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NEW MEXICO

New Mexico Hiking Trails

New Mexico's national parks and monuments have comparatively few trails compared to other states. Carlsbad Caverns offers a small selection, but most visitors here see only the caves.

Other NPS units with one or more extended trails are Bandelier, El Malpais and White Sands.

Map shows trailhead locations

1. Abo, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) One of the three units of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument - impressive red sandstone ruins in semi-desert surroundings.
2. Aguirre Spring Recreation Area, Aguirre Spring Recreation Area Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) Small area of the Organ Mountains, overlooking White Sands and Tularosa Valley; lightly wooded slopes rising to jagged granite peaks. Park has a popular campground and several trails.
3. Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Study Area, Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Study Area Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) Fantastic, remote, little known region of hoodoos, badlands and other eroded rocks, colored many subtle shades of yellow, brown and orange. Also has much petrified wood, and occasional dinosaur fossils.
4. Alcove House, Bandelier National Monument Length 1.1 miles (1.8 km), elevation change 400 feet (122 meters) Difficulty Easy, but a steep climb at the end, up ladders Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Formerly known as Ceremonial Cave, Alcove House is another cliff dwelling in Frijoles Canyon, reached by a continuation trail that branches off the main loop, follows the streambed to the base of the ruins then climbs 140 feet via four long ladders. The site includes a reconstructed kiva.
5. Alkali Flat Trail, White Sands National Monument Length 4.6 miles (7.4 km), elevation change 0 feet (0 meters) Difficulty Easy to moderate Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Loop path across large dunes, completely lacking any vegetation, to a dry lake bed (Alkali Flat) at the edge of the sands. The return path, a little way north, encounters similar surroundings. Route is indicated only by footprints and marker posts.
6. Angel Peak Scenic Area, Angel Peak Scenic Area Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Small summit rising above many square miles of pastel-colored cliffs and badlands, with occasional hoodoos. Good location for free primitive camping.
7. Aztec Ruins National Monument, Aztec Ruins National Monument Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Well preserved ruins of a large, walled settlement dating from the 12th century; almost 400 rooms and a dozen kivas, one completely reconstructed. An easily reached location, in the small town of Aztec.
8. Bandelier National Monument, Bandelier National Monument Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Ancient dwellings carved into light-colored volcanic cliffs, at the edge of a narrow, wooded canyon - a tributary of the Rio Grande. The extensive backcountry includes other ruins and a great variety of landscapes, spanning over 5,000 feet of elevation..
9. Bernalillito Mesa Trail, Ojito Wilderness Area Length 1.4 miles (2.3 km), elevation change 120 feet (37 meters) Difficulty Easy Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Ojito is an isolated, little visited wilderness area, and it has one main trail, along the base of Bernalillito Mesa. En route are a number of localized but pretty erosional features, most striking being a beautiful outcrop of teepee-shaped mounds of yellow Dakota sandstone, crossed by thin, delicate pinkish-red layers. One U-shaped passage between two of the cones is reminiscent of the Wave in Arizona
10. Big Tubes, El Malpais National Monument Length 2 miles (3.2 km), elevation change 0 feet (0 meters); (round trip) Difficulty Easy; moderate in the caves Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Remote part of the El Malpais lava flow with several caves (containing ice deposits most of the year), a series of lava bridges and a long section of collapsed cave. The caves are currently closed to prevent spread of a fungal disease affecting the resident bats.
11. Bisti Wilderness Area, Bisti Wilderness Area Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Most accessible and varied area of badlands and hoodoos in the San Juan Basin - miles of weird and wonderful eroded sandstone formations, of every color and shape imaginable.
12. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Peaceful, diverse riparian area with desert surroundings, along the Rio Grande - canals, ponds, swamps and flooded woodland, seasonal home to many bird species.
13. Bottomless Lakes State Park, Bottomless Lakes State Park Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Series of deep, blue, circular lakes (originally caves) at the foot of a limestone escarpment, surrounded by empty prairie. Popular mostly for swimming and fishing, but also good subjects for photography .
14. Burnham Badlands, Burnham Badlands Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Remote region in the San Juan Basin and the Navajo reservation of northwest New Mexico, containing hoodoos, balanced rocks, colorful mounds, petrified wood and eroded rock formations.
