The Chaco Culture National Historical Park In New Mexico Is The Start Of One Of The Most Scenic Drives In The Nation
Monica Spencer
Author
Embarking on a road trip is the perfect way to spend a weekend. If you are looking for a route that will show you a taste of what makes New Mexico the Land of Enchantment, you’ll want to try out one of the state’s finest scenic drives: Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway. It’s one of the best scenic drives in New Mexico, and once you embark, you’ll see why pretty fast. Check it out:
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The park is typically open year-round, except for major holidays. For additional information about the park, visit the National Park Service website.
Website: National Park Service
Byway Details: Ancients Scenic Byway
Phone: 505-786-7014
Looking for another lovely panoramic drive to take through New Mexico? We bet you will fall in love with the views and history found on Billy the Kid Scenic Byway. Read more in Roll Down The Windows And Take A Drive Down Billy The Kid Scenic Byway In New Mexico.
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More to Explore
Best Scenic Drives in New Mexico
Where can I find some of the best views in New Mexico?
New Mexico is a far more scenic state than most folks tend to give it credit for, and we find that pretty unfair. After all, locals know just how magical it is to get out and explore New Mexico. It’s home to almost everything you could think of, from rivers and lakes to caves, mountains, gorges, volcanoes, hot springs, and more. If you’re a fan of awesome views, New Mexico is great for those, too! Check out the El Malpais National Monument for some really cool vistas and overlooks that feel like they’re in the middle of nowhere (the nearest town is 40 miles from there). Then, pay a visit to the Tularosa Basin, which surrounds White Sands National Park in southern New Mexico. It’s lush and green, so it’s a strange contrast to the stark whites of the dunes below. Finally, be sure to look into the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, in Las Cruces. It’s one of our newer national monuments and it’s famous thanks to its surreal natural beauty. Anyone looking for great scenic views in New Mexico will want to explore these options ASAP!
What are some of the prettiest places in New Mexico?
Well, you mean other than all of it? Seriously – what is it about New Mexico that’s so majestic? We don’t know, but we can’t get enough, either. Some of our picks for the prettiest places in New Mexico include Carlsbad Caverns, which are so outrageously awesome that they’re world-famous. They feature nearly 120 hidden underground caves, including some worldwide record-holders. It’s one of those unreal places that needs to be experienced to really be understood. The Bisti Badlands is another beautiful place in New Mexico; about 70 million years ago, the area was beneath a seaway, which eroded the rocks and created the unique landscape (and fossils) visible today. Of course, no visit to New Mexico is complete without a run to White Sands National Park, which is 275 incredible square miles of the world’s purest gypsum dunes – the largest on earth! Finally, you can’t miss the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa; it’s 80 feet deep and a popular spot for swimming and diving. Its stunning blue color makes it amazingly photogenic.