The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness area covers 45,000 acres of badlands just south of Farmington, New Mexico. This high desert wilderness features a vast landscape containing some of the most unique rock formations on this planet. The Bisti (pronounced bis-tie) was once a coastal swamp of an inland sea; and was home to many large trees, reptiles, dinosaurs, and primitive mammals. What visitors see today is the preserved record of this pre-historic swamp that is now a true desert wilderness.

Photographers, hikers, and explorers from around the world visit the Bisti Badlands to see the hoodoos, desert spires, natural arches, and fossils unique to this area. You can reach some truly astonishing landscapes within 1-4 miles of the main parking lot, off Highway 371. The area is so vast, that it is best experienced with multiple excursions.

The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness supports a small number of nesting golden eagles, ferruginous hawks, and prairie falcons. All of these species are extremely susceptible to human disturbance during the nesting season from February 1 to July 1. If the adult birds are approached too closely, even for a short time, they will likely abandon the nest, leaving their eggs or young to die of exposure. Be aware that disturbing nesting eagles is a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Act and could result in civil or criminal penalties.

If you see a perched eagle, hawk, or falcon, please do not approach the bird. If you encounter a stick nest, please leave the area and move at least 500 yards away, as quietly and quickly as possible. Your cooperation is vital in protecting the future of these rare birds in the wilderness.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Area: 182.1 km²
• Admission: No Entrance Fee
• Opening Hours: Daily
• Address: County Road 7297, Bloomfield, NM 87413

There is so much to explore in the great outdoors near Santa Fe. And the Valles Caldera National Preserve is an incredible destination for hiking, biking, and more. The highlight of this nature oasis is the volcano, which erupted about 1.25 million years ago to create a 13-mile circular depression that is now the preserve. You can wander through expansive mountain meadows as the breeze rustles through your hair and explore the abundant wildlife and plantlife growing by meandering streams.

The Valles Caldera is actually one of three active calderas in the United States. This massive volcano is nearly 10 kilometers long and six kilometers wide, making it the focal point of the landscape. When the volcano erupted nearly 1.2 million years ago, it covered these lands in lava. At the time, ash and lava covered the area, contributing to the flatlands and surrounding Jemez Mountains as the earth sank to form the Valles Caldera. In comparison to their formation days, the serene meadows and surrounding woodlands appear quite peaceful now!

Escape to the Valles Caldera National Preserve for a tranquil morning or afternoon in nature. There are some great hiking trails in the preserve if you want to go for a walk. The Jemez River East Fork Trail is one example. The views along this path are breathtaking, as it follows the bubbling river and passes some exquisite rock formations. The Cerro La Jara Loop Trail is another option for hiking. This short path is ideal for those looking for a quick jaunt through lowland terrain before moving on to other activities.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Area: 363.27 km²
• Admission: Valles Caldera National Preserve is a fee park; however, at this time the entrance fee is being waived.
• Opening Hours: Daily 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Address: 39201 Highway 4, Jemez Springs, NM 87025-9428

Nestled in the Tularosa Basin between the Sacramento and San Andres Mountain ranges of southern New Mexico is a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience. Within White Sands National Park, you will find countless opportunities for discovery, fun, and the creation of lifelong memories. So venture out into the dunes and explore this special place. Whether you delight in the challenge of a strenuous hike to spectacular vistas, a family day trip in an irresistible playground, or an inspirational moment in an untamable land, an unimaginable adventure awaits you!

Backcountry camping in New Mexico's glistening gypsum dunes is possible at White Sands National Park. Ten primitive backcountry camping sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The key to having a fun and exciting camping experience at the park is preparation and common sense.

Cycling through the park provides unobstructed views of an ever-changing dune field and allows your senses to truly experience the sights and sounds of this unique landscape. A vast sea of snow-white gypsum dunes beckons you to go for a hike. There is no better way to experience the unique landscape of White Sands National Park than by taking one of the five established trails.

The visitor center is an excellent example of Spanish Pueblo-style adobe architecture, also known as "Pueblo-Revival," which was built on-site from 1936 to 1938 using readily available, local materials. The visitor center is where you can get information on the daily programs, browse the park store and gift shop, stroll through the native plant garden, and explore the interactive museum.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 5.0/5
• Area: 589.9 km²
• Admission: $25 per vehicle; $20 per motorcycle; $15 per individual; $80 Interagency Annual Pass
• Opening Hours: Daily 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
• Address: U.S. Route 70 Alamogordo, NM 88310

Like a page torn from "Journey to the Center of the Earth," the subterranean wonderland of Carlsbad Caverns National Park holds fantastic geological formations and, for those who seek it, a bit of underground adventure. The immense cave system, hidden beneath the desert in the southwestern state of New Mexico, is about 243 kilometers northeast of El Paso, Texas.

