Here’s The Perfect Weekend Itinerary If You Love Exploring New Mexico’s Waterfalls
New Mexico’s waterfalls tend to be clustered together. That’s a good thing because it’s simple to link several into a short drive. Combine cruising along scenic byways, with manageable hikes, and waterfalls and you’re headed for a magical weekend. This trip to the best waterfalls in New Mexico takes 4 hours and 22 minutes to complete without stops, and the route covers 164 miles. Here is the map.
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
Soda Dam is a dam that has slowly formed over time due to calcium deposits. It's about 5000 years old and, as water gushes through this formation, it creates a small yet powerful waterfall. In warmer months you can take a dip in the pool below the falls. There's no need to hike because this rock formation is located right next to the road. (A slight sulfur smell clings to the air here.)
Highway 4, which is one of our state's scenic byways, is also known as the Jemez Mountain Trail and the views along this drive are just astonishing. Savor them as you continue up the route to Jemez Falls.
Jemez Falls is 70 feet high. Reaching the viewing point only requires a 0.7-mile, out and back hike, along an easy trail. The soundtrack of the water tumbling over the rocks is incredibly soothing. You can stay at the nearby Jemez Springs Campground. Head here for more info.
Bandelier National Monument is best known for its cliff dwellings, ruins, and petroglyphs. However, there is also a Falls Trail here. Follow a 1.5-mile long path to Upper Falls. This waterfall is in a beautiful setting and is well worth viewing. (The trailhead is in the Backpacker’s Parking Lot.) Due to flash flood damage, you can no longer continue on to Lower Falls.
Nambe Falls, which is about 100 feet high, lies inside a recreation area on Nambe Pueblo. The falls are only 0.25 miles away from the campground (another great overnight option). There are two routes to the waterfall. They’re the same length but one takes you to the top of the falls, while the other leads to the bottom. Since they’re so short, it’s worth doing both. Be sure to check if its open before going there by visiting the Nambe Pueblo website.
This dinky waterfall (it's only 15 feet high) is next to the lifts at Taos Ski Valley. Small but scenic and still deserving of being considered for the best waterfalls in New Mexico!
The Lake Williams Trail from Taos Ski Valley is the longest hike on this trip at around four miles out-and-back. However, this easy to moderate hike is well worth the effort. It leads to a gorgeous alpine lake under Wheeler Peak. If you continue up another 0.25 miles, you come to Williams Falls, a 35-foot high waterfall. For more info.
When you’re visiting waterfalls, it’s a good idea to bring wading shoes or flip-flops. Also, bear in mind that New Mexico’s falls can vary in strength quite dramatically depending on the season and quantity of melting snow or rainfall.
So what do you think? Ready to hit the road and see the best waterfalls in New Mexico?
Discover more unforgettable New Mexico road trips here.
Address: Soda Dam Springs, New Mexico 87025, USA
Address: Jemez Falls, New Mexico 87025, USA
Address: 15 Entrance Rd, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
Address: 580 Overlook Rd, White Rock, NM 87544, USA
Address: Nambe Falls, New Mexico 87506, USA
Address: Taos Ski Valley, NM 87525, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Waterfalls In New Mexico
September 25, 2020
Leah
What are the best waterfall trails in New Mexico?
There are many beautiful falls throughout the Land of Enchantment. The hike to the Bridal Veil Falls, located in the Lincoln National Forest, is 7-miles long and the trail to the falls is just as rewarding to hike as the view you’ll get at the end. Bridal Veil Falls are a towering 45-feet tall and stunning to see in person. The Lost Lake Trail in the Carson National Forest is another worthy waterfall hike. The scenery is gorgeous to traverse on this long trail where you’ll spot multiple waterfalls and trickling creeks along the way.
What are the most unique outdoor adventures in New Mexico?
If you’re looking for a weekend getaway in New Mexico, try one of the many amazing outdoor adventures you can experience within the state. The Bisti Badlands, located near Nageezi, will make you feel like you were transported to another planet. The unique geological formations are fun to explore for people of any age. The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, located near Las Cruces, is any hiker’s or adventurer’s dream. It has hiking trails, biking trails, and horseback riding trails, all in an amazing spot.
What are the most beautiful places in New Mexico?
There are many stunning spots within the state that are worth visiting, whether it be a towering waterfall or an underground cave. For the latter, check out the jaw-dropping formations in the Carlsbad Caverns. Above ground, take a visit to the White Sands National Monument and see the bright gypsum sands of this unique spot. The Rio Grande Gorge is another spectacular spot to enjoy from the top or down whitewater rafting on the river. Either way, the views are lovely.
Address: Soda Dam Springs, New Mexico 87025, USA
Address: Jemez Falls, New Mexico 87025, USA
Address: 15 Entrance Rd, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
Address: 580 Overlook Rd, White Rock, NM 87544, USA
Address: Nambe Falls, New Mexico 87506, USA
Address: Taos Ski Valley, NM 87525, USA
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