|
 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 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.
|
