State - New Mexico Visitor Center Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/w5D8HvmTUchbvPbJ8 Park: Petroglyphs National Monument Length: Each trail will be individually listed with mileage below Fee: Free Petroglyph National Monument offers several options to hikers whether they want a short, informative stroll or a full blown suffer-fest among ancient volcanoes. Northwest of downtown Albuquerque, a hiker can easily drive to several units that make up this park. I'll detail the ones

State: New Mexico Trailhead: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4L1vhM9ePRafFXv18 Park: White Sands National Park Length: 4.5 miles Elevation: 52 feet Fee: Standard National Park Fees // Jagged yucca and thorned mesquite trees transition to smooth and serpentine dunes. The tans and ochres of the valley give way to strikingly white ridges of sand, layered against each other like vanilla soft serve ice cream. White Sands National Park rises suddenly out of the Chihuahuan Desert like anoth

State: New Mexico Trailhead Location: Approximately 2.5 miles beyond the Visitor Center Park: White Sands National Park Length: 1 mile, out-and-back Fee: Varies, see park details for discounts and passes // As a hiker who loves the challenge of distances and the high gypsum dunes, I almost passed this trail up the first time I visited the park. There are several draws to this short 1 mile jaunt. Firstly, it's family friendly and a short distance for those who aren't up for th