Chihuahuan Desert

The Chihuahuan Desert covers much of southern New Mexico, stretching from the Rio Grande east toward the Texas border and south deep into Old Mexico. It is the largest desert in North America, but it does not look like the classic sea of sand you might imagine when you hear “desert.” Much of New Mexico’s portion is made up of open grassland, yucca flats, desert scrub, dry basins, and isolated mountain ranges rising sharply from the surrounding plains. Places like White Sands, the Organ Mountains, and the mountains of the Bootheel all sit within the broader Chihuahuan Desert landscape.

What to Do

There are many places to experience the Chihuahuan Desert. Scenic drives cross enormous open basins between Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Deming, Lordsburg, and Carlsbad, while public lands throughout the region offer hiking, wildlife watching, camping, and stargazing.

The desert is known for yucca, agave, creosote, sotol, ocotillo, and vast flat grasslands. Pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes, javelina, roadrunners, and a huge variety of reptiles and birds live throughout the region. Some of the best places to see the desert away from development include Otero Mesa, Kilbourne Hole, the Potrillo Mountains, and the remote ranges of the New Mexico Bootheel. After summer monsoon rains, the desert can briefly turn green and fill with wildflowers. The Florida Mountains in Rockhound State Park are a great place to see that.

How Much Time to Spend

As much time as you want, the Chihuahuan Desert covers a gigantic portion of New Mexico. You might spend an afternoon hiking one area or several days moving between desert mountains, grasslands, dunes, and small towns.

Spring and fall are the nicest seasons to explore the Chihuahuan Desert. Winter days can be pleasant at lower elevations, but summer afternoons can be deadly!