Located to the east of Las Cruces, New Mexico, the Organ Mountains rise above the Chihuahuan Desert, serving as a beacon for those looking for adventure within its pine forests and miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. To the south, the landscape changes to one of ancient volcanic upheaval.
Highlights
Along its 5 miles, the Pine Tree Trail in Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks rises steeply, traverses a high ridgeline with great views of the surrounding area, and then drops back down. It gets rocky in spots, with the occasional rock scrambling to keep things interesting. The trail is easy to follow, but be sure to pick up or download a map ahead of time.
About 30 minutes away, kids will love searching for fossils and footprints in Prehistoric Trackways National Monument, made by strange creatures that lived more than 280 million years ago. The tracks can be difficult to spot, even for trained professionals—the best tracks have been excavated and put on display at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque. The nearest fossils from the parking area are about a 1.5-mile hike. ATVs are allowed in certain parts of the national monument.
How to Get There by RV
Interstate 10 runs through the middle of the various sections of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. Most RVers shouldn’t have an issue navigating to any section of the monuments.
Where to Camp
The Aguirre Spring Campground is the ideal base camp for a long weekend camping. There are no hookups, but lovely views and trails can be accessed directly from the campground. Some larger rigs may not fit most sites.
When you pull into the Prehistoric Trackways Dispersed Camping area, you immediately know what you’re getting—a large dirt lot with no amenities. You’ll find a staging area for ATVs nearby.
Other Nearby Camping Options
