Getting up-close-and-personal with the great outdoors is as simple as strapping on a backpack and taking a walk. Camping adds a bit of weight to the journey—tent, food, and water are important carry-alongs—but once you pitch your tent and rest in the silence and beauty of the wilderness you’ll be glad you brought it all.
A visit to this park is a multi-dimensional backpacking experience. In addition to the trails accessed from the park, Cimarron is also part of the 30,000-acre Colin Neblett Wildlife Management Area which not only has miles of trails but is also the largest wildlife area in the state. Cimarron Canyon is an eight-mile stretch of spectacular cliffs, waterfalls, clear running creeks, fascinating geology, and mag-nificent wildlife viewing opportunities. Clear Creek Trail is about seven miles round-trip along the Cimarron River. The wildlife area is rugged and remote so fill your pack with enough food and water. Camping available in either area.
The Santa Fe National Forest is an extensive landscape of mountain streams and lakes, woodland wonders, wildlife spotting, cultural and historic sites, and miles of trails to explore. The East Fork Trail runs for about 10 miles through the Forest. The section from Battleship Rock to Jemez Falls and McCauley Hot Springs covers about half of it. It begins under the shadow of the enormous basalt cliff known as Battleship Rock and winds its way up through a rocky climb to McCauley Hot Springs, where the 90-degree water is surprisingly refreshing. The climb to Jemez Falls, the highest in the Jemez Mountains, is a steady uphill trek but well worth the effort. Camping at Jemez Falls on a first-come first-served basis.
There’s a lot to see in the 3.3 million acres of this forest and hundreds of miles of trails to explore. Traversing the landscape takes you through deep canyons across semi-desert terrains, up rugged mountains and mesas. Along the way, the forest world unfolds with a spread of trees that include ponderosa pine, sycamore, walnut, maple, ash, cottonwood, alder, willow, mesquite, and Apace and Chihuahua pine. Wildlife is extensive—you might see a bobcat or cougar, different species of deer, an occasional bear, and all manner of smaller mammals, birds, and reptiles. Discoveries also include hot springs, cliff dwellings, and old small towns. There are 40 campgrounds scattered around the forest.
You won’t see a lot of people in this remote section of the San Mateo Mountains. Its 18,000 acres promise a lot of adventurous solitude, though. The terrain is rough and rugged, marked trails sparse, but the land is untouched by visitors. Hot and dry in summer, beautiful in spring wildflower bloom, with a forest of piñon and juniper and pine, spruce and fir that is so silent you might just want to stay. Elevation range goes from 6,800 to 10,100 feet—at the top of Mount Withington. There are five small campgrounds in the area.
A trek through this forest could take you across three states, but if you just wanted to stay in New Mexico, there’s still more than a million and a half acres to explore. From Chihuahuan desert to a grassy prairie to a mountain forest, a trek through any part is incredible. You might see grazing herds of pronghorn deer or elk, hawks and other birds of prey soaring above, or an occasional bear or cougar. There’s an area in the forest that is home to hundreds of rare plants and animal species…you just can’t predict what you might see so keep your eyes open. Miles of trails, unmatched diversity, and a cultural history that dates back thousands of years are the rewards of time spent here. There are many campgrounds, both primitive and those with amenities.
