Konnichi wa / Great Outdoors

Introduction

If you're looking for a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, then you should visit one of these beautiful national parks run by the National Park Service in New Mexico deep in the American Southwest. You'll find amazing natural beauty that is unmatched by any other state!

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is the United States' third-largest national park. It was established in 1930 and it covers 357,000 acres of land. The caverns were discovered by a Texas cowboy named Jim White who stumbled upon them while looking for lost cattle in 1881. They are known as "the Big Room" which measures 82ft high, 275ft wide and 328 ft long! Be sure to visit on your next trip to New Mexico to enjoy these natural spaces that you can't find anywhere else!

Carlsbad Cavern is one of the most popular national parks in New Mexico. It was a site that has been inhabited by humans for over 11,000 years! The park today features these ancient sites and the cave formations inside them. Numerous caves can be explored with guided tours on any given day - all year long!

White Sands National Park

White Sands National Park (previously White Sands National Monument until December 20, 2019) is one of the United States' most beautiful national parks and is located in New Mexico. It was established in 1944 and covers 275 square miles of land in the Chihuahuan Desert! The highlight of this park is its white sands that were created when a volcano erupted over 70,000 years ago - leaving these gorgeous dunes behind for all to enjoy today. They are composed primarily of gypsum crystals which gives their sand an otherworldly appearance unlike any you've seen before. Definitely worth visiting if you're looking for something different than typical beaches or lakes on your next trip out West!

You can't go to New Mexico without visiting the largest gypsum dune field in North America! This beautiful park offers visitors vast expanses of white sand that stretches for miles. It's a great place to enjoy views of the surrounding mountains, while also hiking and camping on these incredible sands. You'll never want to leave this amazing national monument - it has something for everyone!

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Located in New Mexico, Chaco Culture National Historical Park was established as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Historic Landmark. The park covers over 13000 acres of land - making it the largest archeological preserve in the country! It features some of North America's oldest ruins that date back to around 900 AD. Visitors can explore these ancient structures on their own (including Pueblo Bonito) or with a guided tour led by knowledgeable rangers who will answer all your questions about this fascinating culture.

No discussion about beautiful places to visit would be complete without mentioning Chaco culture. This NM national treasure includes the Chaco Canyon and extensive ruins from an ancient society who lived here around AD 1100-1300. You'll find remnants of buildings, roads, ceremonial kivas (room), petroglyphs, and much more left behind from this advanced civilization at this historic place in New Mexico.

Bandelier National Monument

Bandelier National Monument was established in 1916 to protect the ruins of a Native American civilization that existed here from 11,000-1400 years ago. The monument is located near Los Alamos on the Pajarito Plateau and covers 18 square miles of land! You'll find plenty of trails where you can explore these interesting structures which are scattered throughout the park for all visitors to enjoy. It's also home to some beautiful waterfalls and natural hot springs - making it an excellent place to spend your next vacation with your family.

Tourists flock to Bandelier National Monument each year because they know how amazing this place really is! Visitors will be taken back by its rich history as well as awe-inspiring rock formations which seem like something out of a science fiction movie. This NM national park is a perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of life - as it's home to many quiet areas that allow you to relax, reflect, or explore on your own.

After exploring this ancient civilization which existed in New Mexico over 1000 years ago, visitors will have learned something new about our country's history! It has since become one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of America because everyone wants a glimpse at these ruins before they crumble away into nothingness.

This national monument is one of the few that was created to protect a single ancestral puebloan cliff dwelling from ancient Native Americans. The site features 12 prehistoric villages with well-preserved masonry and walls, as well as incredible views of the surrounding forest and mountainsides in this beautiful park!

You will find more than 500 different species of wildlife here - including bears, mountain lions, coyotes, rabbits and many others! Visitors can explore some amazing ruins on their own or go for organized tours led by knowledgeable guides who love sharing about these historic sites. You'll never want to leave once you see all there is to offer at Bandelier National Monument!

Petroglyph National Monument

In this national monument, you will find one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America! These petroglyphs were made by Native American tribes who lived here for centuries before European settlers. These archaeological sites are considered sacred and visitors must respect their importance to these communities so that others may enjoy them as well. Definitely worth a stop on your next trip out West - it's an experience unlike any other!

You'll be able to see ancient drawings carved into stone which date back between 500-1500 AD near Albuquerque, New Mexico. This park is located just outside the city and features over 2500 different images from pottery designs to animal figures - some which have not been seen anywhere else in North America! You can also learn about how the tribes who made these carvings lived and the cultures that still exist today.

You may be wondering what you can do at this national monument for a few hours - well, there's plenty of hiking trails to explore as well as the Piedras Marcadas Canyon, Rinconada Canyon, and Boca Negra Canyon! You'll also find some great picnic spots which overlook nearby mountains if you're looking for something more low-key. Just remember: pets are not allowed here, so leave your furry friends behind when exploring this lovely park in New Mexico!

