There are so many wonders of the world in New Mexico alone that it’s challenging to narrow down a list to seven entries. The original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were all made by humans. Since then, lists have emerged detailing the wonders of the modern world and natural world. So we’ve combined some of our state’s most impressive manmade and natural marvels into New Mexico’s own seven wonders of the world.

1. White Sands National Monument
Flickr/Diana Robinson
Flickr/Allen Sheffield
White Sands National Park, New Mexico, USA
Flickr/Howard Ignatius
White Sands is the planet’s largest gypsum dune field. It covers 275 square miles and is continually expanding. This surreal environment is particularly enchanting at sunset. Learn more about White Sands National Monument on the National Park Service website.
2. Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Flickr/Chris M Morris
Flickr/Aaron Fellmeth Photography
Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico, USA
Flickr/Jacqueline Poggi
As you wander through the remains of the buildings at Chaco Canyon, you can’t help but marvel at the scale and complexity of the architecture here. Construction of this UNESCO World Heritage Site began in the mid-800s.

Chaco is unusual because it was built according to a plan. When intact, the structures here consisted of hundreds of rooms, stacked several stories high. Right up until the 19th century, the buildings at Chaco held the record for being the largest in North America. It's one of the most amazing wonders of the world in New Mexico. You can learn more on the National Park Service website.
3. The Sandia Peak Tramway
Flickr/ehpien
Facebook/Sandia Peak Ski & Tramway
Sandia Peak Tramway, Tramway Road Northeast, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Facebook/Sandia Peak Ski & Tramway
The longest aerial tramway in the country spans 2.7 miles. The ride up to Sandia Peak (which is at an altitude of 10,378 feet) lasts for 15 minutes – plenty of time to gaze at the expansive views stretching out far below. Visit the Sandia Peak Tramway website for more information.
4. The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness
Flickr/Larry Lamsa

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Bisti / De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area, County Road 7297, Bloomfield, NM 87413, USA
Flickr/John Fowler
The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is probably New Mexico’s least recognized wonder. These badlands contain rock formations that fill even the most jaded traveler with awe. This is one of the most incredible wonders of the world in New Mexico.
5. The Rio Grande Gorge
Flickr/mwwile
Flickr/Dave Hensley
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, New Mexico 87529, USA
Sheila McClune/Wikimedia Commons
The Rio Grande Gorge is part of the recently established Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument. Parts of the gorge are 800 feet deep, and the best way to view this rift valley is from the middle of the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. You'll love visiting Rio Grand Gorge, one of the most beautiful wonders of the world in New Mexico.
6. Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Flickr/Dave Wilson
Flickr/Mathieu Lebreton
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Carlsbad, NM, USA
Wctr2019/Wikimedia Commons
So, is Carlsbad Caverns a wonder of the world? Not officially but maybe it should be! Carlsbad Caverns is the second of New Mexico’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Most caves are formed by water erosion but these caverns were created by sulfuric acid. Before the entry path and elevators were built, anyone wishing to explore this fantastical, underground landscape had to descend into the darkness in a bucket! Visit the National Park Service website for more information.
7. Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Flickr/John Fowler
Flickr/Kyle McKenzie
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, 0 NM-22, Cochiti Pueblo, NM 87072, USA
Bureau of Land Management/Flickr
Volcanic eruptions were responsible for the hoodoos at Tent Rocks. You can hike between these giant formations, through a slot canyon, and up to a mesa that affords mountain views in all directions. Visit the Bureau of Land Management's website to learn more about one of the most otherworldly wonders of the world in New Mexico.

What would you include on your version of this list of wonders of the world in New Mexico? If we were allowed more than seven attractions, we’d add Taos Pueblo and perhaps Acoma Pueblo.

How many of these wonders have you seen firsthand? If you’d like to make natural wonders the theme of your next vacation, check out this natural wonders road trip, which links together most of the marvels described here, plus a few extra, into an easy-to-drive loop.

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More to Explore

Wonders Of The World In New Mexico

Melissa M. | January 03, 2023

What are some of the best hidden gems in New Mexico?

Some of the best hidden gems in New Mexico include the following 

  • The White Place located Near Abiquiú
  • Elena Gallegos Park in Albuquerque
  • Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan
  • Randall Davey Audubon Center in Santa Fe
  • Mesalands Community College Dinosaur Museum and Natural Laboratory in Tucumcari
  • Fox Cave in Ruidoso Downs
  • Geronimo Springs Museum in Truth or Consequences
  • Elephant Butte Lake in Truth or Consequences
  • Narrows Rim Trail in El Malpais National Conservation Area
  • Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan

 

You can also explore several hidden gems in New Mexico on this road trip.

 

What are some other wonders of the world in New Mexico?

Aside from those listed above, additional wonders of the world in New Mexico include the following eight attractions;

  • Shiprock Rock Formation in San Juan County
  • Bandelier National Monument near Los Alomos
  • Capulin Volcano in Capulin
  • Tent Rocks in Cochiti
  • White Mountain Wilderness near Ruidoso
  • Blue Hole in Santa Rosa
  • Organ Mountains in Las Cruces
  • Bosque del Apache in Socorro

 

Read more about these and other natural wonders in New Mexico.

 

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