[vc_column][vc_custom_heading text="#5 - Desert Discovery Trail" font_container="tag:h2|font_size:30|text_align:left|color:%23dd3333" google_fonts="font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:600%20bold%20regular%3A600%3Anormal"][vc_empty_space height="12px"]

The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park features an easy 1.5 mile trek around the park where hikers can learn about the geology, archaeology, plants and animals of the region.

[vc_empty_space height="12px"][vc_single_image image="14599"][vc_empty_space height="35px"][vc_separator color="custom" accent_color="#dd3333"][vc_empty_space height="35px"][vc_custom_heading text="#4 - Dripping Springs" font_container="tag:h2|font_size:30|text_align:left|color:%23dd3333" google_fonts="font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:600%20bold%20regular%3A600%3Anormal"][vc_empty_space height="12px"]Hike from the desert-scrub base of the majestic Organs, into the low elevation pinon-juniper where the air is cooler and the spring flows.

There are also great wildlife viewing opportunities, including year-round viewing of the red-tailed hawk, Gambel’s quail, golden eagle and rock squirrel, desert mule deer and coyote.

Also be on the lookout for black-throated sparrow, ladder-backed woodpecker, verdin, black-tailed gnatcatcher, lesser nighthawk, Scott’s oriole, cactus wren, desert cottontail, and collared and tree lizard in the spring and summer.[vc_empty_space height="12px"][vc_single_image image="14602"][vc_empty_space height="35px"][vc_separator color="custom" accent_color="#dd3333"][vc_empty_space height="35px"][vc_custom_heading text="#3 - Playa Trail at White Sands National Monument" font_container="tag:h2|font_size:30|text_align:left|color:%23dd3333" google_fonts="font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:600%20bold%20regular%3A600%3Anormal"][vc_empty_space height="12px"]The Playa Trail is an easy, half mile round-trip, level trail with outdoor exhibits along the way to help you learn and explore this trail and the characteristics that make it special.

Take the self-guided green trail marked with a heart symbol to a small playa and learn how change affects and creates habitats for animals and plants.

The playa can be white, brown, filled with water or growing crystals; find out for yourself.

The end of the trail affords hikers the opportunity to time travel 10,000 years and lean what the area looked like and what giants roamed the land.

It takes about 30 minutes to complete your journey.[vc_empty_space height="12px"][vc_single_image image="14583"][vc_empty_space height="35px"][vc_separator color="custom" accent_color="#dd3333"][vc_empty_space height="35px"][vc_custom_heading text="#2 - Dune Life Nature Trail at White Sands National Monument " font_container="tag:h2|font_size:30|text_align:left|color:%23dd3333" google_fonts="font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:600%20bold%20regular%3A600%3Anormal"][vc_empty_space height="12px"]

This trail is a moderate, one-mile self-guided loop that is not difficult, but does require hikers to climb two steep dunes with loose sand.

Follow the blue trail markers with a club symbol to meet Katy the Kit Fox and learn about her friends on this family-oriented trail.

Look for tracks of the animals that call these dunes their home.

Kit foxes, badgers, birds, rodents, and reptiles all live in this area.

The average completion time is one hour.

[vc_empty_space height="12px"][vc_single_image image="14605"][vc_empty_space height="35px"][vc_separator color="custom" accent_color="#dd3333"][vc_empty_space height="35px"][vc_custom_heading text="#1 - Bar Canyon" font_container="tag:h2|font_size:30|text_align:left|color:%23dd3333" google_fonts="font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:600%20bold%20regular%3A600%3Anormal"][vc_empty_space height="12px"]

A three-mile loop, which offers an easy and scenic hike very close to Las Cruces.

The Bar Canyon Trail includes scenic vistas of the central Organ Mountains and the southern Mesilla Valley, and is located at the Soledad Canyon Day Use Area.

Dogs allowed!

No fee!

[vc_empty_space height="12px"][vc_single_image image="14606"][vc_empty_space height="15px"][vc_empty_space height="15px"][vc_custom_heading text="You Will Also Love Reading These" font_container="tag:h2|font_size:25|text_align:center|color:%23dd3333" google_fonts="font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:600%20bold%20regular%3A600%3Anormal"][vc_empty_space height="12px"][vcex_blog_grid columns="3" posts_per_page="3" img_size="full"]