Northeast New Mexico

The Northeast Region of New Mexico looks essentially the same as it did in prehistoric times...expansive plains and beautiful rolling green hills. Through this region came members of Coronado's expedition, old Santa Fe Trail wagon travelers and traders, Billy the Kid and his gang, cowboys and Plains Indians.

At Fort Union are the ruins of a large Army outpost where soldiers protected pioneers and traders on the trail. In nearby Cimarron, history is evident in the restored St. James Hotel which was once visited by Buffalo Bill Cody, Annie Oakley and Zane Grey. The town of Las Vegas also exudes the flavor of the Old West.

History is only a part of the attraction of this region. The eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains meld into rolling plains where many water oases nestle. Scuba divers from around the world plunge into The Blue Hole, an 81-foot deep clear pool in Santa Rosa that maintains a 63-degree temperature year-round. Boaters and fishermen enjoy nearby Conchas and Ute lakes. And from the top of Capulin Volcano National Monument, an extinct volcanic cone, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas can all be seen on a clear day.