Cerrillos Hills State Park
Cerrillos Hills State Park
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4.5
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Aaren P
Ponder, TX15 contributions
Mar 2019 • Family
Cerrillos Hills was our second hiking spot of the day. I guess I read a little too much into my internet research beforehand, because we were expecting to see a lot (mining wise). We hiked two easy trails (.2 and .8 miles), and saw two mining shafts on the longer of the trails. I guess we didn't hike the right trails? The views were beautiful and except for a few people on horseback and two other hikers we were the only ones there (a Sunday afternoon).
My kids had no trouble with the trails. We enjoyed the fresh, clean air and the wonderful scenery.
My kids had no trouble with the trails. We enjoyed the fresh, clean air and the wonderful scenery.
Written March 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrei
River Ridge, LA1,242 contributions
Dec 2015 • Family
I came here in December with my family. We saw that there was a state park off NM-14, so we turned off. It's a little shocking if you're not ready - you have to drive through the tiny town of Cerrillos and turn onto a 0.5-mile-long dirt road to get to the main parking area. Once you are there, though, it is the same as any state park. There is a small pay station where you can get a parking pass for a couple of dollars and a bunch of trails begin at the parking lot. We took one and hiked for about an hour. The trail had several great views of the hills and surrounding desert, and it was all so quiet and serene. It's a wonderful place to really experience the high desert landscape.
Written February 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
peterandmel
Colorado Springs113 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
We had a great afternoon here, hiking about a mile up and down steep, rocky trails, then down the road, back to the parking area - this took us about two and a half hours. The views are wide open, and you can see to the horizon. This area was heavily mined in the 1879, and pit mines can be seen, as well as mine shafts that have been backfilled and fenced. There are great information signs posted at the major mining locations - we saw three on our one mile hike. Native Americans mined turquoise here long before this time; this land has been in use for hundreds of years.
Cerrillos Hills has a visitor center in the town of Cerrillos, about 1/2 mile away, but the visitor center is only open a very few hours - 2-4 pm when we were there, although it never looked like they 'opened', so do not count on it. There is a pit toilet just after entering the park, and you are strongly encouraged to pay your $5 daily fee before heading to the toilet. It is tucked behind some shrubs, so a bit hard to see from small parking area. You have to cross a dry wash to reach it. This park is not accessible to anyone with difficulty in walking. I mention this, as there are signs all over main street of Cerrillos - 'no public bathroom' - not that any buildings appear to have viable businesses operating at this time.
Rain is rare in this part of the world - should it be raining, do not visit the park. The road and parking areas are IN the dry wash, and there is a really large dry wash between the town of Cerrillos and the park.
This does not seem to be a heavily used park - no lakes, no water, no services of any kind. Yet, if you want a very quiet day of hiking, with exceptional information posted appropriately, this might be your park. Do wear sneakers or hiking boots, as trails are dusty/rocky - you will have dust inside your shoes when you are done. Carry your water, wear a hat to keep sun at bay, and have your camera ready ... though now and again, it will be best to put your camera away so you can pay attention to footing as you go up or down steep trail sections.
If you know what to expect, and are prepared to hike, this is a great park.
Cerrillos Hills has a visitor center in the town of Cerrillos, about 1/2 mile away, but the visitor center is only open a very few hours - 2-4 pm when we were there, although it never looked like they 'opened', so do not count on it. There is a pit toilet just after entering the park, and you are strongly encouraged to pay your $5 daily fee before heading to the toilet. It is tucked behind some shrubs, so a bit hard to see from small parking area. You have to cross a dry wash to reach it. This park is not accessible to anyone with difficulty in walking. I mention this, as there are signs all over main street of Cerrillos - 'no public bathroom' - not that any buildings appear to have viable businesses operating at this time.
Rain is rare in this part of the world - should it be raining, do not visit the park. The road and parking areas are IN the dry wash, and there is a really large dry wash between the town of Cerrillos and the park.
This does not seem to be a heavily used park - no lakes, no water, no services of any kind. Yet, if you want a very quiet day of hiking, with exceptional information posted appropriately, this might be your park. Do wear sneakers or hiking boots, as trails are dusty/rocky - you will have dust inside your shoes when you are done. Carry your water, wear a hat to keep sun at bay, and have your camera ready ... though now and again, it will be best to put your camera away so you can pay attention to footing as you go up or down steep trail sections.
If you know what to expect, and are prepared to hike, this is a great park.
Written October 22, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tia1124
Dallas, TX34 contributions
Jul 2013 • Friends
The Cerrillos Hills State Park is a good place to stop for a break to stretch your legs. Nice hiking area.
Written July 16, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelly B
Iowa5,470 contributions
May 2013 • Family
The previous review is actually for the town of Cerillos. Cerillos Hills State Park is a natural area located about half a mile outside the town.
We stopped at the State Park during our drive on the Turquoise Trail. To find it, drive into the small town of Cerillos, and you'll see signs pointing the way to the park. The road to and into the park is gravel and a bit rough in spots, but suitable for all vehicles....except possibly RVs or buses.
The park has pit toilets close to the entrance, and a brochure about the park (including hiking info). There is a small fee to get in; it was self-pay when we visited. It wasn't very much; I don't remember the exact amount but I think $5.
The scenic drive through the park was a disappointment because it was so short. I don't think it was even a mile long. It dead-ends and then you have to turn around and drive back the same way you came. We didn't see any wildlife, but did enjoy the views of the hills.
