Hey Guys!
During our stay in Las Cruces, we spent the day exploring the Organ Mountains, White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, and the mountain town of Cloudcroft.
Before heading out for the day, we started our morning with those yummy pastries we had picked up from the coffee shop in Silver City the day before.
Quick Overview
- Route: Las Cruces ā Organ Mountains ā White Sands National ParkāAlamogordo ā Cloudcroft ā Las Cruces
- Drive time (without stops): 3.5 hrs roundtrip
- Best for: Scenic driving, hiking, photography, food stops
- Highlights: Dripping Springs Natural Area, White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, Cloudcroft
1st Stop: The Organ Mountains
The drive to our first stop would take approx. 30 mins from our AirBnb.
Our first stop of the day would be the Organ Mountains, one of the most striking sights near Las Cruces.
Their jagged peaks rise dramatically out of the desert, creating a rugged backdrop that feels completely different from the flatter landscape around the city.
The mountains get their name because the sharp, vertical rock formations are said to resemble the pipes of an organ.
Even if you don’t have time for a long hike, the area is worth visiting for the views alone!
The mix of rugged mountains, desert plants, and wide open skies made this a beautiful start to our day! 
We stopped several times along the road to take pictures!
2nd Stop: Dripping Springs Natural Area in the Organ Mountains
Our first real stop of the day was Dripping Springs Natural Area in the Organ Mountains. 
Tips for hiking this trail:
- Go early – the trail is not shaded and it gets hot quickly in the warmer months
- Bring plenty of water – the hike isn’t difficult but it’s a desert hike & it gets very hot
- Wear comfortable shoes – parts of the trail are gravel and uneven
- Wear sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat
- Watch for wildlife – the area is known for birds, lizards, tarantulas & rattlesnakes!
- Stop by the visitor center if it’s open
- Be prepared to pay a $5 day use fee per vehicle
- Pets are not allowed on portions of the trail
There are a few trails that you can hike in this area.
Tip: Click here to see a map of this area
The trail to Dripping Springs is only 2 miles roundtrip and is very flat.
However, the beginning of the trail had large gravel rocks that were a bit difficult to walk on!
This is definitely a section where you’ll want to wear good shoes, because it would be easy to roll or sprain an ankle on the loose gravel!
This trail is a great way to experience the desert landscape up close, with views of the rugged Organ Mountains, cacti, yucca, and wide open New Mexico scenery.
The views on this short hike are absolutely incredible!
I couldn’t stop taking pictures of the gorgeous scenery!
After a few minutes of walking, we had our first “wildlife” encounter….actually, it was an insect encounter and it was huge! Yuck!
We stopped along the trail several times to take pictures in front of the majestic mountain range!
We spotted these rocks all along the trail.
After about 15 mins of walking, we arrived to the first stop on the trail…
One of the things that makes Dripping Springs so interesting is that it’s not just a pretty desert hike…there are also historic ruins along the trail, including remains from an old resort and sanatorium area.
The first wooden buildings that you will come to are the remains of an old Livery area that was built sometime in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s.
These buildings were once part of the support area for the historic resort that I will talk about later in this post.
This area once had a general store, grain shed, and other buildings that supported the resort.
The weathered wood, tall grasses, and the Organ Mountains rising behind them, was such a pretty and unexpected first glimpse of the history along the trail.
It was so cool to see some of the remains that still existed from over 100 yrs ago!
Obviously, some of the buildings have been restored.
After checking out the buildings, we continued our walk along the trail.
We spotted several different types of flowers blooming.
There is really no way to describe the beauty of this trail….the views are simply breathtaking!
In this picture, you can see the remains of an old stone fence.
We stopped for a quick picture in front of this huge yucca plant!
You will see lots of cacti and yucca plants along this trail.
As we continued down the trail, the mountains seemed to rise higher and higher in front of us making the views even more dramatic the farther we walked!
We came to a split in the trail ….one way pointed to the Dripping Springs and the Boyd Sanatorium while the other way pointed to the Van Patten Mountain Camp.
We decided to take the trail to the Dripping Springs and then circle back and check out the Van Patten Mountain Camp.
After a few minutes, we arrived to the Dripping Springs.
