San Lorenzo Slot Canyon

San Lorenzo Canyon clarkargus / CC BY 2.0

One of only three slot canyons in New Mexico, San Lorenzo Canyon is fantastic for hiking, camping, and general observation. And although it’s not an official Dark Sky sanctuary, the stargazing here is supreme.

Like other slot canyons, San Lorenzo was formed over hundreds of thousands of years by water flowing through the sandstone, carving out steep narrow channels. In the middle of San Lorenzo Canyon, there are 200-foot cliffs that are the product of some 200,000 years of stream erosion. Outside of the main canyon, you can spot distinctive geological features like hoodoos and rock towers.

The canyon’s primitive recreation area is jointly managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Although there are a few designated trails, this is a free-use area. While you should be careful to leave no trace exploration and hiking is completely free form. There are a number of campsites established by previous visitors, although none are designated official sites, and there are no bathrooms, water, electricity, or WiFi.

Know Before You Go

Best visited in spring and fall. Summer visits are to be done with caution as the heat and lack of water means you need to be well prepared. Summer can also bring rain that makes the area inaccessible to all but 4x4 vehicles.

Be sure to download maps before going, as service in this area is not reliable.

When traveling South on 1-25 take exit 163 and then an immediate turn onto 1-24 frontage road headed South. Travel for 2.3 miles and turn right to pass under the highway. Follow the arroyo's for 4.4 mile to the start of the San Lorenzo Canyon area. With no rain the is easily done by any vehicle but rain can necessitate a 4x4.

When traveling North on 1-25 take exit 163 and then an immediate turn onto 1-24 frontage road headed South. Travel for 2.3 miles and turn right to pass under the highway. Follow the arroyos for 4.4 miles to the start of the San Lorenzo Canyon area. With no rain the is easily done by any vehicle but rain can necessitate a 4x4.