15. Canyon Trail, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument Length 1.5 miles (2.4 km), elevation change 600 feet (183 meters) Difficulty Moderate - steep, especially towards the upper end Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ One of the best short hiking paths in the state, the Canyon Trail follows a stony wash into a short but beautiful slot canyon, climbs through a large group of the Tent Rocks formations, and ends at a fine, elevated viewpoint. The most spectacular rocks are all around the last part of the trail, where they rise up to 90 feet, pure white, and altogether very impressive.
16. Capulin Volcano National Monument, Capulin Volcano National Monument Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Cone of a long-extinct volcano, rising 1,000 feet above the surrounding featureless plains. A road climbs to the top, and a trail circles the rim. Another path explores overgrown lava deposits.
17. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ The world's most famous cave system; huge underground chambers filled with spectacular, varied speleotherms, viewable by self-guiding tours. Other, backcountry caves are open to suitably qualified visitors. Most of the park contains limestone hills, crossed by several lightly used trails.
18. Ceja Pelon Mesa, Ceja Pelon Mesa Length 2 miles (3.2 km), elevation change 200 feet (61 meters); or more Difficulty Easy Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Low, partly wooded mesa, the south edge of which is lined by grey-black badlands, branched ravines, pinnacles, balanced rocks and many pieces of petrified wood; explored by cross-country hiking
19. Ceja Pelon Mesa, Ceja Pelon Mesa Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Low, partly wooded mesa, the south edge of which is lined by grey-black badlands, branched ravines, pinnacles, balanced rocks and many pieces of petrified wood.
20. Cerro Grande Trail, Bandelier National Monument Length 2 miles (3.2 km), elevation change 1250 feet (381 meters) Difficulty Moderate Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ The volcanic summit of Cerro Grande (10,200 feet) lies just beyond the northern tip of Bandelier National Monument, and may be reached by a hike over smooth slopes, covered by grass or open woodland. The marked trail is steep but not too difficult, during calm weather. The hillsides bear many wildflowers in mid to late summer. The views from the peak extend across the adjacent Valles Caldera National Preserve.
21. Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Chaco Culture National Historical Park Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Ruins of the largest and most advanced ancient villages in the Southwest, built along the floor of a shallow, sheer-walled canyon, in a remote part of the high desert of northwest New Mexico. Some have hundreds of rooms, up to five storeys high.
22. Cimarron Canyon State Park, Cimarron Canyon State Park Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Narrow, thickly wooded canyon containing the Cimarron River, bordered in some places by sheer granite cliffs. Hiking, camping and fishing are the main activities, but for many people the attraction is the road itself, one of the most scenic drives in New Mexico.
23. City of Rocks State Park, City of Rocks State Park Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Unusual group of large, rounded volcanic boulders, surrounded by flat prairie. Park is mostly popular for camping, but the rocks are good to photograph and fun to explore.
24. Crater Rim Trail, Capulin Volcano National Monument Length 1 mile (1.6 km), elevation change 300 feet (91 meters) Difficulty Easy, though steep in places Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ The one mile Crater Rim Trail is steep in parts, though short, but often more difficult than might be expected due to frequent strong winds and the high elevation. The rim offers good views of distant lands in all directions, including various lava flows, now mostly grass-covered and difficult to identify from ground level. Another short trail descends into the shallow crater.
25. De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area, De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Large expanse of badlands and narrow, branched ravines, with scattered hoodoos, fossils and pieces of petrified wood, including complete trunks up to 100 feet long; adjacent to the better known Bisti Wilderness.
26. Dog Canyon Trail, Oliver Lee Memorial State Park Length 5.5 miles (8.8 km), elevation change 3140 feet (957 meters) Difficulty Moderate to strenuous Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ The Dog Canyon Trail climbs a cactus-filled ravine high into the Sacramento Mountains; it starts within the state park and has expansive views across Tularosa Valley but soon exits into the adjacent Lincoln National Forest and becomes more confined, within the canyon. The last section rises steeply as the surroundings become partly forested.
27. Dune Life Trail, White Sands National Monument Length 1 mile (1.6 km), elevation change 50 feet (15 meters) Difficulty Easy Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ The short Dune Life Trail loops for one mile around an area just inside the southeast edge of the dunes, and has notices about how plants and animals have adapted to life in this sandy environment; one endemic species that may be spotted here is the bleached earless lizard.
28. El Calderon, El Malpais National Monument Length 3 miles (4.8 km), elevation change 200 feet (61 meters); (round trip) Difficulty Easy Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Selection of easily-explored volcanic features, close to Hwy 53: two lava caves, several collapses from other lava tubes, a lava trench and a crater.
