Outdoors Do's and Don'ts
A paved road circles Mesa Campground, which offers views of Lake Roberts below. Photograph by Jay Hemphill. DO: Make a plan, then a backup plan. Public-land use skyrocketed last year, and that trend…
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Category: Hiking
Three Beautiful Backcountry Camping Spots in New Mexico
Pack up and hit the backcountry. Illustration by Ryan Johnson. ALONG FR 437 IN THE CARSON NATIONAL FOREST near Taos, Garcia Park campers can spend an evening tucked in among the aspen groves, watching…
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Camps Less Traveled
Navigating San Pedro Parks Wilderness trails can be tricky, especially in the boggy meadow. Photograph by Elizabeth Miller. HEAVY RAIN FELL SOME DAYS BEFORE MY HIKE into the San Pedro Parks…
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High Points for This Gila Campground
Views of Lake Roberts are just part of what you’ll find at Mesa Campground, in the Gila National Forest. I CRADLED MY FOUR-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER as the campfire fizzled. After our friends retreated to…
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Hiking Gila's Wilderness
A backpacker on a loop of the West and Middle Forks of the Gila River makes their way deeper into the wilderness. THE FIRST MILES OF THE TRAIL wound among piñon, juniper, and Gambel oak, through a…
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Best Hiking Trails for Birding
Mills Canyon offers a rich environment for a variety of bird species, including the colorful Bullock’s oriole. Photograph by Christina Selby. BIRDING ON THE TRAIL GENERALLY MEANS trading longer…
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On the Trail with Backpacker William Kemsley Jr.
Known as “Backpacker Bill,” William Kemsley Jr. is often spotted on trails with his poodle, Stanzi. Photograph by John McCauley. PEOPLE DIDN’T “HIKE” WHEN WILLIAM KEMSLEY JR. was growing up in the…
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Wildflower Boom
Mexican poppies along the Baylor Canyon Pass trail. SHAKE OFF THE WINTER BLAHS on this 5.6-mile trail near Las Cruces that kicks off New Mexico’s wildflower season in spectacular fashion. After a…
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Best Hiking Trails at White Sands
Trails can be on sand or a boardwalk—but dogs must be leashed. WHITE SANDS IN SOME WAYS a pathless place. Visitors are welcome to walk over any stretch of bare sand dunes. But these three hikes can…
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