New Mexico · best-of list
The 6 Best Outdoor Spots in New Mexico
All 6 outdoor spots our route editors picked in New Mexico, across 2 destinations, gathered in one list. 2 come with an insider tip, and 3 cost nothing to visit.
Our curated picks
6 outdoor spots in New Mexico, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Abiquiú 4 picks
Abiquiú Lake
Abiquiú · On our Northern New Mexico High Desert route
Reservoir backed by Pedernal and mesas, good for swimming and paddling.
Photo: Lucari Jordan · Google
Echo Amphitheater
Abiquiú · On our Northern New Mexico High Desert route
Natural sandstone amphitheater with a short trail and a strong echo.
Photo: Taylor Besch · Google
Ghost Ranch
Abiquiú · On our Northern New Mexico High Desert route
Red cliffs and badlands that O'Keeffe painted, with trails, museums and guided tours.
Tip: Buy a day pass at the welcome center.
Photo: Artotem from Here, There, and... · CC BY 2.0
Plaza Blanca
Abiquiú · On our Northern New Mexico High Desert route
White sandstone spires and hoodoos reached by a short walk.
Photo: L · Google
Old Town Albuquerque 2 picks
Rio Grande Nature Center State Park
Old Town Albuquerque · On our Albuquerque New Year's Eve route
Cottonwood bosque and ponds on the Rio Grande; rangers lead a New Year's Day nature walk as part of First Day Hikes.
Tip: Bring binoculars for sandhill cranes, which winter along the river.
Tingley Beach and the Bosque Trail
Old Town Albuquerque · On our Albuquerque New Year's Eve route
Fishing ponds at the river's edge where the paved Paseo del Bosque Trail runs under the cottonwoods along the Rio Grande.
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in New Mexico?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 6 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of New Mexico has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Abiquiú has the most (4 of 6), followed by Old Town Albuquerque (2).
Are any of these free?
3 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Abiquiú Lake, Tingley Beach and the Bosque Trail and Plaza Blanca. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for New Mexico
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Abiquiú 4 on this list
- Old Town Albuquerque 2 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.