New Mexico is home to some of the most beautiful and majestic mountains in the United States. From the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the Sandia Mountains, New Mexico’s peaks offer stunning vistas, great hiking, and plenty of mysteries and legends. Below are 50 fun riddles about New Mexico’s mountains along with the answers to test your knowledge. Enjoy!
Riddles
Sangre de Cristo Mountains
1. I’m the tallest peak in New Mexico, reaching up 13,161 feet. I’m located in the Sangre de Cristo range north of Santa Fe. What mountain am I?
Answer: Wheeler Peak
2. My name means “blood of Christ” in Spanish. I’m a long mountain range that extends from southern Colorado into northern New Mexico. What am I?
Answer: The Sangre de Cristo Mountains
3. I’m a mountain pass located on the eastern side of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. At 7,834 feet elevation, I’m the highest pass on the historic Santa Fe Trail. What am I?
Answer: Raton Pass
4. Located within the Pecos Wilderness, I’m the third highest peak in New Mexico. I stand at 12,409 feet tall and offer amazing views of Truchas Peak. What peak am I?
Answer: Santa Fe Baldy
5. My name is Spanish for “jagged peak.” I’m an iconic summit located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains about 16 miles northeast of Santa Fe. What peak am I?
Answer: Crestone Needle
Sandia Mountains
6. I’m a tramway that transports people from Albuquerque up to the top of the Sandia Mountains. Opened in 1966, I’m the world’s longest aerial tramway. What am I called?
Answer: Sandia Peak Tramway
7. I’m a popular hiking trail that goes to the summit of Sandia Crest in the Sandia Mountains. Completed in 1937, my name means “tall tree trail” in Spanish. What trail am I?
Answer: La Luz Trail
8. Located in the Sandia Mountains, I’m a pueblo ruins that dates back to around 1300 CE. Hikers can visit my remains after a steep 2-mile climb. What ancient pueblo am I?
Answer: Sandia Pueblo
9. I’m the highest point in the Sandia Mountains, rising 11,391 feet above sea level. Hikers are treated to sensational views from my rocky summit. What peak am I?
Answer: Sandia Crest
10. I’m a cave located in the Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque that is thought to have been used by ancestors of the modern Pueblo tribes. What’s my name?
Answer: Sandia Man Cave
Jemez Mountains
11. I’m a National Preserve located in the Jemez Mountains known for its large volcanoes and obsidian deposits. What am I?
Answer: Valles Caldera National Preserve
12. Located in the Jemez Mountains, I’m the largest volcanic caldera in the world. I formed after a massive eruption 1.12 million years ago. What volcanic feature am I?
Answer: Valles Caldera
13. I’m an 11,254 ft tall peak located in the Jemez Mountains within Santa Fe National Forest. I offer great views of the Valle Grande. What peak am I?
Answer: Redondo Peak
14. Found near Bandelier National Monument, I’m a tall volcanic plug formed by the erosion of surrounding ash and cinder deposits. What landmark am I?
Answer: Cerro La Jara
15. I’m the highest mountain fully within the boundaries of Bandelier National Monument, reaching 10,199 feet. Hikers can climb my Lookout Trail for great views. What peak am I?
Answer: Cerro Grande
Magdalena Mountains
16. I’m a ghost town nestled in the Magdalena Mountains that boomed after the discovery of lead carbonate ore in 1878. What town am I?
Answer: Magdalena
17. Located in the Magdalena Mountains, I’m a National Wildlife Refuge spanning over 80 square miles. Established in 1939, I provide habitat for elk, deer, and bighorn sheep. What refuge am I?
Answer: Magdalena Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
18. At 10,783 ft, I’m the highest point in the Magdalena Mountains. I offer hikers outstanding views of the surrounding wilderness and plains. What peak am I?
Answer: South Baldy
19. I’m an isolated summit located in the northwest portion of the Magdalena Mountains. Rising 10,685 feet, I present a rocky and bare peak. What mountain am I?
Answer: West Magdalena Peak
20. Found within the Cibola National Forest, I’m a popular attraction known for my large rock spires. Climbers come to scale my steep granite cliffs. What am I called?
Answer: The Needles
Ortiz Mountains
21. Located south of Santa Fe, I’m a 12,441 foot tall peak that offers outstanding views of the Galisteo Basin. What summit am I?
Answer: Cerro Alto Peak
22. Found in the Ortiz Mountains south of Santa Fe, I’m a unique trachyte volcanic plug that formed 23-19 million years ago. What rock formation am I?
Answer: Rabbit Ear Mounds
23. Extending 40 miles south of Santa Fe, I’m a small subrange of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The Spanish Peaks Wilderness lies within my borders. What range am I?
Answer: The Ortiz Mountains
24. Known as Tsikomo in Keres, I’m a 9,563 foot tall peak located in the southwest area of the Ortiz Mountains. What peak am I?
Answer: Red Mountain/Tsikomo
25. I’m an old turquoise mining town located west of the Ortiz Mountains near San Pedro Mountain. Operated from 1828-1931, my mine produced some of the finest turquoise around. What ghost town am I?
Answer: Cerrillos
Capitan Mountains
26. Rising steeply above the Mescalero Apache Reservation, I’m the highest summit in the Capitan Mountains at 11,561 feet. What peak am I?
Answer: Sierra Blanca Peak
27. Nestled in the Capitan Mountains, I’m a beautiful alpine lake that resulted from damming Ruidoso Creek. Summer visitors enjoy camping, fishing, and hiking around me. What lake am I?
