New Mexico’s National Parks and Monuments
From volcanic fields to limestone bluffs and dunes of gypsum, the landscape of New Mexico’s National Parks is extremely diverse. You can explore Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings to learn more about the history and lifestyle lived by the inhabitants, or head to a historic fort or mission to experience more recent historical sites. All of these National Parks are an amazing way to immerse yourself in the history and landscape of the Land of Enchantment!
Iconic National Parks
- White Sands National Park: Endless white dunes stretch across the horizon at White Sands, creating one of the most photographed landscapes in the world. Slide down massive gypsum hills or bring your camera and capture the soft light of a New Mexico sunrise or sunset. Winter brings cooler days and fewer crowds, making it an excellent time to hike and explore this desert park.
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Beneath the desert lies Carlsbad Caverns, a network of limestone chambers filled with dramatic stalactites and stalagmites. Visitors can wander through the Big Room on a self-guided walk or join a ranger for deeper cave explorations. In summer, the bat flight program turns the evening sky into a living spectacle as thousands of bats stream from the cave’s entrance!
- Manhattan Project National Historical Park: In Los Alamos, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park highlights the scientific breakthroughs that reshaped the modern world. Exhibits and tours provide context on both the innovations and the consequences of the atomic age, and how New Mexico became the cradle for scientific discoveries in the 20th century.
Ancient Pueblos & Cliff Dwellings
- Bandelier National Monument: Carved into soft volcanic tuff, the cliff dwellings at Bandelier reveal how ancestral Puebloans lived hundreds of years ago. Trails wind through petroglyphs, ceremonial kivas, and cliffside homes, while ladders climb to the dramatic Alcove House (currently closed for repairs). For many, it’s a rare chance to connect with the artistry and resilience of the region’s first inhabitants.
- Chaco Culture National Historical Park: Chaco Canyon is one of the most significant archaeological sites in North America. Massive stone great-houses, aligned with celestial events, speak to the ingenuity of the Chacoan people. Visitors can join ranger-led hikes or attend evening astronomy programs, where the night skies show the same patterns studied by Chaco’s builders over one thousand years ago!
- Pecos National Historical Park: Near Santa Fe, Pecos tells the layered story of Indigenous pueblos, Spanish colonists, and Civil War battles. The mission church ruins and battlefield trails make it one of the most diverse historic sites in the state.
Volcanic Landscapes & Geologic Wonders
- Capulin Volcano National Monument: Rising above the northeastern plains, Capulin is a near-perfect volcanic cone. A paved road leads to the rim, where a short walk reveals sweeping views into the crater and across four states. It’s a striking reminder of the fiery forces that shaped our current landscape.
- El Malpais National Monument: El Malpais, or “the badlands,” is a rugged mix of lava flows, sandstone cliffs, and hidden cave networks. Hikers can explore the rough black terrain, while cavers (with permits) can descend into several lava tubes that stay icy even in summer. At night, the dark skies above El Malpais are among the clearest in the Southwest.
- Valles Caldera National Preserve: Once a massive volcanic eruption, the Valles Caldera is now a sweeping grassland ringed by forested peaks near Jemez Springs. Wildlife enthusiasts come for elk herds, while hikers and anglers enjoy trails and streams inside the crater’s rim.
Historic Trails & Petroglyph Sites
Petroglyph National Monument: Along the volcanic rocks west of Albuquerque, more than 20,000 images tell stories carved into stone. Some petroglyphs date back centuries, while others were made much more recently, continuing traditions that link past and present. Trails of varying length and difficulty make this site accessible for most visitors.
Historic New Mexico Trails
At these three historic trails, visitors can explore important sites, interpretive centers, architecture, and markers that recall the region’s role in shaping the American West.
More to See: New Mexico’s National Monuments
- Prehistoric Trackways National Monument: This monument preserves fossilized footprints and trackways dating back 280 million years.
- Aztec Ruins National Monument: In the town of Aztec, this site preserves a 900-year-old Ancestral Pueblo great house with original masonry walls still standing.
- Fort Union National Monument: Once the largest U.S. military post in the Southwest, Fort Union near Watrous guarded trade routes along the Santa Fe Trail.
- Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument: At Mountainair, three separate mission sites stand as reminders of the encounters between Puebloan communities and Spanish missionaries.
- Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument: Here, trails climb into canyons filled with wildflowers, petroglyphs, and World War II–era history.
Visit Our National Parks and Monuments Virtually
Looking to explore New Mexico’s National Parks, but don’t have the time? Explore our series of virtual tours, which chronicle the features and landscapes of some of our National Parks and Monuments.
Click through each informational highlight and navigate through the environment with these interactive presentations.
