Leasburg Slot Canyon can be found just north of Las Cruces, New Mexico, in the Robledo Mountains Wilderness Study Area. Slot canyons are narrow and long canyons that have been carved from the surrounding rock by rushing water, and they are sights to behold. The Southwest is known for its slot canyons, but the Leasburg Slot Canyon may be the most beautiful slot canyon in New Mexico, if not the entire country. New Mexico slot canyons give us an excellent opportunity to experience a whole new type of natural wonder in our great state.

The Leasburg Slot Canyon Hike is a 2.4-mile loop that brings you through the center of the slot canyon.
Korey Northington/AllTrails
In some areas, the Leasburg Slot Canyon is so narrow, you can touch both sides at the same time.
Gabrielle Quezada/AllTrails
The hike starts right on the banks of the famous Rio Grande, giving hints about where the rushing waters that formed this slot canyon ended up.
Khaleel Hollingsworth/AllTrails
The hike is easy, but finding the opening of the slot canyon requires some route finding. However, once you find the canyon, you can just walk along the canyon floor for about half a mile.
brenda romero/AllTrails
Towards the end, the canyon opens up and you will have a better view of the canyon you just walked through.
Ryan Milka/AllTrails
While many slot canyons have canyon walls that have been smoothed by the water, many parts of the Leasburg Slot Canyon are still rough.
Josh Hunt/AllTrails
This hike is a fascinating one as you can see the different types of rock that the canyon was formed by.

Let's explore the Leasburg Slot Canyon near las Cruces, NM in this video from Moises Mascorro:

 

This slot canyon trail is a very cool hike. Make sure you research your hike through New Mexico slot canyons ahead of time so you understand the supplies you need for a desert hike, as slot canyons can flood with high rain with very short notice.

For more information about this hike check out the AllTrails Leasburg Slot Canyon page, and let us know what your favorite part of the hike was! If you do a lot of hiking, you might want to check out AllTrails+ for even more features and information right on your phone everywhere you go.

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More hiking trails in New Mexico

Chris Muras | July 14, 2023

What are some of the best hiking trails in New Mexico?

Some of the best hiking trails in New Mexico will take you through canyons, aspen forests, over boardwalks, and up mountains. With so many options to choose from it is hard to pick just one. Here are a few of the best hiking trails in New Mexico for your next outdoor adventure:

  • Aspen Vista Trail, Santa Fe National Forest, NM: This beautiful hike takes you through an old aspen tree forest that glows with golden light in the fall when the sun sets. It is a nice long trail at 11 miles, but the terrain is easy.
  • Cave Creek Trail, Pecos Wilderness, NM: If you are looking for a trail with a few caves to explore, this one will do the trick. Just outside of Santa Fe in the beautiful Pecos Wilderness, you'll find this 5.5-mile trail.
  • Crater Rim Trail, Capulin Volcano National Monument, NM: The interesting thing about this one-mile trail is that you can get a scenic view of five states all in one trip. It is only a short trail but you'll be able to see into Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas along the way. And of course, New Mexico since you'll have to travel to Capulin, NM to start the hike.
  • Holy Ghost Creek Trail, Santa Fe National Forest, NM: The name may sound a little haunting but this trail is nothing short of heavenly. Head to Los Alamos, NM for this 7-mile trail through some of the most incredible landscapes you can imagine from lush forests to mountain views, with a creek or two for good measure.

 

For more information about some of these trails and a whole lot more, check out our article featuring 12 New Mexico hikes, one for each month of the year.

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Leasburg Dam State Park, 12712 State Park Rd, Radium Springs, NM 88054, USA