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by Megan Gordon
Looking for a school distraction? Take step into the outdoors
With classes well underway and
midterms around the corner, students are in need of distractions that won’t drain their pockets. The great outdoors offer a chance to stretch your legs and let go of stress, and best of all- it’s free.
Southern New Mexico is full of great hiking and camping destinations. Las Cruces has several trails featuring hiking, mountain biking, picnicking and camping. A few of these include Aguirre Springs and Dripping Springs.
"Aguirre Springs makes a great day trip - there are beautiful trails with great views for people of all skill levels, shady picnic areas for family lunches, and excellent camping sites as well,” says NMSU student Kelly Siebe.
Aguirre Springs is a rugged trail leading up to the jutting granite peaks of the Organ Mountains. Though much of the Organ Mountains are under the jurisdiction of the White Sands Missile Range and therefore off limits to the public, Aguirre Springs Recreational Area offers several trails ranging from four to six miles and a great view of White Sands.
For a trek with local history, Dripping Springs offers the ruins of the Old Drippings Springs Resort, formerly used as a sanctuary for tuberculosis patients. Hikers can also explore a mountain cave rumored to have sheltered prehistoric Mogollon Indians. Both trails are a quick one-mile in length, so you’ll have plenty of time to look around.
If the heat is too much to bear, take a trip to up to the mountains. Only an hour and half away lays Cloudcroft, N.M. Offering dozens of trails, campsites, and scenic drives, this mountain top destination has all the charm of the high altitude without the crowds of nearby Ruidoso.
“For great scenery and fall colors I really recommend Bluff Springs,” says Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce Director Jason Baldwin.
With several trails, a waterfall, and wildlife, Bluff Springs is the ideal location for an autumn trek. Information on how to get there can be obtained at the Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce or the Forest Ranger Station.
“Generally the fall colors are at their peak during the third or fourth week of October,” says Baldwin. “Our next big fall event will be Octoberfest on the 7th and 8th.”
The festival will host more than 45 artists from across the United States in Zenith Park, as well as live music and food.
There are many cabins and other available lodging in the Cloudcroft Village area. Visit the Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce for more information.
For an economical place to stay, visit the Cloudcroft Hostel. A bunk bed is available for only $17, and a private room for $30, sheets and towels provided.
“People want a nice clean, safe place to stay at an affordable price, and that’s what we’re here for,” says owner-operator John Kenning.
The hostel is open year-around and will even pick travelers up at the Alamogordo bus station. Reservations are recommended but not required, as the hostel nearly always has vacancy.
Visitors may also camp at various campgrounds including the Black Bear, Pines, and Deerhead Campgrounds, all of which are within two miles of the Village of Cloudcroft. National Forest Campgrounds are generally open from May to late October, weather permitting and cost ranges from $8 to $14 a night. Maps and current conditions can be acquired at the Sacramento District Rangers Office in Cloudcroft.####
