New Mexico Parks

Visit New Mexico's state parks and see how the Land of Enchantment earned its nickname. New Mexico's many landscapes are on display at its 35 state parks, including deserts, lakes, plateaus and its signature rolling green-gold hills covered in juniper.

If you are stopping at the Carlsbad Caverns, then do not miss the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, a 1.3 mile tour that goes inside an aviary, through desert and into pygmy forest. Living Desert has gray wolves, an increasingly endangered species.

If you are in Albuquerque, then visit Manzano Mountains State Park for a nearby escape into ponderosa pine and alligator juniper. In the winter, cross country skiing and snowshoeing are popular, and during migration seasons, many types of birds of prey are seen here. For a classic traveler's experience, visit Oasis State Park. Located in the middle of cottonwoods and sand dunes, this lake and prairie preserve sustains local wildlife; trout and catfish are stocked in the pond.