What a great place to get away in just 20 minutes from Las Cruces. You can either drive threw, picnic or camp over night. Great scenery and wildlife. On the east side Organ mountains at the base if their peaks. Bring water.
There are a number of hiking trails in this area, some fairly rigorous. The spectacular views of the Organ Mountains are a nice distraction as you ascend the trails. Off to the east there are glimpses of White Sands National Monument. This area is on the north side of the Organs so it gets shadier and cooler faster.
There is a few very picturesque trails. Given New Mexican wather this is a great location because of the elevation. So it is not as hot as the surrounding area is. Thus, if you are going during colder weather, do not forget to prepare warm clothes. The park also offers very nice picnic facilities.
We stayed a night here last week--early November and had a great time. The campground host Jack was super helpful and directed us to campsite #36--the perfect campsite. Gorgeous views looking down at the White Sands Missile Range valley and up at the Organ Mountains. No need to even bring water because you can fill up with well water at the campground host's site. Really nice 4 mile hike is the Pine Tree Trail, a loop taking you up in the foothills for spectacular views. We'll definitely be back again.
Beautiful campground. You must take in your own water, but it is so worth it to get far off the main road and into the foothills of the Organ Mountains. Each space has a concrete pad and covered picnic table/area, smooth ground for tents, and a fire pit. Clean waterless restrooms are conveniently located in the different camping areas. Amazing views and two great hiking trails.
Between Las Cruces and Alamgordo, one would almost not expect to find anything but more desert. Aguirre Springs is a great place to camp for the night, although bringing water and a sand-proof tent is recommended. The views in the morning are totally worth the sand blown into your sleeping bag though! I also recommend the hike which starts in the campground (or part of it at least) in the morning -- gorgeous views of the valley below!PS can't remember whether there is water there, so bring some just in case!
The Pine Tree Trail at Aguirre Spring is a 4.5 mile loop with a elevation gain of 1180 feet that took us about 2 hours and 40 minutes to complete. We stopped many times to take photos and enjoy the scenery. It had rained about 4 inches the week before so the wild flowers were spectacular. My hiking partner has been hiking there for 23 years and he said it's the nicest he's ever seen. The trail crosses a creek quite a few times. Because of the rain there was a decent water flow. Lots of Morning Glories and Daisies lined the trail sometimes almost chest high. There was lots of bugs (thought they didn't bother us), lizards, and even a tarantula. It was an enjoyable sunny Fall day with the temperature at 75 when we started at 10 A.M. and 77 when we finished.The trail is not difficult if you are use to hiking. Kids should have no problem. Tennis shoes would work in a pinch but I prefer hiking boots since the trail is rocky in many parts. It's $5 for a day pass and more for camping. We got in free with a Senior Pass from the National Park Service since my hiking buddy is over 62.
I love this park. I almost never went there when I lived in Las Cruces, NM. Now that I've moved away, I always make time to visit here when I come home. It reminds me so much of all that I love about NM and the mountains.The "Pine Tree Trail" is the one you want. It's five miles of moderate hiking. If you plan it right you can even see small springs higher up. This is a real treat for these desert mountains. It's really hard to believe that an alpine ecosystem can exist here surrounded by arid desert, but it does. The views from the top of the trail are breathtaking. You really should try this. It's only $5 per car for day use. Not a bad price for the experience.
probably one of the most beautiful places in the southwest but very crowded on holidays and in the summer. People camp there in the summer.
We took the Pine Trail hike. We started the hike at 1PM and finished at 5PM. It was a 4 mile hike and pretty difficult at times. We were not used to the higher elevation and got very winded at times. According to the information provided at the trail head, it was supposed to be a 2 1/2 hour hike. At times ithe trail was ice and snow covered which made for very slow going and Alittle dangerous. We thought the trail could have been marked better, there were a few spots that were confusing! Probably not a good trail choice for January with the snow at the higher elevation. All in all we enjoyed the scenery and fresh air. Take water and wear good shoes/ boots!