This waterfall blew my mind! I didn't know that such a large waterfall existed in NM! I'm so glad…read morewe hiked it, and I'll be back! The water was pretty frigid, but still fun!

Stupid ranger Lady got mad because we drove over the speed bump at 10mph and would let us in. We…read moredrove 3 hours just to have this stupid bitch turn us away because she was on a power trip, i also think it had something to do with my caucasian ethnicity! She treated me less than because of my ethnicity! someone need to take this ladies job immediately!

When I was searching for things to do in Santa Fe I stumbled upon this park. I was thinking to…read moremyself that it looked kind of boring, but it turned out to be a really cool place. Admission is only $3 per person. They give you a pamphlet/laminated book type thing and you follow the trail and read the information as you go. They did an excellent job of describing life at the pueblo and it made the trip super interesting. There is a lot of opportunity for great photos. Dogs are allowed throughout the park as long as they are leashed and picked-up after. They had a movie in the visitor center, which we watched after our walk, it was informative, but not necessary.

Nice NPS site. Well designed walking path through ruins. Trail guide is informative. You can…read moredrop into the kivas, which my kids thought was fun. Friendly rangers. Just not a lot of unique content. Would stop by if in area but probably not a facility to go out of your way to visit.

I didn't grow up in a Plaza state, but now that I've lived in one for the better part of 20 years,…read moreI've come to really appreciate them. From the sprawling square in Santa Fe to the more slight but still bustling Old Town plaza in Albuquerque, to this well-manicured and often active center of the original Las Vegas, plazas are places I've kicked back with friends, watched great local music and performance, and taken my kids during the holidays. After some interweb searching, I've learned a little more about the origins of these green plots, which generally began in Spain and -- surprise surprise -- were yet another import of the culture that eventually made it to the territory now called New Mexico. Here's a lil' thang I found online: "The Plaza Mayor was traditionally the place where the Town Hall was located, and the centre of the town. It was the site for the market, for public justice, for the celebration of solemn events, festive occasions and all kinds of traditional spectacles: comedies, bullfights, tournaments, games... Nowadays you will see that they continue to be the 'heart' of a town, the ideal place to get together, take a stroll, shop, eat or have a coffee." La Plaza Vieja may not host bullfights, but it's very busy on summer weekends. It's also loaded with food, shopping and coffee. I was particularly taken by both statues on the lawn, well worth a look.

Atalaya Trail is a very serviceable and enjoyable trail.  It's just the right length for an…read moreafternoon (or morning) hike, and it offers just enough elevation gain that you won't be bored by the level of endeavor required.  That said, apart from the views you'll be rewarded with when you're here, there's not a whole lot else of interest to see during your visit. Tip: This is a popular destination for both hikers and cyclists; both of the aforementioned need to keep their eyes peeled for their opposite numbers; hikers especially need to exercise caution to avoid being hit by oblivious cyclists. I've been here several times recently, and very much enjoy myself each time.  I've found that the views (especially from the top) are very rewarding.  Because it's very easily accessible from all over the area, the trail can sometimes get very crowded; it's best to visit either in the early morning or at off-peak hours to optimize avoid the crowds. The trail winds through the Cruz Blanca neighborhood before rapidly ascending up the side of Atalaya Mountain; it eventually reaches a height of just over nine thousand feet.  While the final stretch is quite gravelly and steep, the views from the top are totally worth it!

Part of the Dale Ball trail system, that include the Dorothy Stewart and Wilderness Trailheads. The…read moreparking lot near after entry for St John's college is the largest and furthest away. Drive up Camino Cruz Blanca and save yourself the 1.5 walk along the road past $1MM homes to these other trailheads. As with everything Dale Ball creates, this is a superbly marked trail system that allows the hiker to plan and tailor their experience. I made a bee-line to the summit of Mt. Picacho. Beautiful vista, but I'll need to return for a sunset and very carefully make my way down the steeper parts of a darkening trail.

Beautiful lake. Access to the lake includes rough roads which are narrow and steep in places…read more Beautiful and peaceful setting.

Beautiful lake with underground spring fed supply. Dam/levee, campgrounds, port-o-lets. Hiking…read moretrails. Beautiful setting.

This was such a cool hidden gem to see on the way to Santa Fe. The staff was welcoming with our…read morelast minute stop one hour before it closed. We were able to see the Pueblo site, informative displays and view the gift shop before they closed. It did rain while we were there but that didn't stop us from enjoying the beautiful view around here. They have informative displays inside the park so you'll learn a lot about the area. We enjoyed our time here.

One of our favorite national historic parks since it is so beautiful and a nice walk around its…read moretrail. Dogs are allowed which is a plus and the gift store and staff great. There is so much history that is within this park to include Native American dwelling and Spanish church remnants, and even an area where the Santa Fe trail passed by. The 2 kivas you can climb down inside are a bonus, fun and interesting. Not too far away is also Glorieta Pass, the site of a American Civil War skirmish which has a monument. There is plenty of easy parking here as well as an overflow area. Definitely worth the stop if you are passing by and no park entrance fee.

This park was a good overnight stop for us when pulling our RV from South Dakota to Texas in…read moreSeptember. Yes it is desert, but I liked the dry breeze after dark, and the view of the stars was awesome! As was mentioned earlier, not the easiest place to find for out-of-towners, so pay attention. We plan to stay here again one night this October.

This was a fun area to spend a hot afternoon in Santa Rosa. They have a swimming area, a peddle…read moreboat area and a bounce house water challenge area. We didn't do the bounce house stuff, and I believe there is a fee to partake in that. There is a $5 fee to park, but this is good for both the Blue Hole and the Park Lake areas. We just enjoyed the beach and swimming area where you can dive off the dock at the diving board, or climb up and go down the tube water slide. There are life guards stationed around as well.

Such a beautiful park. It's super clean and has plenty of areas you can rent to camp. During this…read moreseason it's free to hike the trails. I did a small river trail and it was beautiful. The river wraps around and gives it a scenic view. Love it here.

Golly, what a nice state park - and what an easy drive from either Albuquerque or Santa Fe…read more Nice campsites and impeccably well kept trails. Two moderate and reasonably short trails (up the canyon sides and around on top - both under 2 miles total) and one easy one (along. the river, an out-and-back just over half a mile long). Lovely views on every trail. Nice employees. $5/car for day use. You'll fill out a ticket, stick your fiver in an envelope and shove it into one of those posts with a slit (on pain of a citation). It's well worth it. Villanueva is easily accessed from either Albuquerque or Santa Fe. Beyond that, follow the state park signs that are easily visible on the road and not your Google Maps if you want the least adventurous last mile on your way in (Google will cut off some driving, but you'll be on a one-lane barely improved gravel road that sometimes washes out). Bear in mind, you're climbing over sandstone and you'll want boots with ankle support and good tread for safety. You'll want to keep an eye out for rattlesnakes at the appropriate times and places and I noted a bear track today so keep your kids and dogs close. People who are freaked out by heights might not dig the views or the climb up the canyon walls, but there's no place where you're in danger of falling off. However, you're most definitely in danger of turning an ankle if you're not paying attention, so pay attention! Bonus tips: Villanueva State Park is a great place for a picnic or to bring fit tourists on a half-day adventure. Starting in Albuquerque, you can easily go out I-40 and loop back on I-25, stopping in Santa Fe for lunch or supper. Villanueva is also pretty close to Las Vegas, NM, and there are definitely things there worth checking out (and good places to eat).