Spring Canyon Recreation Area

Spring Canyon Recreation Area is an extension of Rockhound State Park in the Florida Mountains. The canyon views here are a step up from the main park and easy to reach. Fun fact: Florida means “flowery” in Spanish, a reference to the wildflowers that can cover the slopes after heavy rains.

What to Do

The main hike is the Lovers Leap Trail, which climbs through Spring Canyon to a high saddle in the Florida Mountains. Lovers Leap is the viewpoint at the top, where the view opens across the desert west of Deming. The trail is short but steep, gaining a lot of elevation quickly, and is more demanding than most of the trails at Rockhound State Park.

How Much Time to Spend

Give yourself about an hour to enjoy the canyon, or longer if you plan to hike to Lovers Leap which is 2.4 miles round trip.

Getting There

Spring Canyon is reached via the same paved entrance road as Rockhound State Park, off NM-11 southeast of Deming. The picnic area and trailhead are a short drive past the main park, on paved roads the whole way.

Spring Canyon is an easy addition to a Rockhound State Park visit and may be your favorite part on account of the views!