I hiked a ways on a trail called Jane something or other. It was a nice hike; it goes gradually uphill. Very doable for just about anyone who can walk a reasonable distance. At one point the trail branches off to an old mine site. It's completely fenced over for safety reasons (understandable, it looks like it could be deep) so that makes it almost impossible to take a picture of it.
I also did a short hike near the toilets, it led to a little gazebo. I saw a pretty blue bird when walking along the trail.
The State Park makes a nice stop if you want to stretch your legs a bit along the Turquoise Trail.
We stopped at the State Park during our drive on the Turquoise Trail. To find it, drive into the small town of Cerillos, and you'll see signs pointing the way to the park. The road to and into the park is gravel and a bit rough in spots, but suitable for all vehicles....except possibly RVs or buses.
The park has pit toilets close to the entrance, and a brochure about the park (including hiking info). There is a small fee to get in; it was self-pay when we visited. It wasn't very much; I don't remember the exact amount but I think $5.
The scenic drive through the park was a disappointment because it was so short. I don't think it was even a mile long. It dead-ends and then you have to turn around and drive back the same way you came. We didn't see any wildlife, but did enjoy the views of the hills.
I hiked a ways on a trail called Jane something or other. It was a nice hike; it goes gradually uphill. Very doable for just about anyone who can walk a reasonable distance. At one point the trail branches off to an old mine site. It's completely fenced over for safety reasons (understandable, it looks like it could be deep) so that makes it almost impossible to take a picture of it.
I also did a short hike near the toilets, it led to a little gazebo. I saw a pretty blue bird when walking along the trail.
The State Park makes a nice stop if you want to stretch your legs a bit along the Turquoise Trail.
Written June 4, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
477kathleenv
BELEN, United States4 contributions
Nov 2018 • Family
My daughter found this state park and I am glad she did. We stopped at the visitors center first. The volunteer staffing the facility was extremely helpful, knowledgeable and very welcoming. We learned a lot from her before we even started hiking. The trail system offers a lot of diversity for all levels of hikers and getting to see the old mine shafts was very interesting. The views were remarkable in typical New Mexico fashion. It was wonderfully peaceful and a totally awesome experience.
Written November 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dcvoyagerThailand
Washington DC, DC25 contributions
Oct 2017
This a little gem of a state park. The park's office have knowledgable employees and volunteers about the history of the area. The walks are short enough fo so-so hikers, but more ambitious ones can take all the trains and get a workout. What I like best is that they sponsor a number of events, such as Sat am hikes with a ranger and star gazing nights - a great place to look at the stars as there is very little light interence.
Written September 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JRBrandes
Cranston, RI78 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
For $5 (on the honor system), this park offers several short, interwoven trails through the rolling desert hills. The landscape is typical of what you see when driving the Turquoise Trail. But when you get up close and walk on trails through the bushes and rock outcroppings it is truly beautiful and magical. Many of the trails offer views into old mine shafts. There is also a scenic vista which provides views in all directions, of many mountain ranges (we were told that on a clear day, you can see to Arizona—alas, our day was hazy). As an out of the way state park, there are fewer hikers on the trails. Bring plenty of water. Good for novice and seasoned hikers alike.
Written August 19, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NXTTRP
St. Petersburg, FL2,476 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
We were looking for a place to hike, and with many of the trails closed due to fire concern, we searched and found the Cerrillos Hills State Park. This is an old mining area and one of the points of interest in the park are abandoned mines that have been cordoned off by fencing to slow the continued deterioration.
There is a network of trails, all detailed on a map available at the parking / access / trailhead. The trail is rocky, requiring a watchful eye while traversing. The various trails are marked at the intersections, making it easy to identify your position on the map.
There’s not a lot of diversity to see on the trail, but there is are slickrock sections at a couple of places and a dry wash that could become an issue if caught in a sudden downpour. The trails present constant grade changes.
Should you stick to the outside perimeter of the trails you will hike somewhere between 5-6 miles. There are certainly shorter options and you can double back should you be looking for more exercise.
There is a network of trails, all detailed on a map available at the parking / access / trailhead. The trail is rocky, requiring a watchful eye while traversing. The various trails are marked at the intersections, making it easy to identify your position on the map.
There’s not a lot of diversity to see on the trail, but there is are slickrock sections at a couple of places and a dry wash that could become an issue if caught in a sudden downpour. The trails present constant grade changes.
Should you stick to the outside perimeter of the trails you will hike somewhere between 5-6 miles. There are certainly shorter options and you can double back should you be looking for more exercise.
Written June 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nmhiker2015
Colorado Springs, CO139 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
This is a NM hidden gem for those who love the desert and are interested in old west mining. For a $5.00 fee (please pay!), this park has well marked and very interesting trails that educate one about the mining history of the region. Trails are super easy to walk - may be a bit steep in some places - but are easily doable for folk who are used to hiking at altitude. There are a plethora of benches for those who might not be as fit or just need a "nature break". The historical markers at each mine shaft are well produced and interesting.
Like many areas in NM, there is NO water or shade available once you're on the trail. Wear your sunscreen, a hat, and bring water. It's worth the effort!
Like many areas in NM, there is NO water or shade available once you're on the trail. Wear your sunscreen, a hat, and bring water. It's worth the effort!
Written June 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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