Boardwalks are most commonly associated with the ocean and beaches. Since New Mexico is a landlocked state, you won’t find sand-dusted boardwalks and taffy vendors here. Instead, our boardwalks take you to varied and unexpected destinations that rival anything you’ll see by the shore. You won’t regret strolling along these five amazing boardwalks this summer:
1. The Boardwalk At Clayton Lake State Park
This quarter mile of boardwalk takes you back 100 million years! The dinosaur trackway at
Clayton Lake State Park is one of the most extensive in the nation, and the boardwalk gives you a great view of these 500 odd footprints. The prints tell a story: three different species of dinosaurs roamed through this area and left their marks. They ranged in size from a one-foot-long baby Iguanodont to creatures that were 30 feet in length!
2. Interdune Boardwalk At White Sands National Monument
Walking on sand can be tough work but that’s not a problem for anyone sauntering along the Interdune Boardwalk, which stretches for 0.4 miles. The boardwalk protects a delicate area of the monument while giving visitors a chance to nature watch and admire a panoramic view of the dunes against the backdrop of the Sacramento Mountains.
3. The Boardwalk At Valley Of Fires Recreation Area
Roughly 5,000 years ago, a volcano called Little Black Peak spewed lava over the Tularosa Basin. That molten rock covered a 125 square mile area. Today, the lava flow is between four and six miles across and is 160 feet thick. This boardwalk allows you to navigate the lava flow with ease. It’s especially pretty at sunset.
4. The Boardwalk Trail At Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
The Boardwalk Trail leads you over 0.75 miles of wetlands and provides bird watching and turtle spying opportunities. During the summer months, you’re likely to see hummingbirds, quail, and young birds at Bosque del Apache.
5. The Catwalk Trail In Glenwood
This is a raised metal walkway rather than a wooden boardwalk and it forms part of the Catwalk Trail. During the 1930s, this was a true boardwalk, but in the 1960s, the wooden boards were upgraded to metal grating. The boardwalk beckons you into Whitewater Canyon, along a route once used by a steel pipeline that supplied mining operations with water. It’s located in a hidden pocket of New Mexico that’s brimming with natural beauty.
Boardwalks tend to be exposed so, in the summer months, they're most enjoyable early in the morning or in the evening.
If You Only Have One Day to Visit This Small Town in Maine, Here’s Everything You Absolutely Can’t Miss
If You Only Have One Day to Visit This Small Town in Massachusetts, Here’s Everything You Absolutely Can’t Miss
If You Only Have One Day to Visit This Small Town in Maryland, Here’s Everything You Absolutely Can’t Miss
If you're looking for other suggestions for things to do this summer, check out New Mexico’s swimming holes and our summer bucket list for inspiration.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!