Sierra Vista Trail

If your pooch is looking for an adventure, the Sierra Vista Trail is calling their name. Beginning in the southern New Mexico town of Las Cruces, this trail stretches all the way down to the Franklin Mountain State Park Trail System in Texas. Most people think of the northern part of the state when it comes to outdoor recreation. But the Sierra Vista trail shows that southern New Mexico is just as pawsome.

The beginning section of the trail runs along the west side of the Organ Mountains. Rising over 9,000 feet, this small range of mountains is quite impressive and provides your pooch with amazing views. As you head south, the trail dips into a couple valleys and over some ridges. It crosses a dirt road before heading down a few dry washes. As it nears the Texas state line, the trail can be hard to navigate. A GPS is recommended.

As their trucking along, your pup will have ample opportunity to soak in the views of the serene Chihuahuan Desert. While they won’t find forests or lush vegetation, there are plenty of flowering Creosote bushes and a large variety of cacti. Wide open desert skies and puptacular vistas will thrill your dog to the core. Hundreds of types of birds, animals, and reptiles call this trail home. Watch for lizards and hawks and listen for coyotes.

If a 29 mile trek isn’t in the cards for your pup, they can still enjoy this furrific trail. Five different trailheads provide access to the trail, and day hiking is quite common. Water resources along the trail are scarce, so pack as much H2O as you can. Since summer temperatures can be pretty sweltering, plan to thru hike this trail during another time of year. This is a multi-use trail, so expect to see mountain bikers, equestrians, and day hikers. No bones about it, your four legged friend will go mutts over this trail!