Guidebook for Las Cruces

Todd & Beth
Todd & Beth
Guidebook for Las Cruces

Parks & Nature

Here are some nearby hiking trails or nature reserves.
Fairly strenuous but classified as easy. 4 miles around. Plan on 4+ hours for your first time or with children. I've done it in 1.5 hours. I rescued a couple one time that got caught out after dark and was unfamiliar with the route. Trail will get you into Ponderosa Pine and Scrub Oak. Streams flow most of the year. Wildlife includes deer, birds, lizards and a few snakes (rare).
Pine Tree Loop Trail Head
Fairly strenuous but classified as easy. 4 miles around. Plan on 4+ hours for your first time or with children. I've done it in 1.5 hours. I rescued a couple one time that got caught out after dark and was unfamiliar with the route. Trail will get you into Ponderosa Pine and Scrub Oak. Streams flow most of the year. Wildlife includes deer, birds, lizards and a few snakes (rare).
Close to the city, now on a paved road. Easy to get there. 1880's old stone buildings. Stream flows a trickle most of the year but for the hottest parts of summer. Buildings provide shade for rattlesnakes. Great adventure for families. Easy hike. 2 to 3 miles in and back.
68 locals recommend
Dripping Springs Natural Area
15000 Dripping Springs Road
68 locals recommend
Close to the city, now on a paved road. Easy to get there. 1880's old stone buildings. Stream flows a trickle most of the year but for the hottest parts of summer. Buildings provide shade for rattlesnakes. Great adventure for families. Easy hike. 2 to 3 miles in and back.
Miles of white, no really, white sand dunes. Drive through or get out and hike some trails. Amazing to see during a full moon.
244 locals recommend
White Sands National Monument
244 locals recommend
Miles of white, no really, white sand dunes. Drive through or get out and hike some trails. Amazing to see during a full moon.
Hummingbirds! Wildlife!
11 locals recommend
Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park
5000 Calle Del Norte
11 locals recommend
Hummingbirds! Wildlife!
Easy daytime hike. Make sure you get all the way into the canyon - to the end of the trail. It’s a respite from the heat and you might be rewarded with a small stream. Eat your lunch here in the shade of the granite.
17 locals recommend
Soledad Canyon Day Use Area
13300 Soledad Canyon Road
17 locals recommend
Easy daytime hike. Make sure you get all the way into the canyon - to the end of the trail. It’s a respite from the heat and you might be rewarded with a small stream. Eat your lunch here in the shade of the granite.

Essentials

Here you will find mostly grocery stores.
Whole foods look alike on a bit smaller scale.
22 locals recommend
Toucan Market
1701 East University Avenue
22 locals recommend
Whole foods look alike on a bit smaller scale.
It's Walmart.
25 locals recommend
Walmart Supercenter
571 Walton Blvd
25 locals recommend
It's Walmart.
Gas and last minute items.
Pic Quik Stores Inc
2240 Missouri Ave
Gas and last minute items.
Closest inexpensive full service grocery store.
Lowe's Food
1410 Missouri Ave
Closest inexpensive full service grocery store.
Fresh fruit and vegetables. Pretty good meat counter.
15 locals recommend
Sprouts Farmers Market
2340 E Lohman Ave
15 locals recommend
Fresh fruit and vegetables. Pretty good meat counter.

Sightseeing

A taste of Old Mexico. Iconic plaza in front of a Catholic Church. Shops. Restaurants. Museums.
92 locals recommend
Mesilla
92 locals recommend
A taste of Old Mexico. Iconic plaza in front of a Catholic Church. Shops. Restaurants. Museums.
Just 40 miles south via I-10. Right across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas. Just looking across the border is enough for most people. I haven't been over in years. I can't vouch for your safety. Use to be a great place for food, drinks, night life. The Mercado is a must visit open air market.
13 locals recommend
Ciudad Juárez
13 locals recommend
Just 40 miles south via I-10. Right across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas. Just looking across the border is enough for most people. I haven't been over in years. I can't vouch for your safety. Use to be a great place for food, drinks, night life. The Mercado is a must visit open air market.

