The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park is a 935-acre site located in the northern Chihuahuan Desert, northeast of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Nature Park encompasses a small section of the Doña Ana Mountains and is topographically and biologically diverse. Spectacular views of the Organ Mountains, San Andres Mountains, and the Jornada Basin are visible from the Park.
Experience the stunning beauty of the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park in Las Cruces, New Mexico! This amazing park is home to some of the most unique and breathtaking desert landscapes, flora, and fauna. Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park in Las Cruces located at 56501 N Jornada Rd, Las Cruces, NM 88012, USA. More than 130 different kinds of mammals, including pronghorns and mule deer, can be found in the desert. The wide grasslands of the northern desert are home to the kit fox. More than 500 of the world’s 1,500 cactus species are found in the Chihuahuan Desert, which is home to 3,000 plant species overall. Along with the largest prairie dog colony in North America, the desert is home to over 500 different bird species’ nesting grounds and migratory habitats. Its rivers are home to more than 110 native freshwater fish species. Roadrunners race through the desert brush in pursuit of earless lizards, and golden eagles hunt for black-tailed jackrabbits among the agave and cactus.
The Chihuahuan Desert, which stretches from the southwest of the United States all the way into the Central Mexican Highlands, is the largest desert in North America. The Big Bend area of the northern Chihuahuan Desert, which encompasses significant sections of the Rio Grande/Bravo watershed in both the United States and Mexico, is the focus of WWF’s conservation activities. The region’s high altitude (3,000 to 5,000 feet) results in chilly winters and evenings as well as hot summer days that sometimes exceed 100 degrees. Although the region receives very little rain, underground springs, minor streams, and the Rio Grande River provide essential water.
The address is: 56501 N Jornada Rd, Las Cruces, NM 88012
Getting to the Nature Park:
- From I-25 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, head east on Highway 70.
- Take the Mesa Grande Rd. exit (at Oñate High School)
- Make a U-turn under the highway to head west on the frontage road.
- Turn right (north) on Jornada Road.
- Proceed north on Jornada Road for approximately 6.5 miles.
- Turn left just before the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park entrance sign.
- Follow the entrance road west to the Nature Park parking lot and trail head.