La Buena Vida Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

La Buena Vida Park is located in Socorro County, New Mexico, and is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.


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Summary

The park offers a range of recreational activities, including camping, hiking, fishing, and bird watching.

One of the main attractions of the park is the natural hot springs that flow through the area. Visitors can soak in the warm waters and enjoy the picturesque scenery that surrounds them. The park also features several hiking trails that offer stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

In addition to the natural beauty of the area, La Buena Vida Park is home to several historic sites, including the remains of an old Spanish mission and a 19th-century stagecoach stop. Visitors can also explore the nearby ghost town of Kelly, which was once a mining community.

The best time to visit La Buena Vida Park is during the spring and fall months, when the weather is mild and the park is less crowded. However, the hot springs are open year-round, so visitors can enjoy a soak in the warm waters even during the winter months.

Overall, La Buena Vida Park is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to New Mexico. With its natural beauty, rich history, and range of recreational activities, it offers something for everyone.

       

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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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