New Mexico National Parks Map

List of National Parks in New Mexico

Best National Parks in New Mexico

1. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (Carlsbad, NM)

   Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a treasure trove on the Chihuahuan Desert. The deep rocky canyons, high ancient sea ledges, flowering cactus, and desert life makes it a must-visit place. There are over 119 caves that remain hidden beneath the surface. They are formed from sulfuric acid dissolved limestone, creating caverns of all sizes. This is a must-visit place, which is located at a stone’s throw distance from Texas.

   Carlsbad Cavern is the most impressive and the largest cave of them all. The “Big Room” inside the Carlsbad Cavern cave is one of the largest underground chambers in the world. Having a staggering scale and splendor, Carlsbad Caverns National Park reaches up to 78 meters and stretches around 1,220 meters in length.

   The spectacular stalactites and stalagmites as well as the fabulous formations will make you look at them with awe. Explore the 31 mi (50 km) subterranean trails by taking a tour around the countless chambers. Each chamber has fantastic features and beautiful rooms. Above the ground, hike around the desolate desert scenery to enjoy some of the lovely nature and views.

2. White Sands National Park (Alamogordo, NM)

   The glistening white sands of New Mexico is one of the great natural wonders of the world. It rises from the heart of the Tularosa Basin. You’ll find the largest gypsum dune field in the world, spread over 275 square miles of desert. White Sands National Park preserves a large part of these great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand. All the plants and animals living in this national park are also protected.

   The sensational sandscapes and dramatic dunes of this national park are located in the south center of New Mexico. Explore the most remarkable and rewarding landscapes, including the largest gypsum dune field on earth, the gigantic Tularosa Basin. The fine crystals and grains glimmering in the sun is a sight to get mesmerized. These dazzling dunes stretch over the horizon. The tallest dune reaches a height of around 18 meters (59 ft).

   Visit White Sands National Park and enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities including hiking, camping, sunbathing, and dune-sledging.

Best National Monuments in New Mexico

1. Bandelier National Monument (Los Alamos, NM)

   Bandelier National Monument preserves the history of human presence that dates back to more than 11,000 years. It is spread over 33,000 acres of rugged land consisting of beautiful canyon and mesa country. Visit Bandelier National Monument and get mesmerized by the prehistoric carvings (Petroglyphs) on the walls of the soft rock cliffs.

2. Capulin Volcano National Monument (Capulin, NM)

   Capulin Volcano National Monument is a part of Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field, which is spread over 8,000 square miles. This volcano showcases northeastern New Mexico’s volcanic geology. Whether you visit the place during day or night, the views of four different states from the volcanic rim are amazing. Enjoy while exploring the landscape of this unique volcano, whether it is a day trip or a quick stop.

3. Aztec Ruins National Monument (Aztec, NM)

   Aztec Ruins National Monument offers you the opportunity to explore 900-years of history. This site is regarded by the Pueblo people as a part of the migration journey. Visit this place and witness the 900-year old ancestral Pueblo Great House, which consists of more than 400 masonry rooms.

   You can feel the vibrant history when you search and find the fingerprints of ancient workers in the mortar. The roof is held by original timbers. Visit the reconstructed Great Kiva to listen to the echo of ritual drums.

4. Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (Silver City, NM)

   The caves of the Gila River have been used by groups of nomadic people for thousands of years as a temporary shelter. People of the Mogollon Culture started to call this place their home in the late 1200s. This is when they created rooms, crafted pottery, and started raising children in the cliff dwellings. It continued for around 20-years. After that Mogollon moved on. When you visit Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, you’ll get a glimpse of the walls and get a sneak peek of the past.

5. El Malpais National Monument (Grants, NM)

   El Malpais National Monument is spread over the richly diverse El Malpais volcanic landscape. It offers travelers with solitude, recreation, and discovery. When you visit the place, don’t forget to explore lava tube caves, cinder cones, hiking trails, and sandstone bluffs. In the open grasslands and forests, you will find a wide array of wildlife. This is the right place for you to discover the land of fire and ice.

