9 Staggeringly Beautiful Places In New Mexico That Will Always Be Waiting For You
By Monica Spencer|Published May 05, 2020
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Monica Spencer
Author
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
Itching to head out into the great outdoors? Parts of New Mexico may be off-limits these days, but they aren’t going away any time soon. Check out some of our favorite places we can’t wait to visit!
Also referred to as the Bisti Badlands, these hauntingly beautiful badlands showcase just the kind of natural beauty you might stumble across while hiking New Mexico's landscape. Every inch of this place looks strikingly different.
The ultimate summer swimming hole for any New Mexican is the Blue Hole near Santa Rosa. The deep blue swimming hole is an oasis, a lovely desert gem that extends down some 80 feet.
Tucked away underground, Carlsbad Caverns is hiding around 100 caves of varying sizes — and the journey down through the entrance trail is an incredible sight. We can't wait to see this area in summer since the bats will be roosting and flying.
Most people are familiar with these jagged cliffs at Cimarron Canyon State Park but we absolutely love the forested views along the river. This is a great getaway for hiking, camping, and even fishing.
Located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, this state park was also New Mexico's very first. The beautiful forest here is also hiding hiking trails, campsites, and some incredible snow-covered hills during winter and early spring.
Can you think of anything more refreshing than a dip in the pool at the bottom of Jemez Falls? The short hike also makes this location a fairly easy find, so paradise is easy to access here.
New Mexico's newest national park, White Sands is a striking sight at any time of year. However, we think it looks most impressive on an empty day with almost no one else in sight.
This area is tucked away in Taos' alpine forest, with New Mexico's highest point — Wheeler Peak — within easy view. This place is just as lovely in person as it appears in photos.
This pretty valley is actually part of a massive caldera in northern New Mexico. In addition to a beautiful landscape, this area also has hot springs, streams, and is teeming with wildlife.
Do you have suggestions for fantastic locations around New Mexico that everyone should see or visit? Share your favorite business, restaurant, or other attraction on our nomination page and we may feature it in a future article!
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