Don't just stay in your car on a trip through New Mexico along Route 66. From iconic mesas, volcanic landscapes, rugged mountains, ancient dwellings, and refreshing lakes, the Land of Enchantment delivers scenic adventures around every bend. Here are 23 places to stop and explore along the way!
Tucumcari Mountain
Starting on Route 66 in eastern New Mexico, head to Tucumcari Mountain, one of New Mexico's most recognizable natural formations. You'll recognize it as its two mesas on top of each other...and because it stands at 4,951 feet! Fun fact: Tucumcari Mountain was the inspiration for the Radiator Springs mesa in the Disney film, "Cars." There are three trails in the area, varying in difficulty from easy to moderate. Yellow Trail, 1.2 miles, will give you the most elevation gain and great views of Tucumcari Mountain.
See MoreBlue Hole
Just over an hour west of Tucumcari on Route 66, stop at this crystal-clear swimming hole in Santa Rosa to cool off. With a consistently cool temperature of 62 degrees, it's refreshing on a hot day! The Blue Hole, once known as Blue Lake, is part of a system of seven lakes connected by water underground. The spring has a visibility of 100 feet, which is why it attracts scuba divers, as well. Note: Divers must purchase a permit at the Blue Hole Center or the Blue Hole Dive Shop. 🤿
See MoreSanta Rosa Lake State Park
Just north of the Blue Hole, the reservoir at Santa Rosa Lake State Park offers biking, hiking, boating, fishing, horseback riding, and more! You can even camp at the Los Tanos Campground.
See MoreVillanueva State Park
If you opt to head north for the original Route 66 loop through Santa Fe, Villanueva State Park is a great place to get out of the car and into nature. The park sits between sandstone bluffs and along the Pecos River. Cottonwood trees provide much-needed shade and are especially beautiful in the fall. Visitors can camp, kayak, fish, hike, and more here. The area is great for bird-watching and spotting wildlife, including bobcats, javelina, bats, and more than 300 species of butterflies!
See MoreLas Vegas National Wildlife Refuge
If you're up for an even bigger detour, this wildlife refuge featuring rolling prairies just below the Sangre de Cristo Mountains is worth a visit. You can view a wide variety of wildlife and migratory birds here! Depending on the season, you may see burrowing owls, Rocky Mountain elk, black-tailed prairie dogs, sandhill cranes, and bald and golden eagles. 🦅
See MorePecos National Historical Park
Continuing west along the historic portion of Route 66, be sure to stop at Pecos National Historic Park, which is situated between the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Glorieta Mesa. This was once the gateway to the Southwest for hunters, traders, missionaries, ranchers, and other travelers. There are three unique trails to explore at Pecos. The Ancestral Sites Trail features historic sites of the Pecos Pueblo. The Glorieta Battlefield Trail offers a peek into what the Civil War was like in New Mexico. The South Pasture Loop, once a ranching road, will give you stunning views of the Pecos River, Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and the Glorieta Mesa.
See MoreSangre de Cristo Mountains
If you're up for a scenic Route 66 detour, head to the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains! You'll find hiking trails like the Winsor Trail, just outside of Santa Fe, that lead to breathtaking alpine vistas and views of high-desert wildlife.
See MoreKasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
This volcanic geological formation and its incredible cone-shaped tent rocks towering up to 90 feet should not be missed on any visit to New Mexico. There are a few different trails that take you through the monument, however, the more difficult Canyon Trail also gives you stunning views of the Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, and Sandia mountains, as well as the Rio Grande Valley.
Important note: To visit this monument, you must first make a reservation from the Bureau of Land Management and purchase a Cochiti Pueblo Tribal Access Pass. All visitors must check in at the Cochiti Visitor Center before entering the monument.
See MoreBalloon Fiesta Park
Located just off Historic Route 66 National Scenic Byway, Balloon Fiesta Park is a must-visit during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which occurs every October. For 9 days, hundreds of hot air balloons rise from this park at dawn and then dot the sky like colorful exclamation points. The festival also includes plenty of things to do on the ground, including drone and fireworks shows, car shows, chainsaw carving, and lots more. You can purchase tickets for the festival and reserve hot air balloon rides at balloonfiesta.com.
If you aren't visiting during the festival, the park features a Golf Center where you can practice your swing while enjoying majestic views, the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, and plenty of trails where you can see native plants and birds.
See MoreSandia Peak Tramway
You'll want to take a little side trip to ride the longest aerial tram in the Americas! You can take the tram to the top (10,378 feet!) for breathtaking views and access to hiking in the Sandia Mountains. Sunset is the best time to go for views; however, be prepared for it to be extra busy.
See MoreRio Grande Nature Center State Park
Stop here to explore this peaceful urban oasis along the Rio Grande. There's a large pond, trails, wildlife viewing blinds, picnic areas, a pollinator garden, and over 300 species of birds to look for! You can also stop in the Visitor Center to see exhibits, support the park by making a purchase in the Nature Shop, or join one of the Nature Walks, which occur every second Saturday and are led by volunteer naturalists. Bird Walks are on Saturdays and Sundays year-round. Keep an eye out for New Mexico's state bird, the Greater Roadrunner!