Shopping

A great farmers market for locals and tourists. A lot of booths feature handmade southwest items. Local produce changes throughout the season.
60 locals recommend
Farmers & Crafts Market of Las Cruces
221 N Main St
60 locals recommend
A great farmers market for locals and tourists. A lot of booths feature handmade southwest items. Local produce changes throughout the season.

Food Scene

A little "hole in the wall" mexican restaurant with seating for about 8 or 9 people but the food is substantial and very good.
El Jacalito Restaurant
2215 Missouri Ave
A little "hole in the wall" mexican restaurant with seating for about 8 or 9 people but the food is substantial and very good.
A bit on the high end but the food is good, some unique.
28 locals recommend
The Pecan Grill and Brewery
500 S Telshor Blvd
28 locals recommend
A bit on the high end but the food is good, some unique.
Good Mexican food. Authentic atmosphere. Historic buildings. Steps away from Mesilla Plaza.
73 locals recommend
La Posta De Mesilla
2410 Calle De San Albino
73 locals recommend
Good Mexican food. Authentic atmosphere. Historic buildings. Steps away from Mesilla Plaza.
Breakfast and lunch only. Closes at 2pm. Must try the green chile hollandaise eggs benedict for breakfast.
26 locals recommend
The Shed
810 S Valley Dr
26 locals recommend
Breakfast and lunch only. Closes at 2pm. Must try the green chile hollandaise eggs benedict for breakfast.
Great Italian food. Locally owned.
17 locals recommend
Lorenzo's Italian Restaurant
1753 E University Ave
17 locals recommend
Great Italian food. Locally owned.
Wine. Good food. Try the wine flights - get a taste of all of them.
51 locals recommend
D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro
1720 Avenida de Mesilla
51 locals recommend
Wine. Good food. Try the wine flights - get a taste of all of them.
Worth the trip if just to get out of town. It's about 45 miles north via I-25 but take the scenic route along the Rio Grande River for just 5 minutes more. Sparkys is a quirky burger joint. Fills up fast for lunch. Try the green chile cheesburger. And while in Hatch you have to take home some world famous Hatch Green Chile.
17 locals recommend
Sparkys
115 Franklin St
17 locals recommend
Worth the trip if just to get out of town. It's about 45 miles north via I-25 but take the scenic route along the Rio Grande River for just 5 minutes more. Sparkys is a quirky burger joint. Fills up fast for lunch. Try the green chile cheesburger. And while in Hatch you have to take home some world famous Hatch Green Chile.
One of the more upscale restaurants around Las Cruces. If they had valet parking it would be worth going. It was a governors mansion at one time. And it claims to be haunted.
45 locals recommend
Double Eagle
2355 Calle De Guadalupe
45 locals recommend
One of the more upscale restaurants around Las Cruces. If they had valet parking it would be worth going. It was a governors mansion at one time. And it claims to be haunted.
Pizza.
Roadrunner Pizza
1426 Missouri Ave
Pizza.
Coffee and gift shop.
9 locals recommend
Spirit Winds Coffee Bar
2260 S Locust St
9 locals recommend
Coffee and gift shop.
Great coffee.
19 locals recommend
Milagro Coffee Y Espresso
1733 E University Ave
19 locals recommend
Great coffee.

Everything Else

Shipping, copies, computers.
FedEx Office Print & Ship Center
1001 E University Ave
Shipping, copies, computers.
It's the convention center for Las Cruces. Usually large events.
Las Cruces Convention Center
680 E University Ave
It's the convention center for Las Cruces. Usually large events.

Entertainment & Activities

THE place for concerts in southern new mexico. Some basketball too.
9 locals recommend
Pan American Center
1810 E University Ave
9 locals recommend
THE place for concerts in southern new mexico. Some basketball too.