The Dripping Springs is a small spring/waterfall area tucked into the canyon above the historic ruins.
The spring was one of the reasons this area became such a popular retreat.
This water, along with the cooler canyon air and mountain scenery, helped make this area a popular retreat in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
The spring itself is natural however, the reservoir was built by Eugene Van Patten in 1892 to impound and supply water to the nearby Dripping Springs Hotel.
Today, the spring may only be a trickle depending on the season, but it still adds to the history and beauty of the trail.
And the views are incredible ….I can see why people would want to come here!
We spotted a Red-naped Sapsucker drinking water from the springs….so cool!
After our stop at the springs, we continued our walk along the trail.
We came to the ruins of Boyd’s Sanatorium. Boyd’s Sanatorium was a health resort built in the early 1900’s Ā by Dr. Nathan Boyd in 1904.
People came here hoping the fresh, dry mountain air would help with illnesses like tuberculosis.
These stone ruins are part of the kitchen/dining hall area that was built into the canyon slope near the springs.
Guests would stay in nearby cottages or tents while meals were provided through an agreement with Eugene Van Patten, who operated the nearby mountain resort.
Boyd paid Van Patten $25 a year in rent, and Van Patten agreed to feed Boyd’s guests for $11 per week per adult, with children being half that cost.
Near the sanatorium, stood the remains of the Van Patten’s Mountain Camp. The camp was built before the sanatorium.
Van Patten’s Mountain Camp began as a homestead around 1892 and had opened as an 8 room resort hotel by 1895. 
By 1906, it had grown into a larger mountain resort with 32 rooms and a dining room used for weddings and dances.
The ruins made for some incredible pictures especially with the weathered stone walls, tall grasses, and the rugged Organ Mountains towering behind them!
We couldn’t resist taking our pictures in front of the ruins!
I spotted this J engraved on one of the stones.
Nearby, we also spotted a small wooden structure tucked into the hillside above the trail. 
This appeared to be one of the old cottages or cabins connected to Boyd’s Sanatorium, where patients once stayed while visiting the health resort.
So, we decided to go check it out.
We also passed this small wooden structure along the way….its exact purpose wasn’t clear.
A nearby sign stated that this building served as a kitchen and dining hall.
Behind this building was the homestead of Dr. Boyd and his family.
This looked like a dream location for a house! I would love to live here. š
Near the house were the remains of the old water storage tank for the Dripping Springs resort area.
Views near the house
After checking out all of the historic ruins, we headed back to our car.
Read reviews for this area here
Views along the way
After arriving back to our car, we continued our drive to our next stop.
Views of the Organ Mountains along the way.
3rd Stop: White Sands National Park
After leaving Dripping Springs and heading to White Sands National Park, you will be driving through an area closely tied to White Sands Missile Range.
Tip: The drive from Dripping Springs will take about 1 hr
The range sits between Las Cruces and Alamogordo and is one the most important military testing areas in the country.
The US Army describes it as the Birthplace of America’s Missile and Space Activity, and says it covers about 3,200 square miles and supports thousands of tests each year.
That is why you will see lots of military and space related signs and sights along this route.
Tip: Nearby is the White Sands Missile Range Museum & the New Mexico Museum of Space History
This area is Organ, NM.
Along the drive, we spotted what looked like an observatory dome on a hill…this area is closely tied to astronomy and space research.
We started seeing white sand in the distance as we got closer to White Sands National Park.
Unfortunately, once we arrived at the park, we realized the park was closed due to the government shutdown.
This was such a disappointing moment because White Sands was one of the places we were most excited to visit.
Tip: Click here to see a map of the park
However, we noticed cars that were parked alongside the road and we could see people standing on the dunes so we decided to go park and climb the fence like everyone else was doing!
We refused to allow this shutdown to ruin our plans and it appeared that no one was stopping anyone from doing this so we went through the fence like everyone else and made the best of what we could see!
Wow, was this place amazing!
The sand was white as snow!
White Sands National Park is famous for its bright gypsum dunes, which stretch across the Tularosa Basin.
The park protects part of the largest gypsum dunefileld in the world, creating a landscape that looks almost like snow in the middle of the desert!
The dunes are formed from gypsum crystals that break down into sand and are shaped by wind over time.