The park’s essential experience is a self-guided walk among the amazing geological formations of the 3.1-hectare Big Room, a colossal stalactite and stalagmite-festooned chamber with a ceiling that reaches up to 78 meters high. From the visitor center, ride the elevator 79 stories down to the Big Room, or be adventurous and hike the steep 2-kilometer Natural Entrance route, twisting and descending 229 meters from the mouth of the cave.

From ceiling-hung forests of delicate, icicle-like stalactites to massive geologic features resembling frozen waterfalls, you’re immersed in a surreal world of folded, rippled stone. These are the wonders you’ve come to see, and though the path can be covered in a hurried 90 minutes, it’s wise to budget a leisurely 2.5 hours.

Hungry? Before returning to the surface world, grab a sandwich or salad in the famed Underground Lunchroom, which has a 1950s retro-futuristic look. The park’s other must-see spectacle involves Brazilian free-tailed bats, which live by the hundreds of thousands in deep, dark reaches of the caverns from roughly April to mid-October. At sunset they fly en masse from the cave’s mouth, swarming and blackening the sky on their way to feast on insects for the evening.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 5.0/5
• Area: 189.3 km²
  
• Admission: Adults 16 years and older are $15, Children 15 and younger are free
• Opening Hours: Daily 8:00 AM - 2:15 PM
  
• Address: Carlsbad, NM 88220

Just over an hour from Santa Fe, Ghost Ranch is one of the best day trips from New Mexico. With a history that includes cattle rustlers, a poker game, dinosaur discoveries, a dude ranch for the affluent, and home to Georgia O'Keeffe, Ghost Ranch is as colorful and dramatic as its landscape of the red and yellow cliffs.

The landscape of Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico, encompasses 21,000 acres of towering rock walls, vivid colors, and vast skies. Within this setting, guests enjoy an extensive offering of workshops, hiking trails, horseback riding, massage therapy, high and low ropes courses, and kayaking on Abiquiu Lake.

Open year-round, the Ranch is owned by the Presbyterian Church USA and is open to all. Whether you want to spend the day under the huge old cottonwoods in an Adirondack chair, visit the museums, do research in the 24-hour library, or hike the many trails, there is something for everyone at Ghost Ranch.

With advance reservations, you may take the Georgia O'Keeffe Landscape Tour and visit the sites where Georgia O'Keeffe walked and painted. The magnificent landscape of vivid colors, towering rocks and enormous skies was made world-famous by painter Georgia O’Keeffe, who lived and worked on the ranch for a while. The Landscape Tour can be enjoyed by van or on horseback.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Area: 85 km²
  
• Admission: Free; However, there are fees for tours and other activities
• Opening Hours: Daily 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  
• Address: 280 Private Drive 1708 Highway, US-84, Abiquiu, NM 87510

Built in the middle of nowhere, Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is a real wonder of civil engineering in the empty tableland of northern New Mexico. The Bridge is nestled thirteen miles northwest of Taos and is the fifth-highest bridge in all of the United States. Spanning 1,280 feet and hanging 650 feet above the Rio Grande, you will feel your knees buckling when crossing the Bridge.

The construction was completed in 1965, and in 1966, the Bridge received the American Institute of Steel Construction’s award for the “Most Beautiful Long Span Steel Bridge” due to its well-proportioned cantilever truss structure. It serves as a popular tourist attraction, where people visit to experience thrilling sensations and take in the breathtaking views of the Gorge.

The Bridge has also been a real suicide magnet where about 3 suicides occur annually; however, many preventative actions are taken to address the problem. Since 1997, the bridge has kept its spot on the list of the National Register of Historic Places. Adventure lovers are more than welcome to discover the full potential of the Bridge’s beauty from the bottom of the canyon while white water rafting in the Rio Grande.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Length: 388m
• Admission: Free
• Opening Hours: Daily
• Address: NM 87529

Consider a trip to Bandelier National Monument if you’re looking for fun things to do in New Mexico that will get you out of the hotel and into the fresh air. The Bandelier National Monument, dating back to 1150 CE, is a large, beautiful landscape that showcases New Mexico's rugged natural wilderness. It's also one of the best places to see historical relics from the ancestral Pueblo tribes who lived, hunted, and built structures for thousands of years in the area.

Visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities, including hiking and camping. The Main Loop Trail, also known as the Pueblo Loop Trail, is a 45-minute to 1-hour walk that takes you along paved and pebbled paths and up a few flights of stairs. On this hike through the Frijoles Canyon, you'll pass excavated archeological sites, cliffside dwellings, and incredible canyon walls, all while discovering small alcoves and beautiful wildlife.

When you reach the halfway point of the Main Loop Trail, you must choose whether to continue the loop round and return to the visitors center or to take the Alcove Trail. The Alcove Trail, also known as the Ceremonial Cave, rises 140 feet above Frijoles Canyon. The cave was once home to 25 Ancestral Pueblo people, and you can now reach it thanks to 4 wooden ladders and numerous stone stairs.

