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Photo: Terry Umbenhaur, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Just east of town offer good hiking and rock climbing. Follow University Avenue east from NMSU past the Farm and Ranch museum to one of the primary trailheads, in a small park (fee) with interpretive exhibit. Trails lead from here into the mountains. Some campground space is available (additional fee). The Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument was established May 21, 2014.
The Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument is a United States national monument in the state of New Mexico, managed by the Bureau of Land Management as part of the National Landscape Conservation System.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
East of NMSU on the way out into the countryside. This is a fairly substantial site based on a working cattle ranch, with demonstrations. You can spend half a day here; there are picnic tables as well as food available for purchase.
It is in Las Cruces, with an interesting museum or two, a large conference center, and a comfortable student union.
Includes a small collection of live animals. 7 days, with evening hours on Friday; free, but donations requested.
Predominantly contemporary art with a regional emphasis.
A small museum dealing with local history.