Outdoor Recreation in Socorro County
| In Socorro
Socorro and the surrounding area is perfect for mountain biking. At right is the "Socorro Single Track" mountain bike trail to the north of New Mexico Tech. Strawberry Peak is the distinctively shaped lava dome in the background. Check out the Socorro Striders and Riders for more information on local biking and running activities (like the annual Socorro Fat Tire Fiesta). |
 |
Quebradas |
||
 |
 |
|
Sierra de las Canas viewed from the Quebradas BLM Back Country Byway |
Mountain bikers from around the southwest at the start of the 2007 |
|
| Chupadera and Ladron Mountains
Immediately to the west of Socorro lie the volcanic Chupadera mountains and, further north, the dramatic granitic escarpment of the Sierra Ladrones. Notable hikes include the Chupadera Mountain trail in the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Chupadera Wilderness, the rugged climb to the 9,176-foot summit of Ladron Peak, and San Lorenzo Canyon. San Lorenzo Canyon lies at the southern boundary of the vast Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. |
||
|
|
||
 |
 |
|
Sierra Ladrones BLM Wilderness Study Area north of Socorro |
Approaching the mouth of San Lorenzo Canyon |
|
 |
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Northeast of Socorro lie the three units of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, Quarai, Abo, and Gran Quivira, which preserve historic pueblo and mission ruins occupied through the late 1600s. At left are the 17th century mission ruins at Quarai. |
Ruins at Quarai |
| Cibola National Forest
The Magdalena District of the Cibola National Forest begins just a few miles west of Socorro, and includes the Magdalena, Bear, and San Mateo Mountains. The mountains span an astonishing range of life zones, from upper Chihuahuan desert to Pinon-Juniper forests, to ponderosa forests, to subalpine meadows and aspen groves. There are two National Forest wilderness areas in the San Mateo mountains, Withington and Apache Kid, which offer exceptional opportunities for hiking and camping. There are also numerous forest service roads and trails that are open to mountain biking. Each year, the Socorro Fat Tire Fiesta includes a 4,000 foot vertical hill climb race from Water Canyon campground to the 10,710-foot summit of South Baldy. |
|
 |
 |
The Magdalena Crest |
Strawberry peak and the 10,000 foot crest of the Magdalena Mountains viewed
|
 |
 |
Mountain Biking to the 10,710-foot summit of South Baldy just west of Socorro |
Mountain biking in the San Mateo Mountains |
 |
Bosque del Apache
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a nationally known venue for bird and wildlife watching, photography, and hiking located just south of Socorro. Along with the Socorro Chamber of Commerce, it hosts the annual Festival of the Cranes, which draws over 10,000 visitors to the refuge each Autumn to greet tens of thousands of migratory birds. |
Sandhill cranes in flight at the Bosque del Apache (photo by Peter Scholle) |
| Gila National Forest
Within a few hours drive lies the Gila National Forest, home of the world-renowned Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness areas. The Gila encompasses over a million acres of outstanding roadless mountains, mesas, canyons, rivers, hot springs, archeological resources, and the most biologically diverse forests in the American southwest. |
 |
A vista in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness |
 |
Box Canyon and Enchanted Tower Rock Climbing There are two notable rock climbing areas near Socorro. Box Canyon is a (BLM) recreational area just minutes from town offering moderate-to-difficult climbing and bouldering in a steep volcanic canyon. The Enchanted Tower area is located near the rural community of Datil in the Cibola National Forest, about 1 hour west of Socorro. It includes spectacular sport-climbing routes on steep to very overhanging welded volcanic rock. Check out the NMT Climbing Club. |
||
|
|
||
Climbing at Enchanted Tower |
Bob Broilo at Box Canyon |
||
Regional Caves Right: The NMT Caving Club at Cottonwood Cave in the Guadalupe Mountains |
 |
 |
|
New Mexico Skiing and Snowboarding Left: Ski Mountaineering near Santa Fe (Penitente Peak in background) |
More Info
Check MapQuest
for a map of Socorro. If this link is broken, type in NMT's street address (801 Leroy Place) as well as Socorro, NM 87801.
For more information, here are some additional links:
NMT Department
of Tourism
SouthernNewMexico.com
New
Mexico Tech Socorro Page
Desert
USA's Socorro Page
Socorro
Chamber of Commerce
|
Last Updated: April 1, 2008 Please contact Webmaster regarding content on this page. |
