Things To Do
Beyond El Paso
Big Bend is home to a few remarkable communities: Marathon, Study Butte, Terlingua Ghost Town, Lajitas, and Big Bend National Park. We highly recommend setting some time aside to visit these unique communities as they each possess their own unique charm and distinct experience. Accommodations range from convenient and comfortable to resort luxury. Guided outdoor activities such as hiking, jeep tours, horseback riding, river tours and more can be arranged via one of the local experienced outfitters. Big Bend is a diverse region with endless possibilities for adventure and discovery. Make sure to download the Big Bend Mobile App-an audio tour guide right in your hands!
The closest mountain retreat from El Paso, Cloudcroft is a quiet village surrounded by the Lincoln National Forest and is situated at 9,000 feet above sea level. The town has a wealth of recreational alternatives including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, horseback riding, as well as snow tubing and alpine and cross-country skiing. The center of town has an old west look with shops, restaurants and a saloon.
Elephant Butte Lake is the largest and most popular lake in NM. It provides a setting for every imaginable water sport as well as a visitor center that features regional interpretive exhibits. The mild climate of the area makes this park a popular year-round destination. Elephant Butte Lake State Park headquarters are five miles north of Truth or Consequences via I-25 exit 83.
This attraction is located two and a half hours northeast of El Paso, off I-25. Covering 3.3 million acres, this area is the largest national forest in New Mexico and contains hundreds of miles of streams, some 20 campgrounds, and more than 1,500 hiking trails.
Miller Horse Farm offers horseback riding for children and adults alike as well as Ride and Wine Tours to the nearby winery. Ride along the beautiful farm roads along green fields planted with southern New Mexico crops or through the wide open desert. Regardless of your riding experience, there is a horseback adventure awaiting you at Miller Horse Farm that will fulfill your riding expectations. Visit our website for all the details.
Only 45 minutes away from El Paso, this historic community has a distinct New Mexico feel through the surrounding fields of cotton, chile, pecan tree groves, and vineyards. Once a stop on the old Butterfield Trail and home to Billy the Kid and other notorious characters, it is now host to eateries and shopping featuring a blend of Native American, New Mexican, and Spanish influences.
Located 7,000 feet above sea level, in the cool pines, is the village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. A vacation hideaway for nearly 100 years, Ruidoso sports a horse racing track that houses the Billy the Kid Casino and features live horse racing from late May through Labor Day weekend, the fabulous Hubbard Museum of the American West, Casino Apache, The Inn of the Mountain Gods, and numerous golf courses along with great dining and shopping. Just outside town lies Ski Apache. Run by the Mescalero Tribe of Apaches, Ski Apache boasts great skiing from November through March on the north face of the 12,003’ peak of Sierra Blanca. The surrounding Lincoln National Forest is perfect for hiking, mountain biking, camping, hunting, and fishing. The nearby town of Lincoln was one of Billy the Kid’s favorite haunts. Call 505-336-4356 for Ski Apache and 877-RUIDOSO for Ruidoso visitors info.
Silver City is remarkably rich and diverse when it comes to hiking, climbing, camping, riding, and backpacking. With its magnificent vistas, varied terrain and ample resources, Silver City is the perfect weekend getaway for just about anyone.
Centrally located amidst the mountains of Texas, Van Horn is the hub to several state and national parks, historic sites, and the Blue Origin Aerospace launch facility. With over 700 rooms between eighteen motels, fourteen restaurants and over 275 hookups between 5 RV parks, Van Horn is definitely traveler-friendly. Van Horn is at the cross roads of the Texas Mountain Trail, a scenic highway route for viewing these area highlights. List Visit today - you might see a rocket launch!
Located between Doña Ana and Otero County, The White Sands National Monument is without a doubt, the Chihuahuan Desert’s best-known tourist attraction. Appearing as a bright white spot in the middle of an otherwise beige landscape, the dunes are as beautiful as they are enigmatic. Visitors are free to admire all 225-square miles of the park from the comfort of their cars, on numerous wood plank paths, or even in the dunes themselves. In addition to strolling about, you can bring sleds or snowboards and slide down the sandy hills–seriously! If one day simply isn’t enough, you and the whole gang can stay overnight at the camping site. While there’s no wrong time to visit White Sands, we strongly recommend that you catch either a sunrise or sunset, there’s really nothing quite like it. Make sure to check out the museum and gift shop before you leave!