7 Remarkable New Mexico & Texas State Parks

1. Elephant Butte State Park

Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

Elephant Butte Lake State Park is the largest state park in New Mexico. It’s the centerpiece for year-round outdoor activity in the region. The park’s services are extensive including several hundred campsites and opportunity for every imaginable type of watersport. Arid desert landscapes provide a stunning backdrop for hiking and exploring along trails winding through rocky canyons.

The nearby town of Truth or Consequences was formerly named Hot Springs, for its numerous geothermal hot springs. Said to be America’s most affordable spa town, it offers many other attractions like the Geronimo Springs Museum, Spaceport America, and a vibrant Arts and Culture scene. Known as “T or C” by locals, its quirky name is from a TV game show of the 1950s.

2. Valley of Fires Recreation Area

Corrizozo, New Mexico

Not to be confused with Valley of Fire State Park in Arizona, Valley of Fires Recreation Area is in south-central New Mexico. There, east of the Rio Grande, US Highway 380 crosses the Carrizozo Malpais Lava Flow, a 5,000-year-old rugged landscape of collapsed lava tubes, fissures, and pressure ridges. Punctuated by desert shrubs and grasses, it supports a curiously diverse ecosystem of melanistic species and diverse birdlife, making it a birders paradise. Valley of Fires Recreation Area offers 25 sites for camping and a 3/4-mile accessible, paved nature trail for visitors to walk atop this rough landform and experience its harsh features and eerie stillness.

3. Bottomless Lakes State Park

Roswell, New Mexico

At the intersection of wild and crazy is where monsters from the deep and aliens from outer space have made headlines for almost a century. Bottomless Lakes State Park is shrouded in myths of bottomless depths and lurking creatures. These pools, neither lakes nor bottomless, are 250-million-year-old sinkholes, the deepest is only 90-feet. With mesmerizing green-blue waters, this oasis among New Mexico state parks is  ideal for swimming, scuba diving, and fishing. 

Roswell is famous for the 1947 “Roswell Incident” and its annual cosmic event, the UFO Encounter Festival. It’s equally proud of its down to earth, wild west heritage of ranching and agriculture. Participate in a working cattle drive, watch a pro rodeo, enjoy a farmers’ market, and learn Roswell’s history in one of the many area museums.

4. Abilene State Park

Abilene, Texas

Abilene, Texas, is kid heaven and the first on our list of Texas state parks! One upon a time, community leaders of Abilene began a program to celebrate and showcase children’s literature. They built the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature. Now a host of storybook sculptures, characters from children’s books, are installed around town, and the annual Children’s Art + Literacy Festival celebrates the art of childhood every summer. The art of fun isn’t just for kids. A variety of live music venues, museums, galleries, shops, restaurants, and warm hospitality of West Texas invite everyone. 

The outdoors beckons too. Miles of trails weave through the dense woodland in Abilene State Park. The park’s historic swimming pool is a popular summer destination for visitors seeking relief from the Texas heat. It’s the state’s most popular state park, featuring a playground, volleyball court, horseshoe pits, and fields for various sports. Enjoy fishing, boating, camping, picnicking, swimming, bird watching, horseback riding, and hiking. 

5. South Llano River State Park

Junction, Texas

South Llano River State Park is called the ‘refuge on the river,’ for humans, animals, and native plant species. It hosts one of the largest winter roosts of the Rio Grande wild turkey among the native pecan trees—the state tree of Texas. More than 250 bird species have been recorded at the park. Four bird blinds offer prime viewing, and rangers conduct walks, talks, and hands-on art sessions for visitors. There’s fishing, hiking, camping, and stargazing too. Spring in this Texas state park feels magical!

Junction was named for the confluence of the North and South Llano Rivers in a region known as “the land of living waters.” Paddling and floating the river are hugely popular in summer, hunting is big business, and motorcycle touring is a biker’s dream.

6. Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site

Fredericksburg, Texas

Texas Hill Country is the birthplace of Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) 36th president of the United States. He spent much of his life here and his home was later dubbed the Texas White House, as he spent a quarter of his presidency at the ranch. The Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site and Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park are dedicated to preserving his legacy. The LBJ Ranch still operates a working farm that raises Hereford cattle that descend from the former president’s original stock. The Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm transports visitors to early pioneer days with costumed interpreters demonstrating traditional farm life.

The nearby town of Fredericksburg exudes German heritage, boasting authentic cuisine, a thriving arts scene, and a lively annual Oktoberfest celebration. This is also a renowned wine region, making it a cultural and culinary gem in Texas Hill Country. 

7. Big Spring State Park

Big Spring, Texas

An abundant water supply in the arid plains of west-central Texas has drawn animals and people for centuries. Big Spring State Park and Comanche Trail Park are two large interconnected parks that lie within the city limits of Big Spring. Together these parks boast an aquatic park, golf course, disc golf courses, playgrounds, picnic areas, trails, guided ranger programs, shows in the amphitheater, and a lake for fishing and water sports. These spaces are the hub for the community’s outdoor activities, art, culture, education, and plain ol’ relaxing.

Both were originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) between 1934-1940. A spectacular three-mile scenic loop road summits the aptly named Scenic Mountain; it’s often referred to as the Roman Road for its hand-shaped local limestone retaining walls. An equally impressive structure is the 6,800-seat rock masonry amphitheater.