Category New Mexico

Elephant Butte Lake State Park

1970 Avion C11 truck camper parked along the shore of Elephant Butte Lake at sunset.

New Mexico is a colorful and dramatic state of deserts and mountains. Water is a precious commodity. Which lead to the authorization of the Rio Grande Project back in 1905. This program to provide power and irrigation to New Mexico and Texas led to the erection of several dams along the Rio Grande, including the Elephant Butte Dam just north of Truth or Consequences. The resulting Elephant Butte Reservoir, however, is more than just a holding tank for farmer's fields. It has become a recreation hotspot as Elephant Butte Lake State Park.

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Shakespeare Ghost Town

Pitcher, dishes, and cutlery on an old wooden table in an aging brick building in Shakespeare Ghost Town, New Mexico.

Southern New Mexico is a harsh desert environment. The winds whip by at intensities provoking an early warning system for dust storms and sun protection is warranted even in the winter. Yet, scrappy people have lived and even thrived in this area for generations. Some stay. Some move on. A bit of both is found in Shakespeare's Ghost Town, the remains of a thriving mining town now passed down through a family of caretakers and conservationists.

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Shiprock

The Navajo people of Shiprock, New Mexico do not permit general access to this iconic site so we take a respectful shot from the highway.

Shiprock—Tsé Bitʼaʼí, "rock with wings" or "winged rock" to the Navajo people—rises a dramatic 1,583 feet above the desert floor of North-Western New Mexico. These eroded remains of an ancient volcano are sacred the the Navajo who live in the area. While access to the peak itself is forbidden, the dramatic views of Shiprock make it worth a visit.

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Aguirre Spring Campground

Leaving Aguirre Spring Campground

We don't have high expectations when we compromise on a campground. We are headed to White Sands National Monument, but there are no drive-in camp sites in the monument itself. So, we need a campground not too far outside of the monument to spend the night and are willing to sacrifice scenery for proximity. So, we expect the regular cramped campgrounds. We are not prepared for the remarkable views from Aguirre Spring Campground.

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El Morro

Hike past petroglyphs, historic route markings, and graffiti around the iconic cliffs of this box canyon at El Morro National Monument in New Mexico.

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