Outdoor Recreation on the Santa Fe Trail
Raton Golf Course photo by Laura L. Brewer
- | Biking | Boating | Cattle Ranch Vacations | Fishing, Camping, Hiking |
- | Golfing | Historical Re-enactments |Horseback Riding |
- | Hunting/Guide Services | Shooting |
Visitors to New Mexico have ample opportunity to enjoy many different outdoor activities such as fishing, camping and hiking. Area lakes offer some of the best fishing for bass and trout as well as pike and others. Most of the state and local parks listed below offer excellent hiking and walking paths, many guided tours are available as well.
Or, if your passion is golf, plan to enjoy some of the finest, most challenging courses along the Santa Fe Trail in Clayton, Raton and Las Vegas. With, of course, many tour quality courses in Santa Fe.
Be sure to check back frequently as this website is continually updated and other outdoor opportunities that are available along the Santa Fe Trail in New Mexico will be added.
- Cattle Ranch Vacations -
V7 RANCH CO.
Enjoy the old, historic Santa Fe Trail while herding cattle, eating chuck wagon meals around a campfire and listening to the lonely sound of the coyote during an unforgetable vacation in New Mexico.
- Biking -
SUGARITE CANYON STATE PARK
The park, near the north end of secluded Sugarite Canyon, contains historic exhibits, lakes, campsites and hiking trails.
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- Boating -
STORRIE LAKE STATE PARK
This treeless 1,200 acre lake, (established in 1960), a mecca for windsurfers from May through October, attracts water skiers, jet skiers, trout fishermen and RV campers. There are also swimming, boating and winter sports available.
SUGARITE CANYON STATE PARK
The park, near the north end of secluded Sugarite Canyon, contains historic exhibits, lakes, campsites and hiking trails.
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- Fishing, Camping, Hiking -
CANADIAN RIVER CANYON
In the bottom of the Canadian River Canyon are the remains of a stone mansion, cisterns and bunk houses of rancher Melvin W. Mills.
CHARETTE LAKES
Located in Mora County, Charette Lakes was formed from the center of a volcano. The area offers fishing and camping.
CIMARRON CANYON STATE PARK
Part of the stunningly beautiful 33,000 acre Colin Neblett Wildlife Area, the Palisades of the Cimarron are a popular photo spot within the canyon.
CLAYTON LAKE STATE PARK
Located in Union County, the Clayton Lake State Park offers fishing and camping. Visitors can visit one of the largest areas of preserved dinosaur tracks nearby.
GALLINAS CANYON CAMPGROUND COMPLEX
Santa Fe Trail traveler Giovanni Maria Augustini, an Italian holy man, lived in a cave near its summit from 1863-1866.
GALLINAS RIVER
The Gallinas, a dependable water source, enabled the early Spanish settlement of Las Vegas to flourish.
GOAT HILL OVERLOOK
The overlook offers a superlative panorama of the volcanic peaks 8720' high Sierra Grande, 7761' high Eagle Tail Peak and 7,533' high Red River Peak.
MAXWELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
This 3,270-acre wildlife refuge has a natural alkaline playa lake for Canadian geese and other water fowl.
NRA WHITTINGTON CENTER
Founded in 1973, the 33,000-acre facility is the largest and most complete shooting and hunting complex in the world.
PECOS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
The 5,660-acre National Historic Park's centerpieces are the ruins of a 14th century Indian pueblo and two 17th century Franciscan missions.
PECOS RIVER CAMPGROUND COMPLEX
Four public campgrounds at 7,400'-8,300' in elevation with 16 RV campsites at the closest, Field Tract.
PECOS WILDERNESS
Designated in 1933, this 223,333-acre wilderness cradles the headwaters of the Pecos River.
SANTA FE NATIONAL FOREST
The coniferous Santa Fe National Forest blankets the S end of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
STORRIE LAKE STATE PARK
This treeless 1,200 acre lake, (established in 1960), a mecca for windsurfers from May through October, attracts water skiers, jet skiers, trout fishermen and RV campers. There are also swimming, boating and winter sports available.
SUGARITE CANYON STATE PARK
The park, near the north end of secluded Sugarite Canyon, contains historic exhibits, lakes, campsites and hiking trails.
TESUQUE CAMPGROUND COMPLEX
Public recreation on United State Forest Service Scenic Byway only a few mi. NE of Santa Fe Plaza. Horseback riding, skiing nearby.
VILLANUEVA STATE PARK
Hidden among pinon and juniper-studded hills and red and yellow sandstone cliffs, and hugging the cottonwood-shaded east bank of the trout-stocked Pecos River.
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- Golfing -
RATON COUNTRY CLUB AND GOLF COURSE
At the foothills of the Rocky Mountains this course offers incredible views of not only the landscape, but also of the herds of deer, wild turkey, foxes and the occasional bear.
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- Historical Re-enactments -
NRA WHITTINGTON CENTER
Founded in 1973, the 33,000-acre facility is the largest and most complete shooting and hunting complex in the world.
SANTA FE TRAIL RENDEZVOUS
300 reenactors participate in a living-history rendezvous of pre-1840's clad mountain men with a black-powder shoot, hatchet throw, and teepee village.
V7 RANCH
See wagon tracks of the old Santa Fe Trail and be transported back in time as you imagine the conestoga wagons creaking along the trail toward their destination.
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- Horseback Riding -
NRA WHITTINGTON CENTER
Founded in 1973, the 33,000-acre facility is the largest and most complete shooting and hunting complex in the world.
TESUQUE CAMPGROUND COMPLEX
Public recreation on United State Forest Service Scenic Byway only a few mi. NE of Santa Fe Plaza. Horseback riding, skiing nearby.
V7 RANCH
See wagon tracks of the old Santa Fe Trail and be transported back in time as you imagine the conestoga wagons creaking along the trail toward their destination.
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- Hunting/Guide Service -
NRA WHITTINGTON CENTER
Founded in 1973, the 33,000-acre facility is the largest and most complete shooting and hunting complex in the world.
V7 RANCH
See wagon tracks of the old Santa Fe Trail and be transported back in time as you imagine the conestoga wagons creaking along the trail toward their destination.
Back to Top
- Shooting -
NRA WHITTINGTON CENTER
Founded in 1973, the 33,000-acre facility is the largest and most complete shooting and hunting complex in the world.
