Rockhound State Park

Rockhound State Park sits in the rugged Little Florida Mountains just southeast of Deming.

As the name suggests, the park is all about rocks. You can search designated areas for quartz, jasper, geodes, and other minerals, making it one of very few state parks where taking home a souvenir is actually part of the experience.

Even if you couldn’t care less about rocks, the park is worth visiting for its Chihuahuan Desert scenery, with cactus-covered hillsides and huge views across the Deming basin.

Things to Do

Go Rockhounding

Rock collecting is the signature activity here.

That said, the park has been thoroughly rockhounded over the years. Don’t expect perfect geodes to be lying beside the trail. If you’re serious about finding cool rocks, you’ll need to look carefully and explore beyond the obvious spots.

Fortunately, there is a rock shop near the park entrance where you can purchase pre-cut geodes that you can claim to have found yourself!

Hike the Little Florida Mountains

The park has a few short trails that climb into the foothills above the campground.

Jasper Trail begins near the visitor center and connects with the Thunder Egg Trail, giving you wide views over the surrounding desert as you climb.

The hikes are 1.5 to 2 miles long, making Rockhound an easy place to explore without dedicating an entire day.

Visit Spring Canyon

Don’t leave without checking out the separate Spring Canyon Recreation Area a few miles away.

Spring Canyon is deeper in the Florida Mountains and feels noticeably more dramatic than the main park. Steep mountain slopes surround picnic areas and hiking trails, including the climb toward Lovers Leap. If you’re visiting Rockhound mainly for the scenery rather than the rocks, Spring Canyon might end up being your favorite part.

Camp in the Desert

Rockhound has a nice campground in the foothills of the Little Florida Mountains.

The elevated location gives campsites wide views toward Deming and the surrounding mountains, while the relative isolation makes for excellent star gazing.

Final Take

Rockhound is on the smaller side and there is a lot of great things packed into this park.

Hunt for rocks, hike through the desert, or enjoy the views from the Little Florida Mountains. Give yourself around two hours for the main park, and add some extra time if you plan to explore Spring Canyon.

If you’re already visiting Deming, Rockhound State Park is absolutely worth the short drive south of town.