This is the eleventh post in our series about visiting state and national parks in New Mexico and our third about Elephant Butte Lake State Park. As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Elephant Butte Lake State Park makes a great basecamp to explore the area. Today, we will look at a couple of options for fun day trips.
Truth or Consequences
I strongly urge you to visit the visitor center to get the maps and information about all of the local attractions. Take time to soak in one of the many hot spring bathhouses in the area or have fun looking at all of the murals around town. You could also explore the Geronimo Springs Museum or Hamilton Military Museum.
Geronimo Trail Scenic Byway
This byway could easily take you several days to explore if you stop at little towns, take hikes, and visit museums or other attractions on the route. Here is a good map of the byway. On this website, click on the virtual tour section to explore the small towns in each section of the scenic drive.
Explore Gila National Forest
If you would like a nice map with a brochure about some of the destinations, click here. You have so many trails to choose from if you like to hike. Next week, I will explore Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument in more detail.
Other Options
If you have a space buff in your family, you might see if Spaceport America is open for a tour. The Sunspot Astronomy & Visitor Center or the White Sands Missile Range Museum might also be a good choice for them.
All of these are great options, however, if you just want to relax and enjoy the mountain views at the state park like we did, you will still have a great time!