The Long Way
Luna County
An aerial view of a campground in a desert landscape with mountains in the background.
Plate I. Aerial view of campground, Rockhound State Park. From emnrd.nm.gov
A starry night sky over a silhouette of a vehicle and distant city lights.
Plate II. Starry night sky, Rockhound State Park. From emnrd.nm.gov
An aerial view of a winding dirt trail through a desert landscape with sparse vegetation.
Plate III. Desert trail, Rockhound State Park. From emnrd.nm.gov
A desert landscape features mountains under a clear blue sky and a campground with RVs in the foreground.
Plate IV. Campground and mountains, Rockhound State Park. From emnrd.nm.gov
A rugged mountain range rises behind a grassy hillside.
Plate V. Mountain slopes, Rockhound State Park. From newmexicostateparks.reserveamerica.com
A field of bright orange wildflowers blooms before a rocky mountain ridge under a blue sky.
Plate VI. Wildflowers bloom at Rockhound State Park. From emnrd.nm.gov

Rockhound State Park

Deming, Luna County, New Mexico. State park.

Details

Map. Deming, Luna County, New Mexico. Larger map
Where
9880 Stirrup Road SE, Deming, NM 88030. Directions
Season
Spring Canyon unit: day use only from Easter through November.
Getting there
Five miles south of Deming on NM 11, then east on Rockhound Road (State Road 141) for approximately nine miles to the park.
Fees
Resident Day Use $5.00; Non-resident Day Use $10.00.
Access
29 developed campsites, 23 electric sites, water in campground, RV dump station, restrooms with water, showers, vault toilets, gift shop, group picnic shelter, group camping, visitor center with exhibits.
Walk-in or reserve
Camping reservations through the New Mexico State Parks reservation website.
Phone
575-546-6182
Website
emnrd.nm.gov
Managed by
New Mexico State Parks; park manager Robert Apodaca.
Established
1966; Spring Canyon unit added in 1979.
Coordinates
32.18600000000000, -107.61220000000000.

The rugged slopes of the Little Florida Mountains are the setting for this park, which boasts trails, unique geology, wildflower displays, and a peaceful campground.

Notable Events

  1. 1966Rockhound State Park was established as the first U.S. park that allowed visitors to collect rocks for personal use. recreation.gov
  2. 1970sNonnative Persian ibex were introduced in Spring Canyon. newmexicomagazine.org
  3. 1979The Spring Canyon unit in the Florida Mountains was added as a day-use hiking area. recreation.gov

People

  • Robert V. Apodaca, manager and administrator of Rockhound State Park (nearly 12 years).

Sources

  1. newmexicostateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/rockhound/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NM&parkId=430026
  2. emnrd.nm.gov/spd/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/Rockhound_Map_Trail_2023.pdf
  3. geoinfo.nmt.edu/tour/state/rockhound/home.html
  4. emnrd.nm.gov/spd/find-a-park/rockhound-state-park
  5. recreation.gov/camping/gateways/16782
  6. emnrd.nm.gov/spd/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/Park-Fee-Change-Flier.pdf
  7. geoinfo.nmt.edu/publications/periodicals/nmg/2/n4/nmg_v2_n4_p59.pdf
  8. newmexicomagazine.org/blog/post/robert-v-apodaca