The Land Of Enchantment offers many outdoor activities because of its unique and beautiful terrain and its dry climate.
All over the state there are opportunities for hot air ballooning, golfing, rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, climbing and more.
Southwestern New Mexico
Elephant Butte is the largest lake in the state and offers great opportunities for boating, fishing, water skiing etc. the fishing is great for bass, walleye, stripers and catfish.
Elephant Butte State Park 505 744 5421
Caballo Lake just outside of Truth or Consequences is also great for fishing as well as boating and camping
Caballo Lake State Park 505 743 3942
Glenwood Catwalk (part of the Gila National Forest) is a great place for a walk through an amazing whitewater canyon
Glenwood Catwalk 505 539 2711
Gila National Forest provides some of New Mexico’s examples of great areas for backcountry hiking, mountaineering and camping.
Gila National Forest 505 539 2481
Other fishing opportunities in the southwestern part of the state are near the Glenwood Catwalk is the Glenwood State Trout Hatchery
Glenwood State Trout Hatchery 505 539 2461 The Glenwood area is said to be a real backpacking Mecca by enthusiasts.
Aguirre Springs National Recreational Area outside of Las Cruces has excellent hiking and nature touring
Aguirre Springs National Recreational Area 505 522 1219
If you are a rock collector you can go to Deming’s Rockhound State Park and camp out there in the evening
Rockhound State Park 505 546 6182
For those of you are bird watchers in Silver City there is the Gila River Management Area
Gila River Management Area 505 388 8201
Near Soccoro Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is also a bird watching Mecca. In fact it is ranked as one of the leading bird watching venues in North America
The sandhill cranes migrate there each year.
Southeast
Sumner Lake State Park near Fort Sumner has good camping, boating, fishing and hiking
Sumner Lake State Park 505 355 2541
Scuba Diving is good at Santa Rosa Lake, Perch Lake, and Blue Hole, including lessons and certification at Santa Rosa Dive Center
Santa Rosa Lake State Park 505 472 3110
Nearby Janes-Wallace Memorial Park has a lake stocked with Rainbow trout, bass and catfish. Carlsbad Brantley Lake state Park, Hobb’s Harry Mcadams Park and Portales Oasis State Park also have hiking, camping and bird watching
Carlsbad Brantley State Park 505 457 2384
Just south of Alamogordo is Oliver Lee memorial State Park where you can view some of the states most unusual and colorful desert plant life as well as learn about the area’s history through exhibits.
Oliver Lee State Park 505 437 8284
Carlsbad’s Living Desert Zoo and Garden State Park is also a great place to discover the local fauna and flora.
Carlsbad Living Desert Zoo and Gardens 505 887 5516
Carlsbad Cavern is the southeast’s most popular outdoor attraction. The caverns with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites are breathtaking with the colored lighting shining on them. Tours thru the caverns are amazing and the twilight bat exodus is another must!
http://www.nps.gov/cave/
Northeast
Some of the most beautiful scenery and rarest wildlife in the state can be viewed at Valle Vidal. This 100,000 acre special management area is great for hiking fishing and elk viewing. There’s a campground and opportunities for backcountry camping.
Valle Vidal 505 586 0520
There is great camping near Raton at Sugarite Canyon State Park, near Mora at Morphy Lake State Park, and near Las Vegas at Storrie lake State Park. Storrie Lake offers recreational opportunities like fishing, windsurfing, boating and waterskiing.
Sugarite Canyon State Park 505 445- 8828
Morphy State Park 505 425 7278
Storrie State Park 505 425 7278
Las Vegas ( New Mexico that is) has great opportunities. El Porvenir Canyon has camping, hiking and birdwatching
El Porvenir Canyon is a place to hike from up to Hermit’s Peak and camp overnight
El Porvenir Canyon Park 505 425 3534
Gallinas Canyon recreation Area is where you can hike and picnic. McAllister Lake is the place to watch birds and water fowl
McAllister Lake state Park 505 445 2311
In July Las Vegas hosts an annual Triathalon and Raton holds the High Country 10k Challenge in early September
505 445 8242
Maxwell National Wildlife refuge is a remote reserve that home to many types of wildlife
Photographers love this reserve as well as fishers.