29. El Malpais National Monument, El Malpais National Monument Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Many square miles of black, twisted lava and other volcanic formations including craters, cinder cones and lava caves, in high elevation land near the continental divide. Bordering the lava are sandstone cliffs and wooded hills. A little-visited area with much scope for backcountry exploration.
30. El Morro National Monument, El Morro National Monument Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Multicolored sandstone cliffs concealing a deep pool that holds water all year; for many centuries an important location for cross-country travelers, who have left thousands of inscriptions on the surrounding rocks. Monument also has a reconstructed mesa top ruin.
31. Elephant Butte Lake State Park, Elephant Butte Lake State Park Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ The largest artificial lake in New Mexico, in arid surroundings along the Rio Grande; a major year-round center for recreation, principally fishing, water skiing, boating, swimming and camping.
32. Falls Trail, Bandelier National Monument Length 1.5 miles (2.4 km), elevation change 400 feet (122 meters) Difficulty Easy Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Path downstream along Frijoles Canyon, from wooded surroundings around the visitor center into more desert-like terrain, ending at the brink of the Upper Falls. The trail once continued another mile to the Rio Grande, but flood damage has rendered this section inaccessible.
33. Fossil Forest, Fossil Forest Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Remote region in the San Juan Basin of northwest New Mexico, containing hoodoos, balanced rocks, colorful mounds and petrified wood, including large, upright stumps.
34. Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Ancient, interlinked dwellings built in alcoves in a very remote canyon, deep in the Gila Wilderness. Nearby are several hot springs and a network of trails through the steep, wooded surroundings.
35. Gran Quivira, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ One of the three units of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument - ruins of a Spanish mission complex, next to a multi-room pueblo village, both made of white-grey limestone.
36. Headland Trail, El Morro National Monument Length 2 miles (3.2 km), elevation change 210 feet (64 meters); (round trip) Difficulty Moderate - steep ascent and descent Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ The Headland Trail starts with a paved portion (the Inscription Trail), along the base of the sandstone cliff bearing thousands of historical signatures and etchings, then ascends a little over 200 feet to the plateau above. It runs along the rim of a deep box canyon and past a reconstructed pueblo before descending back to the visitor center.
37. Jemez Mountains, Jemez Mountains Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Forested mountains with lakes, meadows, streams, scattered hot springs and exposed rock formations; crossed by many tracks and a few paved roads.
38. Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Amazing volcanic formations - tall, pinkish white cones made of pumice and tuff, lining the edge of a remote valley (Peralta Canyon). Narrow ravines wind between the pinnacles, and the ground is scattered with shiny pieces of obsidian.
39. La Junta Trail, Wild Rivers Recreation Area Length 1.2 miles (1.9 km), elevation change 800 feet (244 meters) Difficulty Moderate Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ La Junta Trail is the best of the small number of paths in Wild Rivers Recreation Area; a steep, rocky route to the confluence of the Rio Grande and Red River, starting at the southern tip of the plateau between the two rivers. The far end has several shelters for primitive camping, before the trail meets the river's edge. Stairs and a short ladder help the steepest section of the descent.
40. Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park, Living Desert State Park Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Entertaining zoo and botanical gardens near Carlsbad, showcasing the varied plant and animal life of the Chihuahuan Desert that covers most of south New Mexico and west Texas.
41. Main Loop Trail, Bandelier National Monument Length 1.2 miles (1.9 km), elevation change 200 feet (61 meters) Difficulty Easy Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ This is the most popular path in Bandelier National Monument; a loop trail, partly paved, passing many ruins along the north side of Frijoles Canyon, the three main sites being Tyuonyi Pueblo, Talus House and Long House. The return is through woodland on the south side of the canyon - pretty surroundings with plentiful flowers, and the chance of glimpsing lizards, snakes and other wildlife.
42. Navajo Lake State Park, Navajo Lake State Park Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Large, branched artificial lake along the San Juan River, bordered by low, bushy hills; mostly used for boating and fishing.
43. Ojito Wilderness Area, Ojito Wilderness Area Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Isolated, little visited wilderness featuring scattered sandstone formations - hoodoos, badlands and petrified dunes, plus fossils and petroglyphs.
44. Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, Oliver Lee Memorial State Park Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Historic ranch, a cactus garden and a popular campground, at the edge of a wide valley next to the foothills of the Sacramento Mountains. Park also contains the start point for the Dog Canyon Trail, which climbs a cactus-filled ravine high into the mountains.
