Las Cruces & White Sands

A Rio Grande valley city in southern New Mexico, where Old Mesilla preserves its Spanish colonial charm and, just over the Organ Mountains, lie the snow-white gypsum dunes of White Sands National Park.

Las Cruces lies in the Rio Grande valley in southern New Mexico. It is the state's second-largest city, about 70 km (45 miles) north of El Paso, Texas, and is framed to the east by the jagged Organ Mountains. An oasis in the Chihuahuan Desert, it is known for its chile peppers and pecans and has a strong Spanish-Mexican cultural heritage. The area divides into three main parts: the city and Old Mesilla, where you can wander the old adobe plaza, the Basilica of San Albino, the farmers and crafts market on Main Street and the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, and sample green chile dishes; to the east, Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument, with several hiking trails at the Dripping Springs Natural Area and Aguirre Spring; and, about an hour's drive over San Agustin Pass, White Sands National Park – the highlight of any trip – where you can sled down the snow-white gypsum dunes and watch the sunset, stopping at the White Sands Missile Range Museum on the way. Farther north are Hatch, the self-proclaimed chile capital, and Spaceport America. The best time to visit is October–April, when the weather is mild and sunny; summer days often exceed 35°C (95°F), and March–April can be windy and dusty. You'll need a car; the nearest major airport is El Paso International Airport (about 1 hour away). Plan to stay 2–3 days. Note: during missile tests, US 70 and White Sands National Park close temporarily for 1–3 hours, so check the park website before setting out, and always carry plenty of water in the desert.

Top sights

• White Sands National Park – The largest gypsum dune field in the world, with a sea of white sand spreading over more than 700 square kilometers. Go sandsledding, hikin…
• Old Mesilla – A historic town with Spanish and Mexican character, with adobe houses surrounding its old plaza. It was once the site of the trial of the l…
• Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument – A group of granite spires rising east of Las Cruces like organ pipes, glowing red and purple at sunset. They form the city's skyline.
• Dripping Springs Natural Area – A trail area on the west slope of the Organ Mountains, where you can reach the ruins of a 19th-century health resort in the canyon and a ro…
• Aguirre Spring Recreation Area – A campground on the east slope of the Organ Mountains, facing the jagged peaks and serving as the starting point for the Pine Tree Trail an…
• New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum – A 19-hectare living farm and ranch museum with cowboy culture exhibits, milking and blacksmithing demonstrations, and longhorn cattle.
• White Sands Missile Range Museum – A museum at the birthplace of America's missile and space programs, with an outdoor missile park displaying dozens of rockets and missiles.
• Spaceport America – The world's first spaceport built specifically for commercial spaceflight, with Virgin Galactic's futuristic terminal rising from the deser…
• Hatch, Chile Capital of the World – A small town that calls itself the "Chile Capital of the World," where the smell of roasting green chiles fills the streets in late summer…
• Basilica of San Albino – A twin-towered brick church on the north side of Mesilla Plaza, rebuilt in 1906 and one of the oldest parishes in southern New Mexico.
• Downtown Las Cruces & Farmers and Crafts Market – A large farmers and artisans market on Main Street every Wednesday and Saturday, with a railroad museum, a natural science museum and a cul…
• Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park – A wetland and riverside forest park along the Rio Grande, with gentle trails that are good for birdwatching and views of the Organ Mountain…
• Fort Selden Historic Site – The ruins of a frontier fort established by the U.S. Army in 1865, where the African American Buffalo Soldiers cavalry regiment was once st…

Where to eat

• La Posta de Mesilla – A historic restaurant in old Mesilla, opened in 1939 in a former stagecoach stop, where the compuesta tostada was inven…
• La Nueva Casita Cafe – Opened in 1957 and claiming to be Las Cruces' longest continuously operating restaurant; its red chile enchiladas are r…
• Chope's Bar and Cafe – A historic bar and restaurant in the countryside of La Mesa, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, where…