Cimarron Canyon State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 4, 2025
Cimarron Canyon State Park is located in northern New Mexico and is a popular destination for those seeking outdoor adventure.
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Summary
The park is known for its stunning beauty, with towering cliffs, deep canyons, and the Cimarron River running through the area. There are several good reasons to visit the park, including hiking, fishing, camping, and wildlife viewing. The park is home to a variety of wildlife such as elk, deer, and black bears.
One of the key points of interest in the park is the Cimarron River, which is a great spot for fishing. The river is stocked with trout and anglers can catch rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout. The park also has several hiking trails, including the popular Palisades Trail, which offers panoramic views of the canyon.
Interesting facts about the area include the fact that the park was once a popular spot for cowboys and outlaws, such as Billy the Kid. The area was also used as a location for several western movies, including "The Magnificent Seven" and "Easy Rider."
The best time to visit Cimarron Canyon State Park is in the summer months when the weather is warm and the park is busiest. However, fall is also a great time to visit as the trees change color and the park is less crowded. It is important to note that the park is closed in the winter due to snow and ice.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
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Cimarron Canyon State Park
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