Strawberry Peak

Besides being an exceptional institution for science or engineering education, New Mexico Tech is situated in an outstandingly diverse region of the southwest. Nearby opportunities for outdoor recreation include mountain and road biking, rock climbing, and desert and mountain hiking at elevations ranging from 4,600 to nearly 11,000 feet. Here is a brief sampling of some local and regional areas.

Strawberry Peak and the 10,000 foot crest of the Magdalena Mountains viewed from the Quebradas.

The Quebradas BLM lands are directly across the Rio Grande, just minutes from Tech, and include spectacular opportunities for mountain biking, camping, and hiking in a remote Chihuahuan desert setting. This remarkable region includes four Wilderness Study Areas.
Bosque del Apache
Sandhill cranes in flight at the Bosque del Apache (c/o Peter Scholle)

Bosque del Apache 

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a nationally-known venue for bird and wildlife watching, photography, and hiking located just south of Socorro. Along with the Socorro Chamber of Commerce, it hosts the annual Festival of the Cranes, which draws over 10,000 visitors to the refuge each Autumn to greet tens of thousands of migratory birds.

The Quebradas BLM lands are directly across the Rio Grande, just minutes from Tech, and include spectacular opportunities for mountain biking, camping, and hiking in a remote Chihuahuan desert setting. This remarkable region includes four Wilderness Study Areas.

Chupadera and Ladron Mountains

Immediately to the west of Socorro lie the volcanic Chupadera mountains and, further north, the dramatic granitic escarpment of the Sierra Ladrones. Notable hikes include the Chupadera Mountain trail in the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Chupadera Wilderness, the rugged climb to the 9,176-foot summit of Ladron Peak, and San Lorenzo Canyon. San Lorenzo canyon is at the southern boundary of the vast Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge.

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

Northeast of Socorro lie the three units of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, Quarai, Abo, and Gran Quivira, which preserve historic pueblo and mission ruins occupied through the late 1600's.

Cibola National Forest

The Magdalena District of the Cibola National Forest begins just a few miles west of Socorro, and includes the Magdalena, Bear, and San Mateo Mountains. The mountains span an astonishing range of life zones, from upper Chihuahuan desert to Pinon-Juniper forests, to ponderosa forests, to subalpine meadows and aspen groves. There are two National Forest wilderness areas in the San Mateo mountains, Withington and Apache Kid, which offer exceptional opportunities for hiking and camping. There are also numerous forest service roads and trails that are open to mountain biking.

Gila National Forest

Within a few hours drive lies the Gila National Forest, home of the world-renowned Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness areas. The Gila encompasses over a million acres of outstanding roadless mountains, mesas, canyons, rivers, hot springs, archeological resources, and the most biologically diverse forests in the American southwest.

Box Canyon and Enchanted Tower Rock Climbing

There are two notable rock climbing areas near Socorro. Box Canyon is a BLM recreational area just minutes from town offering moderate-to-difficult climbing and boldering in a steep volcanic canyon. The Enchanted Tower area is located near the rural community of Datil in the Cibola National Forest. It includes spectacular sport-climbing routes on steep to very overhanging welded volcanic rock.

Regional Caves

New Mexico is internationally known for outstanding caves. See the caving club web page for more information.

New Mexico Skiing

New Mexico is justly famous for its downhill skiing. Ski Apache, Sandia Peak, Taos, and Ski Santa Fe are all within a few hours of Socorro.