38 trails · 319 trail miles · Best season: March – November (varies by elevation)
New Mexico blends desert landscapes with ancient Pueblo culture. Hikers explore slot canyons, volcanic tent rocks, gypsum dunes at White Sands, and mountain forests where the CDT passes through.
Best Season
March – November (varies by elevation)
Terrain
Desert mesas, volcanic formations, Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Top Trail: New Mexico State Park Falls Trail
New Mexico has 38 hiking trails covering 319 trail miles across 3 national parks and 31 state parks.
The best hiking season in New Mexico is March – November (varies by elevation). The terrain includes desert mesas, volcanic formations, sangre de cristo mountains.
The top hiking destinations in New Mexico include Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Bandelier National Monument, Gila National Forest, White Sands National Park.
Notable long-distance and iconic trails in New Mexico include Continental Divide Trail (NM section, 770 mi), Tent Rocks Trail, Gila Cliff Dwellings Trail.
The highest-rated trail in New Mexico is New Mexico State Park Falls Trail. The average trail difficulty across the state is Moderate.