Mesilla Valley Bosque
Monthly Bird ID Walking Tour Enjoy a guided walk and learn how to identify various resident and migratory bird species from a local expert birder and member of the Mesilla Valley Audubon Society. Plan on walking approx, 2mi round trip on easy to moderate trail. There is a $5 per vehicle DAY USE FEE required UPON ENTRY.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Alex Mares 575-523-4398

Cerrillos Hills
July 4th Community Picnic Join us for the Amigos de Cerrillos Hills State Park Annual July 4th Community Picnic in Cerrillos! The BBQ includes hotdogs, watermelon, guest speakers, and a fun live animal event at the Cerrillos Hills State Park visitor center.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Peter Lipscomb 505-474-0196

Eagle Nest Lake
Independence Day Fireworks Celebrate Independence Day with fireworks over Eagle Nest Lake! Watch with friends and family as the colorful display lights up Moreno Valley with sparkling reflections on the water. The Eagle Nest Chamber of Commerce hosts the event. RSVP at eaglenestchamber.com under "Events." For more information email EagleNestChamberNM@gmail.com.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Jordan Mitchell 575-377-1594

Elephant Butte Lake
2024 Elephant Butte Fireworks Show Elephant Butte Lake State Park will host a fireworks show shot from Rattlesnake Island over the waters of the lake. Show starts at dark thirty and can be seen from the main area of the park or on the water. The event brought to you by the Friends of Elephant Butte Lake State Park and donations.
Fees: Fees for show waived after 6
Contact: Chris Bolen 575-744-5923

Oasis
Star Gazing Party Join the Clovis Astronomy Club for a night of star gazing on July 6, 2024. This will take place in the visitor center parking lot at dusk. Regular entrance fees apply for non-annual permit holders. All ages are invited to attend. No pets will be allowed at this event. Bring your binoculars, telescopes, red lens flashlights, etc. if you have them and enjoy a night of learning under the stars. **NO animals allowed at this event**
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Valerie Russ 575-356-5331

Rio Grande Nature Ctr.
The Sun Shines on Nature The Sun Shines on Nature- Saturday Mornings at RGNC. A new topic every Saturday. Especially for kids aged 5 to 10 years old. Children should always bring their own adult, so they can enjoy the program with their child. Meet in Visitor Center. Call to reserve a spot PHONE 505 344 7240. Here comes the sun! And it’s going to help shine light on the beautiful art of nature. Using special sun print paper and gathered objects of nature, kids will create one-of-a-kind mosaic while learning about chemical processes aided by the sun. Day-Use Fee: Cost $3.00 per vehicle (exact cash or check) Friends of the RGNC permit holders and NM State Parks annual permit holders enter free with valid permit displayed.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Front Desk 505 344-7240

Rio Grande Nature Ctr.
Guided Bird Walk Join us for our Guided Bird Walks every Saturday and Sunday morning. Registration is required. Please call the RGNC Front Desk at 505-344-7240 to sign up. Walks are limited to (12) people. The Park’s Day-Use Fee is $3.00 per vehicle (exact cash or check). Friends of the RGNC and NM State Parks annual permit holders enter free with a valid permit displayed. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, insect repellent and sunscreen, as needed. Meet at the Candelaria Viewing Area (Northeast side of the parking lot). If you are signed up and can’t attend, kindly call us so that we can open the spot to someone on the waiting list.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Front Desk (505) 344-7240

Ute Lake
Annual 4th of July Celebration Come join the fun and watch the annual fireworks display at Ute Lake State Park Saturday, July 6th. The show is scheduled for dusk with fireworks being set off from the cliffs at Windy Point. Please bring exact cash or check for the $5 park entrance fee, or display a valid New Mexico State Parks annual pass.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Taylor Smith (575) 403-7520

