New Mexico
Nature|Waterfalls

You’ll Want To Spend All Day At This Waterfall-Fed Pool In New Mexico

Sitting Bull Falls in Carlsbad, New Mexico, offers a perfect natural oasis with a 150-foot waterfall and cool wading pools for hot summer days.

Published Jul 18, 2018

Written by 

E Jamar

Summers in New Mexico are seriously hot, and it can be hard to choose the perfect place to cool off. This waterfall-fed pool in Carlsbad takes the cake when it comes to the perfect location for a hot summer day. With a 150-foot waterfall that keeps the wading pools beneath cool all day long, and a recreation area with the amenities you need, this is the perfect natural oasis to spend an entire hot desert summer day.

Sitting Bull Falls is simply the best place to be on a hot summer day.

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Tim2216/TripAdvisor

Located inside Lincoln National Forest in Carlsbad, you'll be surrounded by infinite beauty.

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WallaceGang/TripAdvisor

Many natural pools are located around this recreation area, and they're truly the best places to cool off within the hot desert.

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Genia M/TripAdvisor

New Mexico summers can get seriously hot, so make sure to stay cool by jumping in this waterfall-fed swimming hole.

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Sitting Bull Falls are situated in a canyon high above these natural pools, and fall 150 feet down below. Not only are they keeping us cool, but they're absolutely gorgeous.

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Honey H/TripAdvisor

Above the falls are multiple hiking trails, if you want to experience this natural oasis from new vantage points.

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Skiers4Ever/TripAdvisor

The Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area offers picnic tables, restrooms, and a pavilion, so you'll be set for the entire day.

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There's truly no better place to spend a hot summer day than this incredible water-fall fed spring in Carlsbad.

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The Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Site can be found off of County Road 409 in the Lincoln National Forest.

Have you ever spent an entire day at the falls? Let us know all about your experience in the comments, and don’t forget to share photos from your adventures with us in our New Mexico Nature Lovers Facebook group, or tag us on Instagram by tagging #onlyinnewmexico for a chance to be featured.

If you're not cool enough yet, check out this crystal clear swimming hole that you can even scuba dive in!

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Nature|Waterfalls

The Fillmore Canyon Trail Is One Of The Best Waterfall Hikes In New Mexico

Published Aug 1, 2024

Written by 

Melissa Mahoney

It's always amazing to me what you can find just by traveling on foot. You see a lot more than if you were in a car. That's why I enjoy hiking sometimes. Depending on the trail, you may encounter a historic site, some beautiful wildflowers, or even a waterfall. For those of you who love a good waterfall chase even once in a while, take the Fillmore Canyon Trail. It's one of the best waterfall hikes in New Mexico!

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Located at Organ Mountain within the Desert Peaks National Monument, the Fillmore Canyon Trail is a moderately challenging trek with 449 feet of overall elevation gain. At 2.1 miles, it should take only about an hour to complete.

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When you arrive, you will have to pay a fee at the Visitors Center and then drive west to the La Cueva picnic area where you'll find the trailhead.

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Along the 1.1-mile trek to the waterfall, you'll encounter a creek. However, depending on the time of year, it may or may not have water.

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You'll also see a historic site that was once part of Eugene Van Patten's Mountain Camp. This was where the mercantile, livery, and chicken coop were.

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When you arrive at the waterfall, hopefully it will look like this. Stick around for a while, relax, take pictures, and revel in the beauty of nature here!

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While the waterfall is flowing at times, that won't always be the case. Depending on the time of year and if there was recent rainfall, you may see just a trickle or nothing at all. Plan your visit accordingly, and still appreciate the beauty of this trail.

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Ready to embark on one of the best waterfall hikes in New Mexico? You can find trail details for the Fillmore Canyon Trail on AllTrails. I also think you should download the ultra-handy AllTrails+ app to guide you out on this and any other trail you plan to hike.

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Nature|Waterfalls

This Magical Waterfall Campground At Jemez Falls In New Mexico Is A Beautiful Retreat

Jemez Falls in New Mexico offers a unique camping experience with easy access to a 70-foot waterfall and natural pools.

Updated Jun 6, 2024

Written by 

Juliet White

Although New Mexico has quite a few waterfalls, reaching them often involves a lengthy hike. That’s not the case with Jemez Falls, a 70-foot-high waterfall hidden in the Jemez Mountains. The overlook is only a short jaunt away from the road and one of our favorite places to go camping in New Mexico.

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The campground makes a perfect base for exploring this spectacular area. This is also one of the few spots in New Mexico where you can camp, admire a waterfall, and then wade in the clear natural pools surrounding it. Talk about a unique place to spend the night!

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Google Maps

Use this Jemez Falls Campground map to plot your next camping adventure.

Jemez Falls Campground is situated just off NM-4, which is part of a scenic byway called the Jemez Mountain Trail. It’s between Los Alamos and Jemez Springs (significantly closer to the latter).

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Andy Langager / Flickr

Ponderosa pine trees tower over the Jemez Falls Campground, providing shade to the 52 mixed-use sites (which can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet in length). Each spot is equipped with a grill, fire ring, and picnic table.

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After you’ve set up camp, grab your hiking or wading shoes and take the 0.7-mile, out-and-back trail to the falls overlook.

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While there are dispersed sites to enjoy free camping in Jemez, the Jemez Falls Campground offers more modern conveniences.

The path meanders through a cool forest and emerges opposite Jemez Falls, providing a great photo op.

The pools at the top of the falls are shallower...

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Andy Langager / Flickr

...While those downstream are quite a bit deeper.

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NMMIMAJ via Wikimedia Commons

If you’re feeling energetic, add a hike to one of the hot springs in the area, such as McCauley Hot Springs.

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NMMIMAJ via Wikimedia Commons

Its temperature is warm rather than toasty, making it pleasant in the summer as well as the cooler months.

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Shari Garland via Wikimedia Commons

While we don't recommend cliff jumping - it's really dangerous - this clip gives you a glimpse of the beauty surrounding Jemez Falls.

Have you ever enjoyed a little tent camping in New Mexico at the Jemez Falls Campground or visited this waterfall?

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The small town of Jemez Springs is nearby and offers a surprising amount of attractions, given its diminutive size. If you continue along the scenic byway in that direction, be sure to pause at Soda Dam and the Gilman Tunnels.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/new-mexico/best-tiny-town-nm/

Another amazing place in New Mexico is the Bisti Badlands - take a look at this beautiful natural area in this video:

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