Posted in New Mexico Natural Wonders, Nature January 24, 2021 by

14 Places That Will Show You The Best Views In New Mexico

New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment for a reason. Although there are plenty of man-made wonders here, it’s difficult to compete with the state’s magnificent natural backdrop. Here are some of the best views in New Mexico that are sure to make you gasp. One thing’s for sure — you’ll want your camera to capture these stunning in New Mexico.

1. Lybrook Badlands
Flickr/John Fowler
Our list of the best views in New Mexico starts with the Lybrook Badlands. Most people have never heard of the eerie rock formations found in this wilderness area, near New Mexico's Chaco Canyon.
2. White Sands, near Alamogordo
Mark A Paulda / Getty Images
It's impossible to imagine a more beautiful New Mexico view than that of the White Sands. This bright, white desert land looks like something out of a dream.
3. Carlsbad Caverns, Carlsbad
Flickr/Dave Wilson
One way to access Carlsbad Caverns is via this steep 750-foot descent into the depths of the Earth.
4. Tent Rocks, near Cochiti
gardener41/Flickr
Hiking through New Mexico's narrow slot canyons creates the illusion that you’re underground, until you catch a glimpse of azure sky, high above. Tent Rocks is positively magical.
5. El Malpais National Monument
Flickr/OpenThreads
Some of New Mexico’s most memorable vistas are in the middle of nowhere. El Malpais is surrounded by wild, unspoiled land and the nearest town, Grants, is more than forty miles away.
6. Ghost Ranch
Flickr/Dave Wilson
Georgia O’Keefe was inspired by the expansive views surrounding her Ghost Ranch home.
7. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Flickr/Duncan Rawlinson
Every October, the skies over Albuquerque fill with hot-air balloons during the epic Balloon Fiesta.
8. Sandia Mountains, Albuquerque
Flickr/Sharon Sperry Bloom
The only way to improve on Albuquerque’s Sandia Mountains is to view them at sunset.
9. Chaco Culture National Historic Park
Flickr/Travis
The contrast between the snow and the walls of Chetro Ketl, the great house, at Chaco Culture National Historic Park is particularly striking.
10. Gallup
Flickr/Trish Herrera
Gallup is located off I-40, close to the border with Arizona. The city’s many red rock formations give anyone arriving in New Mexico an awe-inspiring welcome.
11. Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Flickr/Will Keightley
People associate leaf peeping with New England but, come fall, the aspens paint Santa Fe’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains a rich golden hue.
12. The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, Las Cruces
Flickr/Joe Wolf
The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks in Las Cruces became a national monument in 2014. It’s easy to see why.
13. Tularosa Basin
Flickr/Mzuriana
This vast basin surrounds White Sands in the southern part of the state, and provides such lush greenness to the area, you'll forget you're in New Mexico.
14. The landscape near Abiquiu
Flickr/greenheron47
One of New Mexico’s most beautiful features is the vivid and varied colors of its earth. Views such as this one, which showcases the landscape north of Abiquiu, are common, yet still amazing.

What spot in New Mexico fills you with awe? Do you agree that the above destinations are among the best views in New Mexico? If any of your favorites missed the list, be sure to tell us in the comments below! If you can’t get enough gorgeous New Mexico beauty, you’ll want to explore the most beautiful hiking trails in New Mexico.

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Address: Counselor, NM 87018, USA
Address: White Sands, NM 88002, USA
Address: Carlsbad Cavern Natural Entrance, New Mexico 88220, USA
Address: Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, 0 NM-22, Cochiti Pueblo, NM 87072, USA
Address: El Malpais, New Mexico 87020, USA
Address: Ghost Ranch St SW, Albuquerque, NM 87121, USA
Address: Albuquerque, NM, USA
Address: Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico, USA
Address: Gallup, NM, USA
Address: Sangre de Cristo, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
Address: Abiquiu, NM 87510, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center

best views in New Mexico

January 29, 2021
Beth C.

Does New Mexico have any hidden gems?

The Land of Enchantment is positively filled with natural wonders and hidden gems to discover. The landscape of New Mexico lends itself to a variety of waterfalls, mountains, canyons, caverns, forests, rivers, and just about everything in between. One could easily devote an entire lifetime to discovering all the hidden gems in the state. The following list would be a good place to start, though: the Santa Rosa Blue Hole, Bisti Badlands in Farmington, Shiprock, Taos Pueblo, Lechuguilla Caves in Carlsbad, Musical Highway, Mesa Prieta Petroglyphs in Velarde, El Santuario de Chimayo, the Museum of International Folk Art, Wheeler Peak, and the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell.

What are the best parks in New Mexico?

There's a beautiful park to be discovered in nearly every corner of New Mexico. Some of the state's most beloved parks include Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, Ghost Ranch, White Sands National Monument, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Bandelier National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Cerrillos Hills State Park, Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge, City of Rocks State Park, and the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

What are New Mexico's most popular natural wonders?

You've probably gathered by now that New Mexico has no shortage of natural wonders. Many of them have been outlined in the above article, and are absolutely worth a visit. There a few others that didn't make the list, and they include the Capulin Volcano, Valles Caldera in Jemez Springs, White Mountain Wilderness outside Ruidoso, the Rio Grande Gorge in Taos, and the Organ Mountains (Las Cruces). For more information, check out the 12 Best Natural Attractions in New Mexico.