Things to do while you study business and management in Socorro

While Socorro is definitely different from Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Farmington, Roswell, and other NM towns, it does offer many unique things for a business or engineering management student to do outside our beautiful "liberal-arts feeling" campus. The outdoors and historical landscapes around help our faculty and students refresh and recharge.

spaceport nm
Spaceport America in New Mexico

[#1] Spaceport is a unique place to visit. The key is that not every place in the country can set up a spaceport. First, you have to have a lot of empty land available; second, you must have a large enough no-flight zone (NFZ). Fortunately, New Mexico has both, and it is near Socorro. However, you must be invited to visit Spaceport America through a guided tour. The good news is that our management faculty helps organize one to two field trips to Spaceport America every year. Be sure to watch out for those email announcements for the Spaceport field trips. Here is some reading about Spaceport America to get you prepared for a field trip. 

 

 

[#2] The Box Canyon is the outdoor 101 in Socorro, about a 10-minute drive from the NMT campus. It is known to locals for its wild and rocky scenery, entry-level rocks to climb, and hiking trails. This short YouTube video by local photographer Lucy Luo captures them all. While the entire recreational area is well managed by the BLM, you should keep the following in mind before visiting:

box climbling
Rock Climbing in the Box Canyon
  • Parking lot coordinates: 34.002229, -106.991946. The short gravel road from US 60 to the parking lot has large rocks and pebbles; be sure to drive slowly if you are driving a low-clearance car. 
  • Bring enough water and wear (closed-toe) hiking shoes. 
  • There used to be a traveling musician living in one of the ancient caves on the side of the canyon (last seen in 2023). So your visit may add a bonus by enjoying some country music. 
  • It is best to visit the area during daylight with a friend or by group. In case of an emergency, call 911.