Valles Caldera National Preserve

The Valles Caldera National Preserve is a special place that offers visitors the opportunity to explore and reconnect with nature. You'll find some of the most diverse ecosystems in North America here, as well as amazing views from meadows, steep-sided canyons and more! Visitors will enjoy camping on beautiful ground or taking part in one of many outdoor activities - including rock climbing, hiking, horseback riding and much more. It's an experience you won't forget anytime soon!

El Malpais National Monument

El Malpais National Monument is a designated wilderness area, which includes over 200,000 acres of land. You'll find volcanic features such as lava flows and cinder cones in this unique park - visitors can explore around on their own or go with an experienced guide to take you further out onto these amazing trails!

Capulin Volcano National Monument

Capulin Volcano National Monument is a designated wilderness area that exists due to a volcanic eruption that occurred between 55,000 to62,000 years ago; this park offers visitors the opportunity to explore and reconnect with nature. You'll find some of the most diverse ecosystems in North America here (not to mention volcanic rock), as well as amazing views from meadows, steep-sided canyons and more! Visitors will enjoy camping on beautiful ground or taking part in one of many outdoor activities - including rock climbing, hiking, horseback riding and much more. It's an experience you won't forget anytime soon!

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is a designated wilderness area that offers visitors the opportunity to explore and reconnect with nature. You'll find some of the most diverse ecosystems in North America here, as well as amazing views from meadows, steep-sided canyons and more! Visitors will enjoy camping on beautiful ground or taking part in one of many outdoor activities - including rock climbing, hiking, horseback riding and much more. It's an experience you won't forget anytime soon!

Lincoln National Forest

If you're looking to experience some of the most beautiful national parks in New Mexico, then you should visit Lincoln National Forest! You'll find a diverse landscape with many different travels and trails that are great for exploring. The forest contains more than 500 lakes - including the largest man-made lake in America: Elephant Butte Lake. Visitors will also enjoy visiting all sorts of waterfalls along these amazing paths as well!

Fort Union National Monument

This national monument is the perfect place for history buffs! The visitor center offers tours of an original military fort from 1851, as well as a replica trading post. In addition to these sites, visitors will also enjoy exploring the grounds and seeing where over 800 travelers crossed the Oregon Trail along this historic route - it's one of many amazing places in New Mexico that you need to visit on your next adventure!

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is a designated wilderness area that offers visitors the opportunity to explore and reconnect with nature. You'll find some of the most diverse ecosystems in North America here, as well as amazing views from meadows, steep-sided canyons and more! Visitors will enjoy camping on beautiful ground or taking part in one of many outdoor activities - including rock climbing, hiking, horseback riding and much more. It's an experience you won't forget anytime soon!

Pecos National Historical Park

Pecos National Historical Park is a designated wilderness area just outside of Santa Fe that offers visitors the opportunity to explore and reconnect with nature. You'll find some of the most diverse ecosystems in North America here, as well as amazing views from meadows, steep-sided canyons and more! Visitors will enjoy camping on beautiful ground or taking part in one of many outdoor activities - including rock climbing, hiking, horseback riding and much more. It's an experience you won't forget anytime soon!

Aztec Ruins National Monument

Aztec Ruins National Monument is a designated wilderness area that offers visitors the opportunity to explore and reconnect with nature. You'll find some of the most diverse ecosystems in North America here, as well as amazing views from meadows, steep-sided canyons and more! Visitors will enjoy camping on beautiful ground or taking part in one of many outdoor activities - including rock climbing, hiking, horseback riding and much more. It's an experience you won't forget anytime soon!

El Morro National Monument

El Morro National Monument is a designated wilderness area that offers visitors the opportunity to explore and reconnect with nature. You'll find some of the most diverse ecosystems in North America here, as well as amazing views from meadows, steep-sided canyons and more! Visitors will enjoy camping on beautiful ground or taking part in one of many outdoor activities - including rock climbing, hiking, horseback riding and much more. It's an experience you won't forget anytime soon!

La Cueva Pintada (painted cave)

This national monument is the perfect place for history buffs! The visitor center offers tours of an original fort from 1851, as well as a replica trading post. In addition to these sites, visitors will also enjoy exploring the grounds and seeing where over 800 travelers crossed the Oregon Trail along this historic route - it's one of many amazing places in New Mexico that you need to visit on your next adventure!

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is a designated wilderness area that offers visitors the opportunity to explore and reconnect with nature. You'll find some of the most diverse ecosystems in North America here, as well as amazing views from meadows, steep-sided canyons and more! Visitors will enjoy camping on beautiful ground or taking part in one of many outdoor activities - including rock climbing, hiking, horseback riding and much more. It's an experience you won't forget anytime soon!

Final Thoughts on National Parks in New Mexico

“The mountains are calling and I must go.”

— John Muir

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Konnichi wa / Great Outdoors

July 04, 2021 — Konnichi wa