Attractions - Outdoor Pursuits

New Mexico offers a bounty of beautiful and history-rich places to explore and experience. With five national forests, 29 state parks and 13 national monuments and parks, you can enjoy hiking, camping, biking, climbing, water sports and winter sports.

In winter, New Mexico’s nine alpine ski venues provide excellent light and powdery snow on the 12,000 to 13,000-foot peaks. Snowboarding, Nordic skiing, dogsledding and snowmobiling round out the cool alternatives.

Whether sailing, waterskiing, jetskiing, canoeing or fishing on one of our 30 major lakes or crashing through whitewater in the Rio Grande Gorge, you’re certain to discover a wet or wild challenge.

Thousands of miles of hiking and biking trails range across the state from urban areas to challenging mountain terrain. Many of these trails take you to significant archaeological and historical sites, including Chaco Canyon and Bandelier. The Continental Divide Trail transverses 650 miles of rugged land along the state’s western border.

Other outdoor gifts include bird watching at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge near Socorro, driving one of the state’s 27 scenic byways, championship golf courses and rock climbing the steep faces of the Brazos Cliffs near Tierra Amarilla and the palisades in Cimarron State Park.

Also, New Mexico’s crystal-clear night sky, thanks to high land elevation and little pollution, makes the state a premier stargazing venue.

For more information on New Mexico’s offerings of fun and outdoor excitement, visit www.nmtourism.org.