Be sure to see the note at the bottom of this page for even more outdoor activities and sites to visit.
Leasburg Dam State Park
A desert oasis with cactus gardens, several short trails and opportunities for fishing and canoeing in the Rio Grande. Events at the park include "Sky Safaris" held a few times a year with local astronomers also lead star gazing sessions. There are petroglyph tours to area archeological sites are held each October
Dripping Springs BLM Natural Area
 10 mi East of Las Cruces via Dripping Spring Rd., 505-522-1219, Offering hiking, picnicking at mountain camp ruins. Overlooking Las Cruces from the east this is a haven for hikers and adventure seekers alike. This picturesque area of rocky peaks, narrow canyons and open woodlands shelters the Dripping Springs Natural Area, noted for its "weeping walls." Formerly known as the Cox Ranch, this area encompasses a wealth of habitats containing great biological diversity.
The Dripping Springs Natural Area has over four miles of easy hiking trails. The area also boasts excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, including excellent year-round viewing of red-tailed hawk, Gambel's quail, golden eagle, desert mule deer and coyote. Also watch for black-throated sparrow, ladder-backed woodpecker, verdin, black-tailed gnatcatcher, lesser nighthawk, Scott's oriole, cactus wren, desert cottontail, and collared and tree lizard in the spring and summer. Finally, there are occasional sightings of mountain lion.
Facilities
The Dripping Springs Natural Area has a visitor center, handicapped-accessible restrooms, 12 picnic sites, and one large family/group picnic site that can be reserved through the BLM Las Cruces District Office (see Contact Information on the right). There is no camping or pets allowed.
Visitor Center
The Dripping Springs Visitor Center offers interpretive displays of the Organ Mountains. It is located 10 miles east of Interstate 25, Exit 1, on the western edge of the Organ Mountains in the Dripping Springs Natural Area. It is open all year, except winter holidays, from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 p.m. Phone: 505.522.1219.
The best history and pictures and discussion of this area can be found at: http://lascrucesblog.com/category/dripping-springs/
Aguirre Spring Campground
 The high wall, needle-like spires of the Organ Mountains curve dramatically around a semicircle of Chihuahuan Desert habitat at the Aguirre Spring Campground. The campground, nestled at the base of spectacular cliffs, overlooks the Tularosa Basin and White Sands National Monument. Alligator juniper, gray oak, mountain mahogany and sotol are a few of the abundant plant species here. Seasonal springs and streams occur in the canyon bottoms, with a few perennial springs that support riparian habitats.
Activities
Hiking, camping, horseback riding, picnicking, watchable wildlife. Leashed pets are allowed on trails.
The picnic/camp sites have shelters or shade trees; handicapped-accessible restrooms also are available.
- Hiking
Two national recreation trails start at the campground. The Baylor Pass Trail has its eastern end at the campground. This is a one-way trail of six miles, which will take you to the Baylor Canyon Road on the west side of the mountains. The Pine Tree Trail is a four-mile loop that climbs to the base of the Organ Needles, in Ponderosa Pine habitat. Both trails provide spectacular views of the Organ Mountains and the Tularosa Basin. The Baylor Pass Trail is open to hiking and equestrian use. The Pine Tree Trail is open to hiking only.
- Camping
The Aguirre Spring Campground is the only high-country campground in the Las Cruces/El Paso/Juarez region. It is hugely popular as a picnic site on weekends and holidays. The campground includes 57 family sites and two group sites, there are 55 small picnic sites and two large family group areas.
Location / Access
The Aguirre Spring Campground is located on the east side of Organ Mountains, east of Las Cruces in Dona Ana County. Take U.S. 70 for 14 miles east of the I-25/U.S. 70 interchange in Las Cruces, then turn south on the Aguirre Spring Road (1.1 miles after San Augustine Pass) for six miles. At mile 4 the road becomes a one-way loop and climbs steeply.
Robledo Mountains Off-Highway Vehicle Trail System
 The Robledo Mountains Off-Highway Vehicle Trail System is a network of trails, including both extreme OHV and mountain bike trails, in the southern Robledo Mountains. The trails are dominated by enormous rocks, making the terrain extraordinarily challenging for riders. The extreme OHV trails require
specialized vehicles, with locking differentials, winches, and expert drivers. Vehicle damage is not uncommon on these very difficult OHV trails.
The area also includes the "SST" mountain bike trail, which is open only to non-motorized uses. It also is an extremely technical trail -- traversing challenging rocky terrain, steep canyons, and mountain-top ridges -- and requires expert riding skills.
