50 Mesmerizing Attractions in the Southwest
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36. Trestle Recreation Area
In the beautiful small mountain community of Cloudcroft, New Mexico lies the Lincoln National Forest, the perfect high altitude recreational area to escape the heat of the surrounding desert towns. This pine tree oasis offers a number of very scenic hikes in a beautiful woodsy setting that you will not find in the surrounding desert lowlands of southern New Mexico. The elevation of this area is 8000 feet which means hiking is more strenuous on one hand, while on the other hand the temps remain cooler in the summer.
The trestle recreation area includes 6 trails, ranging from a quarter of a mile to an 8 mile loop. The Cloud Climbing Trestle trail is a nice choice as it is just 1.2 miles in length and offers great views of the surrounding mountains, and also the Mexican Canyon Trestle. This wooden trestle was built in 1899 by the Alamogordo and Sacramento Mountain Railroad to access lumber in the forest. The trestle is 323 feet long and sits 52 feet above the canyon floor.
To get to the Trestle Recreation area, you will take the gorgeous State Route 244 which is an activity in and of itself as one of the more scenic drives in the Southwest.
Location: Cloudcroft, New Mexico
37. Cookstove Trail
Well hidden amongst the dense trees along the beautiful Oak Creek Canyon drive in Northern Arizona lies one of the state’s most magnificent trails. The steep challenging Cookstove trail leads you on a scramble up to a breathtaking overlook of the area. The hike is just 0.7 miles but tough. The steep nature of the hike and high elevation combine to make this one of the area’s harder hikes. Thus, only advanced hikers should attempt this one. The payoff for your effort is a mesmerizing vista of the pine covered canyons. It’s crazy to think that this marvelous dense forested area lies just 2 hours north of Phoenix!
Location: Oak Creek Canyon drive (hwy 89) near milepost 387
More info on the Cookstove Trail
38. Dripping Springs Natural Area
Dripping Springs is a gorgeous trail right outside of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Beautiful as it is, the area also holds some interesting historical significance. The beautiful Organ Mountains provide the most spectacular backdrop for this 1.5 mile out-and-back hike. The organ mountains were named as so for their steep, needle like spires which resemble organ pipes. Wildlife is abundant particularly desert mule deer and coyotes, however, a rare mountain lion sighting is not unheard of. The peace and quiet out here in the middle of nowhere in the southern New Mexico desert alone is enough to justify looking into this trail.
The small waterfall at the end and old sanatorium ruins from the early 1900’s are just extra bonuses you will come across while hiking this wonderful trail. Boyd’s sanatorium was once used to house tuberculosis patients and the abandoned building is both fascinating and creepy. I wouldn’t be surprised if the ruins are now haunted. This area is pretty secluded, and thus, the trail remains quiet. And the remote drive to get out here is as picturesque as the trail itself. In fact, I found myself hopping in and out of the car to take many pictures – fortunately there is not much traffic out this way!
Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico
More things to do near Las Cruces
39. Hidden Canyon Bowen Loop
Hidden amongst the beautiful Saguaro cacti covered hills near the luxurious JW Marriott resort at Starr Pass in Tucson lies a beautiful easy 2 mile loop trail known as the Hidden Canyon Bowen loop. For those seeking to explore the desert in a solitary setting far away from the strip malls and tourist crowds, the Hidden Canyon Bowen Loop is the place to do so.
This incredible trail, which is located within the beautiful Tucson mountains, features unending views of the spectacular Saguaro as well as many other forms of desert plant life. It’s one of the best places to see bobcats in the wild, especially really early in the morning. You must be careful driving near the resort early as they are prone to cross the road quickly. Despite the easy terrain, hiking this trail is definitely not recommended in the summer due to the intense heat & lack of shade! Likewise for all other desert hikes!
Location: Tucson, Arizona
More info on the Hidden Canyon Bowel Loop
40. San Juan National Forest
The San Juan National Forest is a massive 1.8 million acre forest in Southwestern Colorado. The scenery is very diverse, ranging from high desert mesas, canyons, wooded forests, waterfalls, and high alpine meadows depending on the region. If you can make it here in the fall, the colors really are brilliant as there are tons of aspens in the area. The San Juan Skyway is one incredibly picturesque drive in the area.
Hiking and mountain biking are the most commonly enjoyed summer activities throughout the forest. Additionally, snowshoeing and cross country skiing through a wintry wonderland setting really is an exhilarating & solitary experience for those who love nature. For those seeking more relaxation, a horseback ride through the wilderness is a great way to take in a lot of scenery in a short period of time, particularly if you are on vacation with a limited timeframe.
Location: Southwestern Colorado