White Sands was first protected as a national monument in 1933 and didn’t become a national park until 2019.
The mountains you see around the park are the San Andres Mountains to the west and the Sacramento Mountains to the east and they made for a beautiful backdrop for pictures!
Of course, we had to take 897 pictures of the dunes! š
One of the most interesting things about the park is that plants actually grow right out of the dunes.
Some of the most common plants include the soaptree yucca, skunkbush sumac, hoary rosemary mint, and Rio Grande cottonwood.
Tip: The park is home to coyotes, foxes, bobcats, badgers, gophers, lizards, snakes, turtles, birds and more!
Walking around the dunes
The shapes in the sand were so cool!
Tip: Wear sunglasses when you visit as it can be very bright!
My hubby thinking he could fly! š
He decided to write our names in the sand to commemorate our visit. š
I spotted these tiny mushrooms growing in the sand!
A few more shots
Click here to read reviews for this park
After leaving here, we headed to our next stop.
4th Stop: Alamogordo
Alamogordo is a small city tucked between the Sacramento Mountains and the vast gypsum dunes of White Sands National Park.
It makes a great base for exploring southern New Mexico, with easy access to scenic drives, mountain views, pistachio farms, space history, and one of the most unique landscapes in the Southwest.
Our first stop in Alamogordo was called, Pistachio Land....it was only a 25 minute drive from the White Sands National Park Visitor center.
Pistachio Land is one of Alamogordo’s most fun roadside stops and is best known as the Home of the World’s Largest Pistachio.
The McGinn family started this pistachio farm in 1980, and today the property includes pistachio trees, vineyards, a winery, a country store, farm tours, homemade pistachio ice cream, flavored pistachios, candies, souvenirs, and the famous 30 ft pistachio!
After arriving, we headed straight to the giant pistachio to take our pictures in front of it!
We then headed inside the store to find a souvenir.
So many things to choose from!
After making our purchases, we headed back outside to order some of their yummy homemade pistachio ice cream!
They offered several other flavors as well.
So good!
After our ice cream, we checked out the pistachio trees.
They were hanging full of pistachios!
Read reviews here
After leaving here, we headed to our next stop….Cloudcroft.
On the way to Cloudcroft, we drove through the Lincoln National Forest.
The views were amazing!
We passed the Old Apple Barn but unfortunately it was closed.
5th Stop: Cloudcroft, New Mexico
Just 30 mins from Pistachio Land is the charming mountain village of Cloudcroft.
Cloudcroft village sits in the Sacramento Mountains, surrounded by the Lincoln National Forest and sits at about 8,600 feet in elevation.
After spending time in the desert around Alamogordo and White Sands, the drive up to Cloudcroft feels like a complete change in scenery.
The road climbs from dry desert views into cool pine forest, mountain air, and a quiet little town that feels more like Colorado than southern New Mexico.
Before we arrived to the town of Cloudcroft, we made a stop at a roadside attraction called the Mexican Canyon Trestle.
The trestle is a historic wooden railroad bridge just northwest of of Cloudcroft along U.S. Hwy 82, and it’s one of the most recognizable reminders of the old “Cloud-Climbing Railroad” that once connected Alamogordo with the high Sacramento Mountains.
The trestle was built in 1899 for the Alamogordo & Sacramento Mountain Railway and was part of a steep mountain rail line used for timber access and later passenger travel to Cloudcroft.
The bridge is impressive because it’s still standing more than a century later.
It stretches about 323 feet long and rises roughly 52 feet above the canyon floor.
The railroad line operated from 1899 to 1947, and after it was abandoned, the rails were removed, but the trestle remained.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Read reviews here
Tip: For a closer look of the trestle, you can hike the nearby Trestle Recreation Area
After checking out the trestle, we continued our drive to Cloudcroft which was less than 5 mins away.
Cloudcroft became known as a cool mountain escape from the desert heat, and today it’s a popular stop for scenic drives, hiking, shopping, mountain views, and slower-paced wandering.
The downtown area has small shops, restaurants, and the Burro Street Exchange, while nearby trails and overlooks offer views of the Sacramento Mountains, & Tularosa Basin.
We absolutely loved the little mountain town!
It was so charming, walkable, and had the cutest old Western feel.
