Hiking Trails & Parks in New Mexico
6,464 mapped hiking and walking trails, plus 636 parks, recreation areas, and campgrounds across New Mexico. Free trail maps for every listing — browse by county or city, or jump straight to the full list.
About Hiking in New Mexico
New Mexico has 6,464 mapped hiking trails and 636 federally managed parks and recreation areas spread across 44 counties. Trail data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors; parks and campgrounds from Recreation.gov.
Trying to narrow down? Browse all trails, all parks, all 44 counties, or pick a county below to see only its options.
Where to Go in New Mexico
A spatially-sampled view of 252 trail and park locations across New Mexico’s counties.
New Mexico Counties
Top 24 counties shown — 44 total indexed.
Trails by Difficulty in New Mexico
Parks & Campgrounds in New Mexico
Longest Trails in New Mexico
Curated Guides for New Mexico
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there hiking trails in New Mexico?
Yes — we have 6,464 mapped hiking and walking trails in New Mexico, sourced from OpenStreetMap. Browse the full list below, with distance, elevation, and difficulty for each.
What is the most difficult hiking trail in New Mexico?
Chunk Suey Descent near San Ysidro is rated expert — the toughest classification among New Mexico's mapped trails.
What is the best hiking trail in New Mexico for families?
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail near Fruitland is one of the best family picks in New Mexico — easy difficulty and 3.1 miles round trip, short enough for kids and first-timers. See the full family hiking guide below for more options.
Is there a trail map for New Mexico?
Each of the 6,464 trails in New Mexico has its own page with an interactive map, GPS coordinates, and a link to view it on OpenStreetMap — no app or account needed.
What parks and recreation areas are in New Mexico?
New Mexico has 636 parks, recreation areas, and federal facilities in our index (222 classified as recreation areas). Each listing includes activities, photos where available, and directions.
Can I go camping in New Mexico?
Yes — 29 of New Mexico's parks have mapped campsites, from first-come sites to Recreation.gov reservations. The largest is RIANA - ABIQUIU LAKE with 70 sites. See the full campgrounds guide below for the ranked list.
Hiking guides & rankings for New Mexico
In-depth articles drawing on the trail and park data above.
Photo: Sergei AkulichThe 10 Longest Hiking Trails in New Mexico, Ranked
New Mexico's longest mapped hiking trails, ranked by distance with notes on what makes each route worth the commitment.
Photo: David MarcuNew Mexico's 10 Most Punishing Trails by Elevation Gain
Steep is hard. These are the ten New Mexico trails with the most total elevation gain — quad-burners earned by hard climbing.
Photo: Sergei AkulichThe Best Beginner-Friendly Hikes in New Mexico
Ten gentle, well-marked New Mexico trails perfect for first-time hikers, families, or recovery days.
Photo: Tobias MrzykThe 10 Most Challenging Hikes in New Mexico
New Mexico's ten hardest hikes — expert difficulty, big mileage, or serious exposure. Reserved for experienced hikers.
Photo: Diego LozanoThe Best National Parks & Recreation Areas in New Mexico
Federal parks and recreation areas in New Mexico ranked by what they actually offer hikers and campers, not just popularity.
Photo: Sergei AkulichBest Waterfall Hikes in New Mexico: 10 Trails to See Falls Up Close
New Mexico's best hikes to named waterfalls — from short family-friendly viewpoints to all-day cascade chasing.