Activities For Dogs In New Mexico On Hot Days

Unless you live nearby, Roswell is not particularly close to anything. It's a far stretch from Taos, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe, so if you plan on going, your best bet is to make a day trip of it. Our first recommendation is to check out the local dog park, which shouldn't be hard to find online since there's only one (Woof Bowl) but thankfully, it does provide a fair amount of shade so it's still suitable for hot days. Start your day there to get a little exercise, then think about grabbing some food and a cold drink somewhere nearby as a reward. There are a surprising amount of dog-friendly patio spots downtown Roswell, so basic research or asking around should pretty quickly reveal where you and your pooch can go to grab an umbrella overhead and in your drink.

Once you've gotten your fill of food, drinks, and heat, head on over to the IUMRC for the relief of cool air and an easy stroll through one of the most unique and entertaining museums in this part of the country. Make sure to give your dog a bathroom break beforehand, then check in at the front desk to pay your admission and introduce your dog. Then, have fun! There is a wide variety of stuff in the museum to check out from real exhibits based on Area 51 to universal research and even a library full of materials on the subject.

There are several different tours you can take that cover a variety of topics, so poke around the website and see which one pique's your interest the most. Once you find one, it's best to call and confirm that your furry friend will be welcome and able to fit by providing your intended tour and your dog's general size and weight (more frequent tours are easier to fit dogs on compared to the high-demand tours that often sell-out).

Once you find and book one that works, make sure you pack supplies that will keep you comfortable out in the heat. Include water, sunscreen, a hat for when the sun actually does shine in on you, and sunglasses, along with the supplies you'll need for your dog, namely something for them to drink out of, a leash, and dog bags. Once everything is packed, head on over and check in. If possible, get your dog settled in early so they're comfortable for the ride. Then soak up some wind, stay cool, and enjoy the tour!

There's really only one main task outside of packing your supplies: finding the right spot. Our inside guides tell us there's a place just north of Albuquerque that's easy access and relatively popular. It's probably most easily found by looking at a digital map, so do a search for Trailhead Park. Just to the East is the river and just north of there it takes a cut around the bend - it's almost vertically parallel from the bend on Roadrunner Loop NE, where you should likely be able to find some parking (but make sure to check the signs!). There is an alley that runs on the northeastern side of the street that will lead to the Bosque Trail (which you can also search for on the map if need be) which should point you towards the trail down there. There is a boat launch right next to the spot, which should make it easier to find as well.

Once you find your way down, chances are you may run into others and their dogs as well. You should keep your dog leashed on land but they are able to be off-leash in the water, just make sure you keep an eye on them. Once you've both cooled off a bit, spark up conversation with others locals and see if there are any other spots you and your dog can go check out. We've heard there are quite a few, but they're not always easy to navigate to!