Whether you're looking for a peaceful waterfall hike, a refreshing dip in the water, or simply a gorgeous view to take your mind off the heat, New Mexico has plenty of great places to enjoy waterfalls.
If you're in the area, make sure to visit Nambe Falls near Santa Fe! This 175-foot waterfall is known for its plank walkway, which once connected a mining town to the source of water.
Travertine falls are a type of waterfall that looks frozen in time. They are the product of thousands of years of thermal interaction between the Earth's interior and its surface.
These dazzling waterfalls are formed at a hot spring on a slope when the scalding water carries along dissolved calcium carbonate and deposits it as travertine rock. These travertine terraces are one of the most fascinating geological phenomena on Earth, and they can be found in many locations around the world.
The geological formation of travertine is a fascinating story that makes for a memorable stop on any trip to Havasu Canyon in New Mexico. As groundwater percolates through the Grand Canyon's numerous limestone layers, it dissolves abundant calcite.
Throughout the canyon, travertine mounds form in numerous places at the springs that transport emergent groundwater down the south rim of Havasu Creek. Among these travertine mounds is the world-famous Havasu Falls, where turquoise waters leap over a 30-meter-high cliff of travertine rock.
Soda Dam Falls is a great spot to stop along NM-4 north of Jemez Springs. It's a super cool rock formation that was formed by hot springs that have been around for over 7,000 years.
This waterfall isn't very big, but it's really unique. The waterfall flows under a natural bridge and it's incredibly beautiful!
It's one of the most popular waterfalls in New Mexico. Located on the Jemez Mountain Trail, this site is home to more than half a million visitors a year.
Soda Dam was created by underground hot springs that have formed a unique calcium carbonate and travertine deposit. The resulting waterfall is a natural bridge over the Jemez River.
Located in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, these waterfalls are in the midst of an astounding, sheer - walled "box" canyon. The falls are about 5 miles southwest of Jemez Springs.
During the late fall months, brilliant red, orange and yellow leaves can be seen throughout this national park. They are a rare sight in the desert, but this area's elevation and environment make it an ideal location for displaying this color display.
Thousands of people come to the park each year to see McKittrick Canyon's breathtaking foliage. The colors, typically peaking during the last two weekends of October and early November, contrast with the arid Chihuahuan desert.
Tucked away in northern New Mexico's Jemez Mountains, the Gilman Tunnels are a series of old railroad tunnels blasted out of rock. They were originally part of the Santa Fe Northwestern Railway and named after a railroad executive, William H. Gilman, who died in 1931.
Today, these rocky tunnels are a tourist attraction with a fascinating history. They're a relic of the pioneering railroad era and are popular with sightseers, hikers, and cyclists.
The area is also home to a number of other waterfalls. One of the most beautiful falls is Sitting Bull Falls.
Another is Soda Dam. These two falls are located in the Jemez Mountains.
To get to the waterfalls, drive west on State Road 4 toward Jemez Springs. Then turn onto Forest Service Road 376. From here, you'll find a scenic trail that surrounds a unique formation of volcanic rock. This is also a great spot to check out a natural hot springs, which look pretty cool from the road!