45. Penistaja Mesa, Penistaja Mesa Length 4 miles (6.4 km), elevation change 200 feet (61 meters); (round trip) Difficulty Easy Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Little-visited region of grey badlands, eroded rock formations, petrified wood and varied plant life, 20 miles west of Cuba; no official trail, but explorable by easy cross-country walking, across slopes, ridges and ravines
46. Penistaja Mesa, Penistaja Mesa Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Little-visited region of grey badlands, eroded rock formations, petrified wood and varied plant life, 20 miles west of Cuba. Also a good location for primitive camping.
47. Petroglyph National Monument, Petroglyph National Monument Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Thousands of petroglyphs dating from 1300 to 1600 AD, carved into dark volcanic rocks at the edge of a low mesa bordering northwest Albuquerque; viewable from several easy trails.
48. Pine Tree Trail, Aguirre Spring Recreation Area Length 4 miles (6.4 km), elevation change 1100 feet (335 meters); (loop) Difficulty Moderate Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Clockwise is the best direction for hiking the Pine Tree Trail; the path crosses several streamways and ridges while climbing high into the granite peaks of the Organ Mountains, for spectacular views of Tularosa Valley far below. The surface is rather stony and some of the steeper sections can be slippery, though overall the trail is well used and easy to follow.
49. Pueblo Alto Trail, Chaco Culture National Historical Park Length 5.1 miles (8.2 km), elevation change 270 feet (82 meters); (loop) Difficulty Easy to moderate; steep at the beginning Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ This varied loop hike passes two lesser-known ruins (Kin Kletso and Pueblo Alto), the latter on the plateau on the north side of Chaco Wash. To reach here the path has a two-stage climb from the valley floor; it later turns east, then south along a narrowing promontory before returning to the trailhead right along the edge of the cliffs, giving good views of Chetro Ketl and Pueblo Bonito.
50. Quarai, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Northernmost and least visited of the three units of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument - a sizeable red brick church plus outbuildings and grassy mounds with pueblo foundations.
51. Rattlesnake Springs, Carlsbad Caverns National Park Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Detached section of Carlsbad Caverns National Park containing a group of natural springs that sustain a cool, moist area with large cottonwood trees and other vegetation, fed by a network of concrete irrigation channels, regulated by iron drawbridges.
52. Rinconada Canyon Trail, Petroglyph National Monument Length 2.2 miles (3.5 km), elevation change 100 feet (30 meters); (round trip) Difficulty Easy Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ The popular loop path to the largest collection of petroglyphs in the national monument leads westwards along the north edge of Rinconada Canyon all the way to its upper end, then returns through grass and sagebrush in the middle. The ground is quite sandy underfoot so the walk can be slow, and hot in summer (up to 95°F), though there is no significant elevation change.
53. Rock Hound State Park, Rock Hound State Park Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Section of the Little Florida Mountains near Deming where semi precious minerals may be excavated, including jasper and perlite. Park also has a scenic campground with far reaching views over the desert plains to the west.
54. Route 66, Route 66 Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Long stretches of the famous old road, through small towns and across open countryside, with many evocative old buildings and other reminders of the route's busier times. Most is close to I-40 or I-25, running west-east across the state.
55. Ruins Trail, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Length 1 mile (1.6 km), elevation change 180 feet (55 meters); (loop) Difficulty Easy; just a few steep places Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ The five caves containing ancient ruins in Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument may be viewed along a one mile loop trail, easy except for one short steep ascent. The path follows a narrow, overgrown, tree-lined streambed, crossing several times on wooden bridges and after 0.25 miles reaches a viewpoint of the dwellings, built quite high in the south-facing canyon wall. It then climbs 180 feet, above the trees and back across the base of the cliffs to the caves.
56. Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Three historic sites; each has the impressive remains of a 17th century Spanish mission, built beside smaller ruins of ancient pueblos. All are surrounded by sparsely-populated grasslands, far from major towns.
57. San Juan Basin Badlands, San Juan Basin Badlands Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Vast, little settled, high desert region with large areas of incredible eroded rock formations.
58. San Ysidro Anticline, Ojito Wilderness Area Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ A colorful ridge of upturned strata, reached by a dirt track that continues to the Ojito Wilderness Area
59. Santa Fe, Santa Fe Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ The oldest state capitol in America, containing many historic buildings, concentrated around the central plaza. Much can be seen by a leisurely walking tour along the tree-lined streets of the town center.
