing a self guided tour through the Big Room and Natural Entrance.
10. Gila National Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 181 reviews
Reviewed By GretchenB143 - Phoenix, United States
Whether you are in the Gila National Forest to hike, camp, drive, visit the Gila Cliff Dwellings.... take your time and take it all in. It’s worth more than a quick day trip to really experience the wilderness. There are hiking trails for all skill levels and camping in excellent locations. There is limited to zero cellular service, so if this is important to you, be prepared to plan ahead.