6. El Morro National Monument (Ramah, NM)

   El Morro (the headland) is a very popular campsite for hundreds of years because of a hidden waterhole at the base of a sandstone bluff. When you visit El Morro National Monument, you can find more than 2,000 signatures, dates, messages, and petroglyphs, carved by the Ancestral Puebloans, Spanish, and American travelers.

7. Fort Union National Monument (Watrous, NM)

   Fort Union National Monument is the territorial-style adobe remnants of the largest nineteenth-century military fort in this region. The beauty of this place reaches mesmerizing heights with the sweeping valley of short grass prairie all around. This fort is located amid the swales of the Santa Fe Trail. Fort Union functioned as an agent of political and cultural change during 1851-1891 throughout the Southwest, especially in New Mexico.

8. Petroglyph National Monument (Albuquerque, NM)

   Petroglyph National Monument protects North America’s one of the largest petroglyph sites. The symbols carved on the volcanic rocks were done around 400-to-700 years back by both the Native Americans and Spanish settlers. These carved images on the rocks have immense spiritual significance for contemporary Native Americans. In fact, they also act as a valuable record of cultural expression for both the descendants of the early Spanish settlers and the Native Americans.

9. Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument (Mountainair, NM)

   Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is located in the middle of New Mexico. There are 3 distinct sites in Salinas Pueblo Missions, which gives you a glimpse of the history of struggles, conflict, and cultural borrowing. Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument reminds us about the early encounters of the ancestral Pueblo people and Spanish settlers.

Best National Historical Parks, Trails, & Preserves in New Mexico

1. Chaco Culture National Historical Park (Nageezi, NM)

   Witness the organizational and engineering abilities of the Ancestral Puebloan people by taking a closer look at their massive buildings, built between 850 and 1250 A.D. You’ll not find such abilities anywhere else in the American Southwest. Explore Chaco Culture National Historical Park, get a guided tour, hike/bike through the trails, and enjoy evening campfire talks or night sky programs.

2. El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail (NM, TX)

   El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail helps you experience and learn the 300-years of history. Hike the trail and get a closer look at the history of conflict, cooperation, and cultural exchange between European and non-European empires.

3. Manhattan Project National Historical Park (NM, WA, TN)

   Manhattan Project National Historical Park takes you to the rich historical heritage of science in the United States. It takes you back to the days of World War II. Manhattan Project park tells you the story of science, engineering, events, and people that led to the development of the atomic bomb. This park is run jointly by the National Park Service and Department of Energy.

4. Old Spanish National Historic Trail (AZ, CA, CO, NV, NM, UT)

   Get a first-hand experience of the historic trail between Santa Fe (New Mexico) and Los Angeles (California). The New Mexican traders used the Old Spanish National Historic Trail for moving locally produced merchandise to other states in exchange for mules and horses.

5. Pecos National Historical Park (Pecos, NM)

   Pecos National Historical Park is located in Sangre de Cristo Mountains’ (near Santa Fe) woodlands of piñon, juniper, and ponderosa. This historic park will remind you of people who once prevailed. Visit and explore the Pecos Valley’s cultural exchange and geographic features.

6. Santa Fe National Historic Trail (CO, KS, MO, NM, OK)

   Experience the adventure and evidence of past travelers who used the Santa Fe National Historic Trail through 5 trails for carrying cargo between western Missouri and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

7. Valles Caldera National Preserve (Jemez Springs, NM)

   Valles Caldera is a 13-mile wide circular depression that was created around 1.25 million years back due to a volcanic eruption. It has become a rich preserve of huge mountain meadows, meandering streams, and abundant wildlife. Visit the picturesque Valles Caldera National Preserve to witness the homeland of ancestral native peoples and also embrace the rich ranching history.

List of US National Parks

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