THERE ARE A LOT of different kinds of places that inspire me to get outside — the curve of a hiking trail through pine forest, a bald peak waiting to be climbed, a crystal-clear swimming hole on a hot day, desert boulders to scramble around on. And really, there’s an exciting world waiting out there regardless of where you might currently be sitting.

But in my travels, few places have as strong a pull to the outdoors as New Mexico. It’s the diversity of the landscape, and its sheer wildness (New Mexico is one of the least densely populated states), that make stepping outside such a joy, no matter what you’re getting up to — hiking, fishing, skiing, climbing, biking.

Check out these 9 images of New Mexico and get inspired to plan your own outdoors mission.

1

White Sands National Monument

White Sands is unlike any other places in the US—275 square miles of undulating dunes composed of fine, bright white gypsum. In fact, it's unlike any other place anywhere, representing the largest gypsum dune field in the world. Find it off of US-70 just northeast of Las Cruces, park the car, kick off your shoes, and get ready to explore an otherworldly landscape.
Photo courtesy of New Mexico Tourism Department

2

Blue Hole of Santa Rosa

Sitting right in the city of Santa Rosa, the Blue Hole is an 80ft-deep artesian well that's one of the top swimming holes and dive sites in the US. The vibrant blue of the water is a stark contrast to the muted colors of the mesas that surround it. Located right on I-40, the Blue Hole makes an awesome road trip pit stop. For more on just how cool this place is, check out the short video They Came for the Waters.
Photo courtesy of New Mexico Tourism Department

3

Valles Caldera National Preserve

The entirety of the 13.7-mile-wide Valles Caldera National Preserve is actually the caldera of an ancient supervolcano. It's a great place to experience nature, where winter recreational activities—from sleigh rides to cross-country skiing—have daily visitor caps in order to preserve the wildness of the area. Find it west of Los Alamos, an easy day trip out of Santa Fe.
Photo courtesy of New Mexico Tourism Department

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4

Corkins Lodge

North-central New Mexico is one of my all-time favorite places, scenery-wise. The mountains start to get bigger, the pine forests thicker, and the grassy meadows greener. One great spot to enjoy all of this is Corkins Lodge, a 1,600-acre private retreat with access to fishing on the Brazos River, hiking among pine trees and 2,500ft cliffs, and cross-country skiing in winter.
Photo courtesy of New Mexico Tourism Department

5

Nambé Pueblo

The Eight Northern Pueblos of New Mexico are groups of Tiwa- and Tewa-speaking peoples who reside in the same communities their ancestors did hundreds of years ago, sometimes in the same multi-story adobe structures. Nambé is one of these pueblos, about 20 miles due north of Santa Fe. It's worth the short detour off US-84 to check out the waterfall and hiking trails here in the Sangre de Cristo foothills.
Photo courtesy of New Mexico Tourism Department

6

Taos Ski Valley

Winter is an incredible time to visit New Mexico. There are 11 established ski areas in the state, with Taos arguably the best known. You'll get 110 lift-accessed trails, 3,200 feet of vertical, more bluebird days than practically anywhere else, and 305 annual inches of fluffy Rocky Mountain powder.
Photo courtesy of New Mexico Tourism Department

7

Angel Fire Resort

Those ski areas don't sit idle in the off-season. At Angel Fire, for example, you can choose from adventure ziplining, epic mountain biking, and an 18-hole alpine golf course.
Photo courtesy of New Mexico Tourism Department

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8

Ladder Ranch

With easy access via I-25, between Truth or Consequences and Las Cruces, the Ladder Ranch is a 156,000-acre property on the edge of the vast wilderness of Gila National Forest. See bison, fish the numerous area streams, or jump on horseback and explore this unique slice of south-central New Mexico.
Photo courtesy of New Mexico Tourism Department

9

Abiquiu Reservoir

Yet another Wild and Scenic River, the Chama flows 50 miles from El Vado Dam just south of the Colorado border through an impressive canyon before emptying into Abiquiu Reservoir, adjacent to US-84 north of Española. There's a campground right at the southern end of the lake with incredible views of the water and the mesas and peaks to the north.
Photo courtesy of New Mexico Tourism Department