Rio Grande Nature Ctr.
Guided Bird Walk Join us for our Guided Bird Walks every Saturday and Sunday morning. Registration is required. Please call the RGNC Front Desk at 505-344-7240 to sign up. Walks are limited to (12) people. The Park’s Day-Use Fee is $3.00 per vehicle (exact cash or check). Friends of the RGNC and NM State Parks annual permit holders enter free with a valid permit displayed. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, insect repellent and sunscreen, as needed. Meet at the Candelaria Viewing Area (Northeast side of the parking lot). If you are signed up and can’t attend, kindly call us so that we can open the spot to someone on the waiting list.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Front Desk (505) 344-7240

Bottomless Lakes
Bottomless Triathlon The Bottomless Triathlon is an annual event (inaugural event was in 1984) at Bottomless Lakes State Park. Participants will swim 400m in Lea Lake, bike one loop around the BLSP road and run 4 kilometers from Lea Lake to halfway to the Visitors Center and back. For more information, please call 575-9883638. The regular Park Entrance Fee applies. Please bring exact cash or check or display a valid New Mexico State Parks annual pass.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Jonathan McGary 575-988-3638

Rio Grande Nature Ctr.
Dancing with Nature Dancing with Nature - Saturday Mornings at RGNC. A new topic every Saturday. Especially for kids aged 5 to 10 years old. Children should always bring their own adult, so they can enjoy the program with their child. Meet in Visitor Center. Call to reserve a spot PHONE 505 344 7240. The Earth is alive with dance and music! We will explore the natural world around us by practicing sensory observation and nature connections. From our explorations, we will learn about the plants and animals who call the Nature Center home. As we leap like frogs, glide like water, and stand like a tree, may we remember that we are all nature. Day-Use Fee: Cost $3.00 per vehicle (exact cash or check) Friends of the RGNC permit holders and NM State Parks annual permit holders enter free with valid permit displayed.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Front Desk 505 344-7240

Rio Grande Nature Ctr.
Nature Walk See what's happening on the bosque trails. Please bring water, hat, sunglasses, etc. to be prepared for being outdoors. Enjoy a leisurely exploration of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque ecosystem with one of the RGNC volunteer naturalists. Search for signs of animal life and discover how the Bosque and the Rio Grande provide habitat. Registration is required. Please call the RGNC Front Desk at 505-344-7240 to sign up. Walks are limited to 12 people. The walk is about 1.5 hours long. The mostly flat, sandy trail is just under 1 mile. This walk is appropriate for adults and children. Meet the volunteer naturalist on the west side of the parking lot at the start of the trail, near the bulletin board. The Park’s Day-Use Fee is $3.00 per vehicle (exact cash or check). Friends of the RGNC and NM State Parks annual pass holders enter free with valid permits displayed.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: RGNC Front Desk 505-344-7240

Rio Grande Nature Ctr.
Guided Bird Walk Join us for our Guided Bird Walks every Saturday and Sunday morning. Registration is required. Please call the RGNC Front Desk at 505-344-7240 to sign up. Walks are limited to (12) people. The Park’s Day-Use Fee is $3.00 per vehicle (exact cash or check). Friends of the RGNC and NM State Parks annual permit holders enter free with a valid permit displayed. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, insect repellent and sunscreen, as needed. Meet at the Candelaria Viewing Area (Northeast side of the parking lot). If you are signed up and can’t attend, kindly call us so that we can open the spot to someone on the waiting list.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Front Desk (505) 344-7240

Santa Fe Office
New Mexico Boating Safety Course Free, 8-hour class offered by New Mexico State Parks. There is no fee to take this class. Education is the key to becoming a better, more knowledgeable boater. In New Mexico, many boaters are required by law to complete a boating safety course and receive a boater education card. Everyone is eligible and encouraged to take the course and receive a card. Registration is required. Register using link below.
Fees: None
Contact: Scott Chalmers 505-490-3507
Register Online

