Parks and recreation in New Mexico

Nature & Recreation in New Mexico

Explore the diverse geography of New Mexico, from the 275 square miles of white gypsum dunes at White Sands National Park to the 5,000-year-old lava flows at Valley of Fires. This collection features historic landmarks like the UNESCO-listed Taos Pueblo and the 17th-century Santa Fe Plaza alongside recreational hubs like the Sandia Peak Ski Area. Discover natural features such as the 800-foot-deep Rio Grande Gorge and the desert-dwelling species at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park.

M.Bucka / CC BY-SA 3.0

White Sands National Monument

White Sands National Park is an American national park located in the state of New Mexico and completely surrounded by the White Sands…

Lucag / CC BY-SA 2.5

Pueblo of Taos Historical Marker

Taos Pueblo is an ancient pueblo belonging to a Taos-speaking Native American tribe of Puebloan people.

Gerald Cassidy / Public domain

The Santa Fe Plaza

The Santa Fe Plaza is a National Historic Landmark in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico in the style of traditional Spanish-American colonial…

Skoch3 / CC-BY-SA-3.0

Sandia Peak Ski Area

The Sandia Peak Tramway is an aerial tramway, adjacent to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Jemez State Monument / Public domain

Jemez State Monument

The Jemez Historic Site is a state-operated historic site on New Mexico State Road 4 in Jemez Springs, New Mexico.

J Dykstra / CC BY-SA 3.0

Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park, formerly the Living Desert Zoological and Botanical State Park, is a zoo and botanical garden…

Fort Stanton

Established in 1855 to protect settlers, this former military post features over 80 historic buildings. It later served as a tuberculosis sanatorium and a German internment camp during World War II.

Rio Grande Gorge State Park

Part of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, this park encompasses the deep basalt canyon carved by the Rio Grande. It features hiking trails and overlooks 800 feet above the river.

Valley of Fires

This recreation area preserves a 44-mile-long flow of basaltic lava from the Little Black Peak eruption approximately 5,000 years ago. It features nature trails through the volcanic badlands.

Sitting Bull Falls

A desert oasis in the Lincoln National Forest featuring a 150-foot waterfall that flows over a travertine canyon wall into natural swimming pools.

Albuquerque BioPark Botanic Garden

A 36-acre facility showcasing plant species from the Southwest and around the world. Key features include a formal Japanese garden, a Mediterranean conservatory, and a Rio Grande heritage farm.

Jesse Allen / Public domain

Plains of San Augustin Historical Marker

A high-altitude basin in west-central New Mexico, known for its flat topography and as the site of the Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope.

Kit Carson Park

This 19-acre municipal park in Taos contains the historic cemetery where frontiersman Kit Carson and his family are buried, alongside walking trails and sports facilities.

Taos Plaza

The historic center of Taos, established in the late 18th century as a fortified plaza for Spanish colonists. It remains a hub for local commerce and community events.