The Land of Enchantment
New Mexico
Sky island ranges, Sangre de Cristo peaks, and more wilderness per capita than almost any other state.
New Mexico at a Glance
Sangre de Cristo
The Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Carson National Forest include Wheeler Peak (13,161 ft) and over 20 other peaks above 12,000 ft
Gila Wilderness
Gila Wilderness was the world's first designated wilderness area, protected by Aldo Leopold in 1924 in what is now Gila National Forest
Pecos Wilderness
Pecos Wilderness in Santa Fe National Forest contains 12 peaks above 12,000 ft and the headwaters of the Pecos River
Diverse Forests
New Mexico's forests range from Chihuahuan Desert scrub at 4,000 ft to spruce-fir tundra above 12,000 ft, spanning five life zones
Continental Divide Trail
The Continental Divide Trail runs 770 miles through New Mexico, the longest state section of the triple crown trail
Dark Skies
New Mexico has more certified dark sky places than any state except Arizona, with stellar stargazing from most national forest campgrounds
When to Visit
May through October for mountains. Southern deserts are best October through April. Monsoon season (July through August) brings afternoon thunderstorms but also spectacular wildflowers. Wheeler Peak requires crampons before mid-June most years.
Top Activities
Gateway Cities
Taos
Northern New Mexico arts town at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, with Carson National Forest and Wheeler Peak accessible from the Taos Ski Valley.
Silver City
Southwestern New Mexico hub at the edge of Gila National Forest, the gateway to Gila Wilderness and the Gila Cliff Dwellings.
Santa Fe
State capital surrounded by Santa Fe National Forest, with the Pecos Wilderness 30 miles east and Valles Caldera 50 miles northwest.
Did You Know?
Gila National Forest's Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument preserves ancient Mogollon cliff houses occupied around 1280 AD.
The Valles Caldera National Preserve near Los Alamos is a 22-mile-wide ancient supervolcano caldera now covered in meadows and ponderosa pine.
New Mexico's Lincoln National Forest contains the Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan, where the original Smokey Bear was rescued from a 1950 wildfire.
The Sandia Mountains rise 5,000 ft directly above Albuquerque, with an aerial tramway reaching the 10,378-ft summit in 15 minutes.
Wheeler Peak's summit straddles the border between Carson and Taos Pueblo lands, requiring a permit to approach from the pueblo side.