Rio Grande Nature Ctr.
Guided Bird Walk Join us for our Guided Bird Walks every Saturday and Sunday morning. Registration is required. Please call the RGNC Front Desk at 505-344-7240 to sign up. Walks are limited to (12) people. The Park’s Day-Use Fee is $3.00 per vehicle (exact cash or check). Friends of the RGNC and NM State Parks annual permit holders enter free with a valid permit displayed. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, insect repellent and sunscreen, as needed. Meet at the Candelaria Viewing Area (Northeast side of the parking lot). If you are signed up and can’t attend, kindly call us so that we can open the spot to someone on the waiting list.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Front Desk (505) 344-7240

Navajo Lake
San Juan River Youth Fly-Fishing Head over to Navajo Lake State Park for a free fly-fishing seminar for the youth at Texas Hole parking lot on the San Juan River. This free seminar will introduce the youth to the joys of fly-fishing.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Robert Fitz 505-402-6995

Rio Grande Nature Ctr.
Stories Under the Cottonwood Tree Join us for Stories Under the Cottonwood Tree, at The Rio Grande Nature Center State Park. Saturday July 20, 2024, at 10:30 am. Meet in the Visitor Center, then head over to the Native Plant Garden. Storyteller and Master Naturalist, Dianne Rossbach, will share stories about Raven (and other birds) There will be stories, poems, & songs . . . "naturally" fun for all! Especially for those aged 5 to 10 years old. Children should always bring their own adult, so they can enjoy the fun, too! Aside from the Park Day-Use Fee, there is no additional charge for this program. The Park Day-Use Fee is $3.00 per vehicle exact cash or check (Friends of the RGNC permit holders and NM State Parks annual permit holders enter free with valid permit displayed). Stories Under the Cottonwood Tree will be offered at 10:30 am on the third Saturday of each month (weather permitting)
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: RGNC Front Desk 505-344-7240

Rio Grande Nature Ctr.
Guided Bird Walk Join us for our Guided Bird Walks every Saturday and Sunday morning. Registration is required. Please call the RGNC Front Desk at 505-344-7240 to sign up. Walks are limited to (12) people. The Park’s Day-Use Fee is $3.00 per vehicle (exact cash or check). Friends of the RGNC and NM State Parks annual permit holders enter free with a valid permit displayed. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, insect repellent and sunscreen, as needed. Meet at the Candelaria Viewing Area (Northeast side of the parking lot). If you are signed up and can’t attend, kindly call us so that we can open the spot to someone on the waiting list.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Front Desk (505) 344-7240

Sugarite Canyon
Coffee with a Ranger Meet at Lake Alice Campground for a Question and answer with a New Mexico State Park Ranger. There is generally a discussion topic related to events going in the park and the surrounding area. Coffee and doughnuts (while they last) are served. The regular Park Entrance Fee applies. Please bring exact cash or check or display a valid New Mexico State Parks annual pass.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Robert Smith 575 445 5607

Sugarite Canyon
Coal Camp Interpretive hike Tag along on a guided and narrated hike through the historic Sugarite Coal Camp. Sections of the trail are steep. Please dress appropriately for the weather and don't forget to bring water and sunscreen. The hike will start at the Sugarite Canyon State Park Visitor Center. The regular Park Entrance Fee applies.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Rob Smith 575 445 5607

Cerrillos Hills
Cochineal: The Color of Power A tiny insect that lives on cactus has been used to make red dye for centuries. Second only to silver as a premium export to Spain, its traditional uses persist to this day. Come find out what they are.
Fees: Donations welcome
Contact: Park Staff 505-474-0196

Rio Grande Nature Ctr.
Guided Bird Walk Join us for our Guided Bird Walks every Saturday and Sunday morning. Registration is required. Please call the RGNC Front Desk at 505-344-7240 to sign up. Walks are limited to (12) people. The Park’s Day-Use Fee is $3.00 per vehicle (exact cash or check). Friends of the RGNC and NM State Parks annual permit holders enter free with a valid permit displayed. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, insect repellent and sunscreen, as needed. Meet at the Candelaria Viewing Area (Northeast side of the parking lot). If you are signed up and can’t attend, kindly call us so that we can open the spot to someone on the waiting list.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Front Desk (505) 344-7240

