Take This Epic Multi-Day Road Trip To Discover The Hidden Wonders Of New Mexico
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Courtnie Erickson
Author
There is a reason New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment. Here, we are surrounded by many natural wonders and man-made hidden gems. Whether you’ve lived in our great state your entire life or you have recently moved here, it’s time to experience many of the hidden wonders in New Mexico. If you are up to the task, check out this multi-day road trip that takes you to many of the hidden wonders that are scattered all around the state. Fuel up your car, grab some snacks, and let’s hit the road!
This road trip will take you approximately 900 miles around the Land of Enchantment. You will visit eight hidden wonders in New Mexico and each one deserves a spot on your bucket list. This trip will take you multiple days to complete as it requires approximately 15 hours just for driving. But don’t worry! We’ve got you covered as we will list multiple conveniently-located Best Western properties in New Mexico along the way. You can use this customizable map to add even more stops on this road trip if you desire.
Red Rock Park, 825 Outlaw Rd, Church Rock, NM 87311, USA
Our road trip begins in Red Rock Park, one of the best parks in New Mexico. Here, you will find the most impressive red cliffs, hiking trails, and breathtaking scenery. This is more than your typical park as there are miles of hiking trails for you to explore, including the popular Church Rock Trail. You can always stop by the museum, rodeo grounds, or simply have a picnic before continuing to your next location.
El Malpais, New Mexico 87020, USA
El Malpais National Monument is home to all types of natural wonders like lava flows, lava tubes, cinder cones, star shows, and so much more. In fact, to see many of the gems located within this park, you will want to plan several hours (or even an entire day!) at this stop alone. If you only have time for one or two activities, we recommend exploring the Big Tubes Area. Here, you will find lava bridges, collapsed lava tubes, lava caves, and more.
After exploring so many incredible features in one day, you can stay the night at the Best Western Grants Inn, conveniently located near El Malpais National Monument!
After exploring so many incredible features in one day, you can stay the night at the Best Western Grants Inn, conveniently located near El Malpais National Monument!
15 Santuario Dr, Chimayo, NM 87522, USA
The next stop on our road trip in New Mexico is at the El Santuario de Chimayo, a beautiful Spanish Colonial-style church. This church, located in the small town of Chimayo, is more than just a place of worship. It attracts hundreds of people every year who come for one thing — the soil. It is believed that inside this church is a room with sacred earth that has healing properties. Whether you believe or not, the building and grounds are certainly worth walking around and exploring — they are quite remarkable.
Rio Grande Gorge, New Mexico 87529, USA
Just outside of Taos is New Mexico’s Grand Canyon — the Rio Grande Gorge. In this area of the state, you’ll encounter flat terrain, but all of a sudden, you will come to a remarkable gorge that is 800-feet deep in areas and 50 miles long. One of the best ways to capture the grandeur of this remarkable gorge is on the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, which is one of the highest bridges in the entire country and is 1,280 feet long.
After a full day of attractions and hidden wonders, you need your rest. We recommend booking a stay at Best Western Plus Montezuma Inn & Suites or continuing your drive down the road to Best Western Santa Rosa Inn.
After a full day of attractions and hidden wonders, you need your rest. We recommend booking a stay at Best Western Plus Montezuma Inn & Suites or continuing your drive down the road to Best Western Santa Rosa Inn.
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1085 Blue Hole Rd, Santa Rosa, NM 88435, USA
The Blue Hole, located in Santa Rosa, is truly a unique natural wonder. This hole of water has become a popular swimming hole and diving destination due to its bright blue hue. It is an impressive 80-feet deep and the water naturally stays at approximately 62 degrees Fahrenheit. Whether you love to swim, dive, or even fish, this is definitely a stop you won’t want to miss.
Bottomless Lakes, New Mexico 88203, USA
Of course, you can’t have a road trip to the wonders of New Mexico without a stop at Bottomless Lakes State Park in Roswell. This state park actually consists of a series of nine sinkholes, rather than actual lakes. When first discovered, it was believed these bodies of water were bottomless as the bottom was never actually found. While today we know differently, it is still fun to explore and imagine. When visiting, swimming and diving are only available in one lake, but you can always hike or sit back and enjoy some of Mother Nature's most unique creations during your visit.
Roswell is a great place to relax before the next stretch of our road trip. Here, you can book a stay at the Best Western El Rancho Palacio.
Roswell is a great place to relax before the next stretch of our road trip. Here, you can book a stay at the Best Western El Rancho Palacio.
Mexican Canyon Railroad Trestle, Cloudcroft, NM 88317, USA
If you are up for a little hike, you can head to one of the most picturesque hidden gems near Cloudcroft — the Old Mexican Canyon Trestle Trail. This unique hiking trail takes you to an abandoned railroad bridge that is 323-feet across and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. To reach this bridge, you must tackle a 1.2-mile moderate climb but the entire view is quite scenic. Make sure you bring your camera — you won’t want to miss this view!
City of Rocks State Park, 327 NM-61, Faywood, NM 88034, USA
Our road trip concludes at City of Rocks State Park in the southwest corner of the state. This is one of the best state parks in New Mexico as you can observe and even climb remarkable rock columns that reach up to 40-feet high. From above, this entire area looks like a small city as there are pathways between many of the rocks. There are also multiple trails that will lead you to some of the best and most unique formations in this state park, so have your hiking shoes ready!
If you need one last place to spend the night, head back to the Best Western Mission Inn in Las Cruces or the Best Western Deming Southwest Inn in Deming.
If you need one last place to spend the night, head back to the Best Western Mission Inn in Las Cruces or the Best Western Deming Southwest Inn in Deming.
What are your thoughts on this multi-day road trip in New Mexico? Are there any other road trip stops you would add? Let us and your fellow travelers know in the comments! Make sure you are well rested each day you travel by booking a stay at the closest Best Western property in New Mexico to you!