If you’re interested in Native American history, check out the masonry dwellings with their petroglyphs etched into the walls. You’ll never feel closer to the Pueblo people than when you’re standing on the same stones and touching the same carvings. There are also ample opportunities for sightseeing on high ridges and within rocky caverns.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 5.0/5
• Area: 120 km²
  
• Admission: The entrance fee is $25 per car
• Opening Hours: Daily 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  
• Address: 15 Entrance Rd, Los Alamos, NM 87544

Do you want to slow down and unwind a little? So go to Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs for the day or even a few days! Ojo Caliente is about an hour's drive from Santa Fe and about 50 minutes from Taos. The springs is one of the country's oldest health spas. It is also the only one with four sulfur-free healing waters.

For thousands of years, the healing waters of Ojo Caliente have played an important role in New Mexican culture. Their water comes from an underground volcanic aquifer that has long been thought to have healing properties. Day visitors can spend the day soaking in the communal pools or reserving one of the private outdoor pools for a more intimate experience. Reservations for either experience are strongly advised. Both appointment types include the use of a towel and a locker. You are welcome to bring your own robe and sandals, but robes are also available for rent.

In addition to soaking in the fantastic private or communal pools, you’ll also find a range of other activities available to you at Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort. Between soaking sessions, take a yoga class or get outside for a bit of hiking or biking on the surrounding trails. Spa treatments in their state-of-the-art spa have also resumed, and are a perfect way to end your time at this incredible New Mexico hot spring.

Finally, before returning to the New Mexico Bed and Breakfast for the evening, you can dine at The Artesian, the restaurant at Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs. The seasonal menus are delectable and will perfectly cap off your experience.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.0/5
• Area: 1,100-acre
  
• Admission: $30 per person, Monday – Thursday; $45 per person, Friday – Sunday, plus holidays. Sunset Rate (After 6: 00 PM): $25 per person, Monday – Thursday; $38 per person, Friday – Sunday.
• Opening Hours: Daily 9:30 AM - 10:00 PM
  
• Address: 50 Los Banos Drive, Ojo Caliente, NM 87549

Built in 1880, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a proud remnant of the spirit that won the west. It's a path through steep passes and deep gorges is the stuff of adventure novels--taking passengers on the ride of a lifetime.

The excitement begins when the train departs from the station in Antonito, Colorado, about a 30-minute drive from Alamosa. The imposing peaks of the Rocky Mountains seem to stretch on forever beyond the vast, open San Luis Valley. The train quickly traverses the flat terrain and arrives at a series of hills. It crosses Ferguson's Trestle, named after a man who was hanged there, and then climbs to a lava mesa, a remnant of the mountain's volcanic past. The road winds around wide curves and ascends into the mountains from here. Bears, elk, and deer roam the forests, and hawks and eagles patrol the skies.

The Cumbres and Toltec climbs to 10,015 feet along its route. You'll pass through a light, whispery forest of white-barked, slender aspen trees that turn yellow-gold in the fall. Along the way, you'll pass through Sublette, New Mexico, an abandoned railroad town that still supplies water to the steam locomotives. The train then makes another crossing between Colorado and New Mexico. It does this eleven times in total! Continuing your journey, the train will make its way along the rim of Toltec Gorge and through Mud Tunnel, which is supported by wood beams.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 5.0/5
• Length: 64-miles
  
• Admission: Deluxe Adult - $195/ Deluxe Child (6-12) - $110/ Deluxe Child (2-5) - $55; Coach Adult - $135/ Coach Child (6-12) $80/ Coach Child (2-5) $40
• Opening Hours: Daily 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  
• Address: Antonio, NM

Located 80 miles west of Albuquerque, the El Malpais National Conservation Area is a must-see destination for your day trip to New Mexico. The area was established in 1987 to protect and showcase numerous natural wonders surrounding the Grants Lava Flows.

El Malpais means "the badlands", so named due to the volcanic features such as lava flows, cinder cones, pressure ridges, and complex lava tube cave systems that dominate the landscape. Sandstone bluffs and mesas border the eastern side, providing access to vast wilderness. Elevation in the park ranges from 6500 to 8300 ft. The most recent lava flow emanated from McCarty's Crater within the last 2,000 to 3,000 years, so the park remains a geologically active area.

Included in the area you can admire the La Ventana Natural Arch, numerous dramatic sandstone rock formations, canyons, and cliffs. Your first stop should be the Ranger Station, where you can get information on current conditions and the various hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. Activities in the conservation area include wildlife watching, hiking, walking, cave-exploring, and much more. If you have an RV you can easily spend a night or two in the Joe Skeen Campground.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Area: 1,064 km²
• Admission: Free
• Opening Hours: Daily 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  
• Address: NM-117, Grants, NM 87020