Answer: Grindstone Reservoir
28. I’m a National Recreation Trail located in Lincoln National Forest near the Capitan Mountains.Opened in 1939, I’m touted as the birthplace of Smokey Bear. What trail am I?
Answer: Smokey Bear Historical Park
29. Found near the base of the Capitan Mountains, I’m the boyhood home of Smokey Bear. Suffering damage from a 1950 fire, I’m now a museum showcasing Smokey artifacts. What was I originally?
Answer: Smokey Bear’s Cabin/Ranger Station
30. Perched at over 9,000 feet in the Capitan Mountains, I’m a secluded summer village near Ruidoso. My 80 private log cabins around a central lodge are only open May-October. What village am I?
Answer: Ski Apache
San Andres Mountains
31. Located within the San Andres Mountains, I’m a unique and very isolated range surrounded on three sides by the Tularosa Basin. What solitary mountains am I?
Answer: San Andres Mountains
32. I’m a ghost town located west of the San Andres Mountains that sprang up after discovery of gold here in the 1860s. My name means “white city.” What was I called?
Answer: White Oaks
33. Found near the San Andres Mountains in south central New Mexico, I’m home to some of the world’s purest gypsum deposits. My dunes are open for recreational off-roading. What white dunes am I?
Answer: White Sands National Park
34. Soaring 7,793 feet over the Tularosa Basin, I’m the highest point in the San Andres Mountains. Hikers are rewarded with outstanding 360 degree views from my summit. What peak am I?
Answer: Salinas Peak
35. I’m a 19,812 acre wilderness area in the San Andres Mountains home to Desert Bighorn Sheep. Established in 1980, hiking trails lead into my steep canyons. What wilderness area am I?
Answer: Cedar Mountains Wilderness
Black Range
36. I’m the highest mountain in the Black Range at 10,895 feet. My summit lies within the Aldo Leopold Wilderness area. What am I called?
Answer: McKnight Mountain
37. Flowing 46 miles through the Black Range, I’m one of the longest perennial streams in New Mexico. I’m popular for fishing and riparian habitat. What creek am I?
Answer: East Fork Gila River
38. Created in 1993, I protect 77,380 acres within the Black Range. Known for steep terrain and breathtaking vistas, I’m the second largest wilderness area in New Mexico. What wilderness am I?
Answer: Aldo Leopold Wilderness
39. I’m an isolated 11,561 foot tall peak located in the northern region of the Black Range. My summit provides sweeping views of the surrounding wilderness. What peak am I?
Answer: Lookout Mountain
40. Perched at 10, 170 feet in the Black Range, I’m the highest town in New Mexico. Founded in the 1870s, my name means “black range city.” What historic mining town am I?
Answer: Chloride
Mogollon Mountains
41. Located within the Gila Wilderness, I’m the tallest peak in the Mogollon Mountains, rising to 10,770 feet. What am I called?
Answer: Whitewater Baldy
42. Flowing right through the Mogollon Mountains, I’m one of the best wild trout fishing streams in the Southwest. Sections of me flow through steep canyons perfect for whitewater rafting. What’s my name?
Answer: Gila River
43. Found deep within the Gila Wilderness, I’m one of the most remote valleys in the Mogollon Mountains. Surrounded by high peaks and cliffs, the only way to reach me is on foot or horseback. What isolated valley am I?
Answer: Gilita Mesa
44. I’m an old fire lookout tower perched atop Mogollon Baldy at an elevation of 9,910 feet. Built in 1911, I’m listed on the National Historic Lookout Register. What lookout am I?
Answer: Mogollon Baldy Lookout
45. Nestled at 8,000 feet within the Gila Wilderness, I’m a serene hot spring located near the banks of the West Fork Gila River. Soakers relax in my pools fed by geothermal waters. What hot spring am I?
Answer: Gila Hot Springs
Misc. Mountains & Peaks
46. Soaring 13,161 feet near Taos, I’m the highest point in New Mexico. I’m located within the remote Latir Peak Wilderness area. What famous mountain am I?
Answer: Wheeler Peak
47. I’m an extinct volcano located just west of Las Cruces that last erupted between 100,000-200,000 years ago. My name means “the little basket.” What volcano am I?
Answer: Aden Crater
48. Towering over the Rio Grande, I’m a prominent mesa located between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. I’m sacred to local Puebloan people and figure in many stories. What mesa am I?
Answer: Black Mesa
49. Located east of Deming within the Floridas Mountains, I’m the site of a 19th century mining boomtown turned ghost town. What town was I?
Answer: City of Rocks
50. I’m an isolated 11,998 foot tall peak located northeast of Truth or Consequences within Sierra Cuchillo. Hikers are treated to outstanding vistas from my summit. What’s my name?
Answer: Bennett Peak
Conclusion
New Mexico’s mountains offer an incredible diversity of landscapes, ecosystems, legends, and adventures. From the deep river canyons of the Mogollons to the high alpine peaks of the Sangre de Cristos, hikers and nature lovers will find endless inspiration. Learning about the history and geology of these ranges through riddles adds extra fun. The distinctive summits, canyons, and natural features of New Mexico’s mountains have shaped the cultures of native tribes and the Spanish settlers who came later. Getting out to explore the towering cliffs, winding trails, and panoramic vistas will give you a whole new appreciation for the beauty of New Mexico.
