Hyde Memorial State Park

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Parks

New-Mexico

Nearby: Wilderness Pecos Cerro Gordo Park

Last Updated: December 4, 2025

Hyde Memorial State Park is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in northern New Mexico.

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Summary

It is a popular destination for hiking, camping, and picnicking. The park covers over 350 acres and is situated at an elevation of 8,400 feet.

One of the main reasons to visit Hyde Memorial State Park is for its beautiful scenery. The park offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, as well as a variety of wildlife such as elk, deer, and birds.

There are several specific points of interest to see within the park, including the Cerro Gordo Trail, which provides access to the summit of Cerro Gordo Peak, and the Little Tesuque Creek Trail, which follows the creek through a lush forest.

Interesting facts about the park include its history as a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp during the Great Depression. The CCC built many of the park's structures, including the picnic shelter and hiking trails.

The best time of year to visit Hyde Memorial State Park is during the summer months, when the weather is mild and the wildflowers are in bloom. However, the park is open year-round and offers winter recreation such as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Overall, Hyde Memorial State Park is a must-visit destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. With its stunning scenery, diverse wildlife, and rich history, it is a true gem of northern New Mexico.

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
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.

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