The historic looking buildings, wooden storefronts, and small town streets made it feel like we had just stepped back in time!
Tip: There’s lot of wildlife in this area like elk, bear, and mule deer but Cloudcroft is known for their free roaming feral horses
After driving through the town, we decided to do the hike to the historic railroad trestle.
The hike is located in town at the Trestle Recreation Area.
There was no posted entrance fee for this area so it makes a great place to hike and stretch your legs.
The sign we passed led us to believe that this would be a short hike….
If you enjoy birdwatching, this is a great place to visit.
We spotted a stellar’s jay near the trail…..such beautiful birds.
Read reviews hereĀ
After walking for what seemed like miles, we met a couple on the trail that told us the views of the trestle were still over a half mile away….since, it was already getting late, we decided to turn around and head back to our car.
Tip: The hike to view the trestle is approx. 2.2 – 2.6 miles roundtrip.
We then began our drive back to Las Cruces….which would take 1.5 hours.
On the way, as we were driving back through the Lincoln National Forest, we stopped and took a few pictures of the scenery.
The views were so beautiful!
We spotted a sign that talked about the Fresnal Shelter.…a prehistoric campsite.
Since the rock shelter is dry, a considerable number of perishable artifacts remained in tact for thousands of years.
Some of the items recovered by archeologists during the excavation of the site include more than 400. sandals, 30 basket fragments, pieces of hide, twine, darts, feathers, bone and more.
Some of the earliest known corn remains were also recovered at the Fresnal Shelter…the corn dated back to around 1500 B.C.
Continuing our drive
After arriving back to Alamogordo, we spotted a 2nd McGinn’s Pistachio Country store and decided to stop after we saw the huge Alamogordo sign…..we couldn’t pass having our pictures made in front of it! š
Tip: When driving through this area you will go through a military checkpoint at the Holloman Air Force Base.
6th Stop: Back at White Sands National Park
We also drove past the White Sands National Park visitor center and decided to make one more quick stop at White Sands National Park!
We were hoping to catch some beautiful sunset pictures but we arrived a bit too early.
We still captured some beautiful shots!
And, we couldn’t pass up taking more pictures of us walking through the dunes! š
After taking way too many pictures, we continued our drive to Las Cruces.
7th Stop: Back in Las Cruces
Las Cruces is a sunny desert city in southern New Mexico, set in the Mesilla Valley between the Organ Mountains and the Rio Grande.
It’s the second largest city in New Mexico and makes for a great base for exploring the area, with a mix of desert scenery, mountain views, New Mexican food, history, farmers markets, museums, and easy access to outdoor adventures.
The city gets 320 days of sunshine a year, which makes it a popular year round stop for hiking, scenic drives, and road trips through southern New Mexico.
After we arrived back to Las Cruces, we headed to a nearby Mexican restaurant for dinner…It was called, El Sombrero...it’s been a family owned business since 1956.
The inside of the restaurant was so colorful!
After being seated, we took a few minutes to look over the menu.
We both decided on the fajitas and they were delicious!
Read reviews here
After dinner, we headed back to our AirBnb where we spent the rest of our evening relaxing in the hot tub!
To read more of our New Mexico road trip click on the links below:
Exploring New Mexico ā Day 1 ā Albuquerque ā Oct 2025
Exploring New Mexico ā Day 2 ā Albuquerque ā Oct 2025
Albuquerque to Santa Fe via Turquoise Trail: Best Stops + Travel Guide
Exploring New Mexico ā Day 4 ā Santa Fe ā Oct 2025
Santa Fe to Silver City Road Trip Itinerary (New Mexico Travel Guide)
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It became a major mining hub for silver, gold, and copper.
The food, as well as the service, was really good.
Silver City lies in a mountainous basin. Torrential or monsoon rains, July to September, crash through arroyos towards the desert.
Unfortunately, the coffee was so bad, we ended up throwing it away!
The City of Rocks doesn’t look like a typical state park – it feels more like you’ve wandered into another planet.
It’s also known as one of the best stargazing spots in the state.
After spending about two hours wandering through the rocks, we decided to head to our next destination.
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What makes
I definitely recommend a stop here and I wished we would have had more time to explore the cute, little town. Ā Ā Ā Ā 
