New Mexico

Looking for the best photography in New Mexico? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around New Mexico. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Photography Spots in and near New Mexico

  • Sandia Park, New Mexico

    Hike the 10K Loop

    5.2 mi / 700 ft gain
    10K trailhead springs from it a whole handful of beautiful trails.  With access to a rocky path that leads off into raw wilderness, a clean and smooth walking, hiking, and mountain biking trail covered by tall pine canopy, or a wide cut service road ideal for easy strolls, you have plenty of opti...
    Read more
  • Nageezi, New Mexico

    Hike the Pueblo Alto Trail

    4.0
    5.1 mi / 270 ft gain
    Starting on the floor of the San Juan Basin and behind Pueblo Bonito, follow the signs up a twisty and dusty path that leads to a narrow gap between a very large boulder and the mesa wall. After an easy scramble through the gap, you will gain the top of the mesa. Once on top, follow the sporadic ...
    Read more
  • Catron County, New Mexico

    Camp at the Cosmic Campground

    Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary (CCIDSS) is the first International Dark Sky Sanctuary located on National Forest System lands and also in North America.  Situated on the western edge of the Gila National Forest & Wilderness the Cosmic Campground offers a 360-degree, unobst...
    Read more
  • Ramah, New Mexico

    Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary

    5.0
    1 mi
    Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary is an incredible place that has 3 main focuses: rescue, sanctuary and care, and education. It's important to keep these in mind when visiting, but also when you're exploring elsewhere. As WSWS is a bit far from your typical town, I recommend preparing in advance if you...
    Read more
  • 5 Reyna Road, New Mexico

    Black Rock Hot Springs

    0.3 mi / 68 ft gain
    At the last switchback on Country Road B-007, is where the trailhead is located. if you've gone to the lowest point possible within the canyon, right next to the river, you have gone too far and need to turn around to the last switchback. it is an easy .3 Mile trail with a 68 foot elevation drop/...
    Read more
  • Catron County, New Mexico

    Hike to Jordan Hot Springs via Little Bear Canyon Trail

    13.5 mi / 1500 ft gain
    The Gila Wilderness is the oldest wilderness area in The United States, and Jordan Hot Springs rests right in the heart of Canyon of the Middle Fork of the Gila River, along a stretch of the Continental Divide Trail and some 7 miles from the nearest road. The most direct road by either car or tra...
    Read more
  • Tularosa, New Mexico

    Alkali Flat Loop

    4.7
    4.81 mi / 82 ft gain
    From the US 70 pull into the White Sands Visitor Center. Then continue along Dunes Drive. Eventually, Dunes Drive turns into Loop Drive. At the end of this road, you will find the Alkali Flat trailhead.  One of the most beautiful and potentially disorienting 5-mile round-trip treks through the d...
    Read more
  • El Prado, New Mexico

    Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

    4.6
    Completed in 1965, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is the seventh highest bridge in the United States. The design is a steel deck arch bridge than spans 1280 feet and sits 565 feet high. The bridge has sidewalks and viewpoints of the gorge on each side with parking at the Rio Grande Gorge Rest Area p...
    Read more
  • Albuquerque, New Mexico

    Photograph the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

    5.0
    This is one of the most photographed festivals in the world. Professionals and amateurs gather here each year to take millions of photos, and your goal (albeit a difficult one) is to capture a unique perspective at this event. Something that conveys the particular emotion of what the balloon fest...
    Read more
  • Santa Fe, New Mexico

    Stay in the Hyde State Park Yurts

    Hyde Memorial State Park yurts are nestled high in the Sangre de Cristo mountains amongst the ponderosa pines, and sleep six and provide a modern setting with roots in ancient tradition. Their location in the State Park provide easy access to park's vast trail system.Each bed has  an encapsulated...
    Read more
  • Carlsbad, New Mexico

    Tour the Left Hand Tunnel in the Carlsbad Caverns

    The Carlsbad Caverns have a self-guided tour sections and a handful of guided tours you have to pay extra for.  For $7 for adults and $3.50 for children, a park ranger puts on an act and even dresses the part of the late Jim White, founder of the Carlsbad Caverns, while taking you on an adventure...
    Read more
  • Albuquerque, New Mexico

    Sandia Peak

    4.5
    / 10378 ft gain
    Start at the Sandia Mountain base terminal where you can purchase your tickets to ride the tram (Tip: If you make reservations at the peaks restaurant, High Finance, you can get a discount on your ticket). Enjoy the 15 minute ride to the peak while taking in beautiful city views of Albuquerque as...
    Read more
  • Albuquerque, New Mexico

    Hike the Piedra Lisa Trail

    5.0
    4.2 mi / 1000 ft gain
    Up near the iconic La Luz Trailhead is a smaller and somewhat hidden trail a little farther up the road, Piedra Lisa Trail.  This short two mile climb to the ridge that divides the view of Albuquerque and Placitas tops out at a rocky outcrop that provides simply stellar views of the city and to t...
    Read more
  • Farmington, New Mexico

    Explore Bisti Badlands/De-Na-Zin Wilderness

    There are no trails or marked vista points in the wilderness so you're free to explore in any direction you please though the odds of stumbling upon anything interesting are fairly slim if you're just wandering around aimlessly. Most visitors heading to Bisti are usually on the hunt for the infam...
    Read more
  • Ship Rock, New Mexico

    Explore Shiprock

    5.0
    Situated on the border of Arizona and New Mexico is an ancient throat of a volcano. You can see Shiprock for miles, as you approach the quiet New Mexico town. It's jagged edges and large spine, that extends to the South, cut straight out of vast flat landscape that surrounds it. You cannot miss i...
    Read more
  • Salado Canyon Trail, New Mexico

    Hike the Salado Canyon Trail

    3.4 mi / 307 ft gain
    Fairly easy trail on an old railroad bed. The trail is not steep and has nice scenery. The waterfall is sall but scenic, it is nice to see soe running water in the desert.
    Read more