New Mexico’s waterfalls tend to be clustered together. That’s a good thing because it’s simple to link several into a short drive. Combine cruising along scenic byways, with manageable hikes, and waterfalls and you’re headed for a magical weekend. This trip to the best waterfalls in New Mexico takes 4 hours and 22 minutes to complete without stops, and the route covers 164 miles. Check out this customizable map to best plan for your upcoming adventure. Let’s go!

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1. Soda Dam
Soda Dam Springs, New Mexico 87025, USA
Flickr/monica.orchard
Soda Dam is a dam that has slowly formed over time due to calcium deposits. It's about 5,000 years old and, as water gushes through this formation, it creates a small yet powerful waterfall. In warmer months you can take a dip in the pool below the falls. There's no need to hike because this rock formation is located right next to the road. (A slight sulfur smell clings to the air here.)
2. Jemez Falls
Jemez Falls, New Mexico 87025, USA
Flickr/J.J.
Highway 4, which is one of our state's scenic byways, is also known as the Jemez Mountain Trail and the views along this drive are just astonishing. Savor them as you continue up the route to Jemez Falls, one of the best waterfalls in New Mexico.

Jemez Falls is 70 feet high. Reaching the viewing point only requires a 0.7-mile, out and back hike, along an easy trail. The soundtrack of the water tumbling over the rocks is incredibly soothing. You can stay at the nearby Jemez Springs Campground.
3. Upper Falls
Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico, USA
Flickr/Sally King, Bandelier National Monument
Bandelier National Monument is best known for its cliff dwellings, ruins, and petroglyphs. However, there is also a Falls Trail here. Follow a 1.5-mile-long path to Upper Falls. This waterfall is in a beautiful setting and is well worth viewing. (The trailhead is in the Backpacker’s Parking Lot.) Due to flash flood damage, you can no longer continue on to Lower Falls.

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4. White Rock Falls, Overlook Park
Flickr/Ron Cogswell
700 Overlook Rd, White Rock, NM 87547, USA
Tripadvisor/Brian O.
From this park, you can spy a waterfall in the nearby canyon. Plus, White Rock Overlook Park also affords stunning views of the Rio Grande and is a lovely, relatively undiscovered spot to visit.
5. Nambe Falls
Nambe Falls, New Mexico 87506, USA
Tripadvisor/44dave56
Nambe Falls, which is about 100 feet high, lies inside a recreation area on Nambe Pueblo. The falls are only 0.25 miles away from the campground (another great overnight option). There are two routes to the waterfall. They’re the same length but one takes you to the top of the falls, while the other leads to the bottom. Since they’re so short, it’s worth doing both. Be sure to check if it's open before going there by visiting the Nambe Pueblo website.
6. Kachina Falls
Taos Ski Valley, NM 87525, USA
Flickr/KrisNM
This dinky waterfall (it's only 15 feet high) is next to the lifts at Taos Ski Valley. Small but scenic, these New Mexico falls are still deserving of being considered some of the best waterfalls in the Land of Enchantment!
7. Williams Falls
Williams Lake Trail, Taos Ski Valley, NM 87525, USA
Flickr/Sarah Richter
The Lake Williams Trail from Taos Ski Valley is the longest hike on this trip at around four miles out and back. However, this easy-to-moderate hike is well worth the effort. It leads to a gorgeous alpine lake under Wheeler Peak. If you continue up another 0.25 miles, you come to Williams Falls, a 35-foot-high waterfall.

When you’re visiting falls in New Mexico, it’s a good idea to bring wading shoes or flip-flops. Also, bear in mind that New Mexico’s falls can vary in strength quite dramatically depending on the season and quantity of melting snow or rainfall.

So what do you think? Ready to hit the road and see the best waterfalls in New Mexico? What are some of your favorite New Mexico waterfalls? Let us know in the comments!

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More to Explore

Best Waterfalls In New Mexico

Leah | September 25, 2020

What are the best waterfall trails in New Mexico?

  • Bridal Veil Falls, Lincoln National Forest
  • Lost Lake Trail, Carson National Forest

 

There are many beautiful falls throughout the Land of Enchantment. The hike to the Bridal Veil Falls, located in the Lincoln National Forest, is 7 miles long and the trail to the falls is just as rewarding to hike as the view you'll get at the end. Bridal Veil Falls are a towering 45 feet tall and stunning to see in person. The Lost Lake Trail in the Carson National Forest is another worthy waterfall hike. The scenery is gorgeous to traverse on this long trail where you'll spot multiple waterfalls and trickling creeks along the way.

What are the most unique outdoor adventures in New Mexico?

 

If you're looking for a weekend getaway in New Mexico, try one of the many amazing outdoor adventures you can experience within the state. The Bisti Badlands, located near Nageezi, will make you feel like you were transported to another planet. The unique geological formations are fun to explore for people of any age. The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, located near Las Cruces, is any hiker's or adventurer's dream. It has hiking trails, biking trails, and horseback riding trails, all in an amazing spot.

What are the most beautiful places in New Mexico?

 

There are many stunning spots within the state that are worth visiting, whether it be a towering waterfall or an underground cave. For the latter, check out the jaw-dropping formations in the Carlsbad Caverns. Above ground, take a visit to the White Sands National Monument and see the bright gypsum sands of this unique spot. The Rio Grande Gorge is another spectacular spot to enjoy from the top or down whitewater rafting on the river. Either way, the views are lovely.

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