Activities
Off-highway vehicle use (rock crawling; extreme four-wheel drive trails), mountain biking.
Location / Access
The Robledo Mountains OHV Area and SST Trail are in the Robledo Mountains about four miles northwest of Las Cruces. Take Valley Drive (U.S. 85) north to Shalem Colony Trail, go west on Shalem Colony Trail across the Rio Grande, turn right on Rocky Acres Trail, and take the first left off the wide dirt road. You will see signs for extreme four-wheel drive trails south of the main road; trails north of that road have been closed. The main road goes west toward a rock mine; take the left fork in the arroyo bottom, climb the hill, and go right up the canyon bottom to find the mountain bike trail and additional extreme four-wheel drive routes.
Sierra Vista Trail
 The Sierra Vista Trail is a 25-mile nonmotorized recreation trail along the western flank of the Organ Mountains and the eastern side of the Franklin Mountains. The trail provides spectacular views of the mountains, which jut majestically above the desert floor. It is also possible to see wildlife, including mule deer and coyotes, along the trail. The trail connects to the Franklin Mountain State Park Trail system in Texas, and it is used primarily by mountain bikers. While most of the trail is on gravelly uplands, some of the middle sections near Vado are very sandy and difficult for mountain bikes. There are also rugged rocky sections where suspension is desirable on mountain bikes.
Activities Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding. Facilities None. Restrooms and drinking water is not available.
Location / Access
The trail is east and southeast, of Las Cruces. There are several trailheads. One is along the Soledad Canyon Road. From Exit 1 on Interstate 25, take University Avenue/Dripping Springs Road east for about 4.5 miles, then turn south on the Soledad Canyon Road. That road will turn east in a mile; follow it until you come to a parking area on your right. You can also access the Mossman Arroyo Road trailhead by exiting Interstate 10 at the Mesquite exit. Other trailheads can be reached by taking the Vado Exit off Interstate 10, and NM 404 at Anthony Gap.
Soledad Canyon Day Use Area
 The Soledad Canyon Day Use Area is at the juncture of two canyons -- Bar Canyon and Soledad Canyon -- and is in the western foothills of the Organ mountains. The area includes the three-mile loop Bar Canyon Trail, which offers an easy and scenic hike very close to Las Cruces. The Bar Canyon Trail includes scenic vistas of the central Organ Mountains and the southern Mesilla Valley.
Activities
The Bar Canyon Trail is open to non-motorized uses, including hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. It is also used for wildlife viewing.
Location / Access
The Bar Canyon Day Use Area is located on the west side of the Organ Mountains, 10 miles east of Las Cruces. From Exit 1 on Interstate 25, take University Avenue/Dripping Springs Road east for about 4.5 miles, then turn south on the Soledad Canyon Road. That road will turn east in a mile; follow it all the way to the end.
Kilbourne Hole Volcanic Crater
 A remnant of an ancient volcanic explosion, Kilbourne Hole was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1975. This crater can be found in a desert basin between the Potrillo Mountains and the Rio Grande in southern Dona Ana County. Kilbourne Hole is roughly elliptical in shape, and is known as a Maar - a pit or depression caused by a volcanic explosion with little material emitted except volcanic gas. The crater is between 24,000 and 100,000 years old, and measures 1.7 miles long by well over a mile across, and is hundreds of feet deep.
Kilbourne Hole has many unique minerals remaining from the eruption. The crusts of the Kilbourne Hole volcanic bombs - objects blown from the volcanic vent in a near plastic state - are dull black or brown, but when broken open they often reveal a brilliant, sparkling yellow and green interior of olivine glass granules.
Activities
Hiking, geologic interpretation. Facilities None. Restrooms and drinking water are not available.
Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park
Located in the northern Chihuahuan Desert in Las Cruces city itself. This 960-acre area of Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park site has been set aside as a topographically and biologically diverse example of this beautiful desert. The Nature Park encompasses a small section of the Doña
Ana Mountains northeast of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Spectacular views of the Organ Mountains, San Andres Mountains and the Jornada Basin are also visible from the Park.
All of the sites listed above are in the area that immediately surround Las Cruces. Within a very short distance from Las Cruces there are many areas that offer the full spectrum of outdoor activities and sports. You can just relax and enjoy the weather, wildife, and nature, hike and camp, or you can participate in every type of sporting activity that you can imagine.
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