505 375 2331
Mills Canyon near Roy is a great hiking area where you might spot mountain lions, wild turkeys, antelopes and black bears
505 374 9652
Mora National Fish Hatchery/Technology Center is one of only seven fish technology centers in America. -A great place for anglers
505 387 6022
The state’s newest park Eagle Nest Lake where you can fish for kokanee salmon and rainbow trout. You an explore the lake from the shore or by boat rentals are available
505 377 6941, 505 377 6271
Northwest
Farmington is one of the state’s hubs for outdoor activities. In town is Animas Parklands and Berg Park .Here you will find a five mile path along the Animas River with nature and wetlands and picnicking opportunities
505 599 1174
Morgan Lake is just outside town where one can windsurf, fish and picnic.
928 871 6451
Navajo Lake State Park is one of New Mexico’s greatest fishing spots.
The San Juan River Fishing Easement allows the opportunity for trout fishing. The lake is perfect for pike, kokanee trout, crappie, bass and catfish.
You can hike for hours the the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wildernessss which is a badlands covered with shale and sandstone unusual for this area..
505 599 8900
Angel Peak Recreation Area offers excellent hiking and overnight camping
505 599 8900
If you are interested in camping Bluewater Lake State Park near Grants has fishing and hiking too. You will be hiking along the slopes of 11,300 foot Mt. Taylor
505 876 2391
El Malpais National Monument is a 262,000 acre preserve. They call this monument eerily enchanting.
505 876 2783
Red Rock State Park is farther west in Gallup where you will find hiking trails and camping. Here the wild Thing Championship Bull Riding Open is held in July.
Challenging golf can be found at Coyote del Malpais Golf Course in Grants
505 285 5544
In Aztec you will find Hidden Valley Golf Course
505 334 3248
Pinon Hills Gold Course is in Farmington
505 326 6066
North Central
On the weekend of July 9-10 Angel Fire’s ski slopes host the 2005 Mountain Bike UCI World Cup - one of the premier racing events in this extreme sport. 300 or so competitors will challenge the slopes from 30 countries.
505 377 6401
In this area of the state the ski slopes are great getaways for the summer and spring. Taos Ski Valley offers picturesque hikes with a challenge
Near Albuquerque is Sandia Peaks where mountain biking is offered. There is also a chairlift ride which gives you terrific views of Albuquerque.
505 242 9052
In the Borth central section of the state golfing opportunites abound
Near the Sandia Ski Area you will find
Paa-Ko-Ridge Golf Course
866 898 5987
Towa Golf Resort
877 465 3498 is north of Santa Fe and
Angel Fire Country Club is also exceptional
505 377 3055
Because of the great snowfall this the rivers in this area are gushing. Whitewater rafting trips can be found out of Santa Fe going to the Rio Grande Gorge. The Rio Chama offers milder currents so Kayakers and Canoeists love this area.
The Bureau of Land Management should be contacted to find out about these areas
505 758 8851
Outstanding hiking can be found through the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez Mountains.
Kasha-Katuwe tent Rocks National Monument near Cochiti Lake offers one o the most stunning short treks hikes in the southwest. The views, opportunities to climb are great for all ages.
505 761 8700
Bandeleir National Monument offers hikes, views and history of the cliff dwelling inhabitants of New Mexico
505 672 0343
Valles Caldera National Preserve offers beautiful opportunities for nature watching and hikes.
866 382 5537
Overnight camping is available in many areas of this region.
Coronado State Monument and Park is one of those which is next to the ancient ruins of Kuaua Pueblo.
505 980 8256
Nambe Falls Recreational Area is where you can hike up to a beautiful waterfall
505 455 2036
Carson National Park has some of the most invigoration and scenic hiking in the state
505 758 6200
Horseback back riding is a great way to see the old silver and turquoise mines in Cerrillos
You can call Broken Saddle Riding Company
505 424 7774
Galarosa Stables is another
505 466 4654
New Mexico has a lot to offer and we hope you get a chance to try any or many of what nature offers in the Land of Enchantment.
Eileen Richardson