See MorePetroglyph National Monument
Continuing through Albuquerque, a must-stop is Petroglyph National Monument, one of the largest petroglyph sites in the country and in North America! There are several areas to explore where you can view hundreds of these symbols carved into the rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers as much as 700 years ago.
There are three short trails in the Boca Negra Canyon area, and as many as 100 petroglyphs to see. And it'll only take you about an hour to see it all!
In Rinconada Canyon, there is only a single moderately difficult trail, but up to 300 prehistoric and historic petroglyphs! Bring binoculars!
The Piedras Marcadas Canyon has two trails to explore: The Petroglyph Trail features up to 400 petroglyphs while the North Rim Trail offers beautiful views of the area.
See MoreABQ BioPark Zoo
The ABQ BioPark is a living environmental park located in Albuquerque that serves as a refuge for thousands of animals and plants. There are four parks: the zoo, an aquarium, a botanical garden, and Tingley Beach.
The zoo is home to many vulnerable and endangered species of birds and animals, including the jaguar, Sumatran orangutan, the Asian elephant, Komodo dragon, the Andean condor, and many more.
See MoreABQ BioPark Aquarium
Like the zoo, the ABQ BioPark Aquarium is home to many threatened animals, including the Hawksbill Sea Turtle, stingrays, and several vulnerable species of shark.
See MoreABQ BioPark - Botanic Garden
The Botanic Garden, spread across 32 acres, features plants from both the Southwest and from around the world. The ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden was named by the Travel Channel as one of the top 12 botanical gardens in the United States. Don't leave without checking out the BUGarium—one of the best bug and arthropod exhibits in the country. 🐛
See MoreTingley Beach
Tingley Beach, adjacent to the Rio Grande Bosque, is part of the ABQ BioPark and features fishing ponds open to the public. Note: You must have a New Mexico fishing license to fish at Tingley Beach.
See MoreMount Taylor
Continuing on I-40 along Route 66, just northeast of Grants, is Mount Taylor, a dormant stratovolcano located in New Mexico's San Mateo Mountains. Mount Taylor has an elevation of almost 12,000 feet and is visible from as far as 100 miles away! The mountain has served as a pilgrimage site for up to 30 Native American tribes and is the primary water source for Acoma Sky City, one of the oldest inhabited communities in the country. The Gooseberry Springs Trail is the most popular hiking route in the area. It's about 3-4 miles with an elevation gain of 2,000 feet and is also popular with mountain bikers.
See MoreEl Malpais National Monument
Ever wanted to hike through an ancient lava landscape? The El Malpais National Monument to the south of Grants lets you explore some very unique geological features, including lava flows, cinder cones, lava tube caves, sandstone bluffs, and the beautiful La Ventana Arch. There are many hikes of varying difficulty to choose from, and more than 100 miles of trail to explore. Here are a few of the more popular ones: the La Ventana Arch Trail is short and easy, and the Narrows Rim Trail is more challenging. The Zuni-Acoma trail is a 7.5-mile trek but features panoramic views of the area, sandstone cliffs, and the ancient lava flows. The El Calderon area features lava tubes and caves, cinder cones, flows, and Bat Cave, where Mexican free-tailed bats fly out of on warm summer nights. Take a peek at the different trails before you go, so you can decide what you want to see!
Note:The Lava Tubes in El Malpais are closed yearly from Nov. 1 to April 30 to protect hibernating bats.
See MoreSandstone Bluffs
Want to get an incredible view of El Malpais National Monument's lava flows and the dormant Mount Taylor volcano in one place? A quick hike to the top of these bluffs gives you panoramic views! Go in the morning or evening to beat the midday heat.
See MoreBluewater Lake State Park
Stop by this serene and scenic lake 25 miles west of Grants on Route 66 for a day of relaxing on the shore, kayaking, horseback riding, or hiking. This is also a popular fishing lake, especially for tiger muskie! Want to stay a while? There are campsites, boat docks, picnic shelters, and more.
See MoreMcKinley County Mesas Viewpoint
This is a quick Route 66 stop with stunning views of the mesas—magical at sunset! 🌅
See MoreRed Rock Park
Just outside of the town of Gallup, it's worth taking a detour off of the official Route 66 to explore the striking red sandstone formations at Red Rock Park. The 640-acre park features stunning cliffs formed hundreds of millions of years ago during the Mesozoic Era (aka the Age of Dinosaurs). There are two hiking trails to explore for epic views of the cliffs, as well as Pyramid Rock and Church Rock. Church Rock Trail is just over 2 miles out-and-back that takes you up the sandstone spires and above 7,000 feet. Pyramid Rock Trail is also an out-and-back trip that is nearly 3.5 miles. You can climb to the park's highest point (Pyramid Rock), over 7,400 feet. Take a moment to soak in the panoramic views at the top!
In addition to the hiking trails, Red Rock Park has a convention center, a museum, campgrounds, and a rodeo arena.
See MorePyramid Rock
Ready for some breathtaking views? Hike to the top of Pyramid Rock and take in panoramic views of Gallup, Fort Wingate's historic bunkers, the Zuni Mountains, and if it's clear, Mount Taylor's silhouette. Find the Pyramid Rock trailhead at Red Rock Park just outside Gallup.
See MoreCross of the Martyrs
Bonus: We couldn't leave out this place for a sunset view of Santa Fe!
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