Leasburg Dam
MUSIC and STARS Join us for a night of live music and star gazing. At 7:30 PM, Mark Courtney will perform live music across from the Visitor Center. Mark plays a variety of genres, including strong influences from traditional and contemporary Folk, Americana, Canadian and Celtic. He has played and recorded in a trio (East Mesa), a duo (Desert Blend), and as a soloist. His musical instruments include primarily acoustic guitar, but also mountain dulcimer and harmonica. At 8:30 PM, members from the Astronomical Society of Las Cruces will operate a 16" telescope to view amazing night sky objects. Through several telescopes, you will see nebulae, globular clusters, star clusters, planetary nebulae, galaxies, and more! The regular $5 per vehicle Park Entrance Fee applies. Please bring exact cash or check or display a valid New Mexico State Parks annual pass.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: any park staff 575-524-4068

Rio Grande Nature Ctr.
Bosque Birds Bosque Birds- Saturday Mornings at RGNC - last class for this Summer. Especially for kids aged 5 to 10 years old. Children should always bring their own adult, so they can enjoy the program with their child. Meet in Visitor Center. Call to reserve a spot PHONE 505 344 7240. Kids will practice using binoculars and bird guides, learn about birds at the Nature Center, and spend some time drawing them. Adults, if you have binoculars, please bring them. Day-Use Fee: Cost $3.00 per vehicle (exact cash or check) Friends of the RGNC permit holders and NM State Parks annual permit holders enter free with valid permit displayed.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Front Desk 505 344-7240

Rio Grande Nature Ctr.
Guided Bird Walk Join us for our Guided Bird Walks every Saturday and Sunday morning. Registration is required. Please call the RGNC Front Desk at 505-344-7240 to sign up. Walks are limited to (12) people. The Park’s Day-Use Fee is $3.00 per vehicle (exact cash or check). Friends of the RGNC and NM State Parks annual permit holders enter free with a valid permit displayed. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, insect repellent and sunscreen, as needed. Meet at the Candelaria Viewing Area (Northeast side of the parking lot). If you are signed up and can’t attend, kindly call us so that we can open the spot to someone on the waiting list.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Front Desk (505) 344-7240

Ute Lake
Ute Lake Outdoor Day Come join the fun at Ute Lake! New Mexico Game & Fish is hosting the Ute Lake Outdoor Day on Saturday, July 27th from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Group Shelter in the Main Park Entrance. There will be activities for the whole family including but not limited to poach coach, pellet gun trailer, casting demonstration, wildlife ID, archery, water safety presentation, OHV simulator and more! Hot dogs, waters and popsicles will be provided. This is a free event. Please bring exact cash or check for the $5 park entrance fee or display a valid New Mexico State Parks annual pass.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Laramy Roberts (505) 670-8035

Rio Grande Nature Ctr.
Guided Bird Walk Join us for our Guided Bird Walks every Saturday and Sunday morning. Registration is required. Please call the RGNC Front Desk at 505-344-7240 to sign up. Walks are limited to (12) people. The Park’s Day-Use Fee is $3.00 per vehicle (exact cash or check). Friends of the RGNC and NM State Parks annual permit holders enter free with a valid permit displayed. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, insect repellent and sunscreen, as needed. Meet at the Candelaria Viewing Area (Northeast side of the parking lot). If you are signed up and can’t attend, kindly call us so that we can open the spot to someone on the waiting list.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Front Desk (505) 344-7240

Ute Lake
Hereford Bass Hereford Bass Club is hosting a tournament on Sunday, July 28th from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. Boats can launch from any of the five ramps in the park. All participants will follow the rules of the Hereford Bass Club and catch and release. The weigh-in will take place at the Ute Lake weigh-in station by the marina. All equipment to weigh and measure the fish must follow the Hereford Bass Club rules. Please bring exact cash or check for the $5 park entrance fee or display a valid New Mexico State Parks annual pass.
Fees: Regular Entrance Fee
Contact: Dan Brooks (806) 344-6823