60. Santa Fe to Roswell, Santa Fe to Roswell - Road Trip Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Scenic drive from Santa Fe to Roswell, avoiding the main highways - a 252 journey along quiet back roads, partly unpaved (NM 3, NM 247, NM 246 and CRE 010).
61. Shiprock, Shiprock Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Stark black peak in the Four Corners area, once the inner core of an ancient volcano, rising 1,800 above the flat desert surroundings. The peak is off limits to hikers but can be seen close up from nearby roads and tracks.
62. Soda Falls, Jemez Mountains Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ A forceful waterfall, where the Jemez River drops 15 feet through a curious formation made of deposited minerals from nearby thermal springs. Several gaseous vents and tiny bubbling hot water fountains are found near the roadside opposite.
63. South Mesa Trail, Chaco Culture National Historical Park Length 4.4 miles (7.1 km), elevation change 450 feet (137 meters); (loop) Difficulty Easy to moderate; some steep terrain Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ A crumbling backcountry ruin (Tsin Kletsin) is reached by this 4.4 mile loop trail that starts by climbing the cliffs on the south side of Chaco Wash then crosses the flat plateau beyond, to the ancient settlement. From here the route is west, down a side valley that leads to the larger South Gap, and finally north along an old vehicle track back to the trailhead.
64. Tsankawi Trail, Bandelier National Monument Length 1.5 miles (2.4 km), elevation change 200 feet (61 meters); round trip Difficulty Easy to moderate; a few steep sections, with ladders in some places Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ The detached Tsankawi section of Bandelier National Monument (12 miles northwest along Hwy 4), can be explored by a short loop trail that climbs to the top of a grassy mesa, passing through an overgrown pueblo site, then returns along ledges a little way below the rim, within sight of many alcove ruins, petroglyphs and other ancient structures. Parts of the route follow ancient pathways, chiseled out of the soft volcanic bedrock.
65. Tyuonyi Overlook Trail, Bandelier National Monument Length 1.1 miles (1.8 km), elevation change 140 feet (43 meters) Difficulty Easy Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ From the national monument campground, this easy trail heads southeast across the pinyon-juniper plateau on the north side of Frijoles Canyon, out to the tip of a narrow promontory above Tyuonyi Ruin. There are several small unexcavated sites along the way. Views are extensive, all along the lower section of the canyon, both east and west.
66. Valles Caldera National Preserve, Jemez Mountains Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ High elevation region centered on the collapsed interior of an ancient volcano, ringed by more rounded summits - part of the Jemez Mountains
67. Valley of Fires Recreation Area, Valley of Fires Recreation Area Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Extensive, overgrown lava flows, bearing yucca, cacti and other desert plants. Park has a good campground with elevated views, and a short nature trail.
68. White Sands National Monument, White Sands National Monument Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Spectacular dunes of pure white gypsum, covering 275 square miles; one of the most magical places in the Southwest, especially at sunset or sunrise. Monument has a few trails and viewing areas, while off trail exploration is allowed in most areas.
69. Wijiji Trail, Chaco Culture National Historical Park Length 1.5 miles (2.4 km), elevation change 20 feet (6 meters) Difficulty Easy Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Wijiji is a multi-room settlement along Chaco Wash, east of the park road, and may be viewed by a level trail along an old vehicle track, once the main park access route. The ruin dates from around 1100, later than many of the pueblos further west. Petroglyphs, pictographs and handprints may be viewed on the cliffs just north of the ruin.
70. Wild Rivers Recreation Area, Wild Rivers Recreation Area Length miles ( km), elevation change feet ( meters) Difficulty Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ Deep, steep-sided canyons carved by the Rio Grande and the Red River, through dark, volcanic rock. Park has viewpoints, campgrounds and trails, three of which descend to the rivers.
71. Zuni-Acoma Trail, El Malpais National Monument Length 7 miles (11.3 km), elevation change 70 feet (21 meters) Difficulty Moderate Rating (1-5) ★★★★★ The Zuni-Acoma Trail is an ancient Indian route which crosses the vast lava field between NM 117 and NM 53, marked by cairns at closely-spaced intervals. The rock is very sharp and brittle so walking off trail needs care as the lava often has fissures several feet deep as well being generally unstable. Below the generally black surface, the rock has lighter, reddish-grey colors, due to a longer cooling time and less exposure

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