Oliver Lee Memorial State Park - Alamogordo, New Mexico

Address: 409 Dog Canyon Rd, Alamogordo, NM 88310, United States.
Phone: 5056607381.
Website: emnrd.state.nm.us
Specialties: State park, Campground, Hiking area, Historical place museum, Park, Tourist attraction.
Other points of interest: On-site services, Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Hiking, Barbecue grill, Picnic tables, Public restroom, Good for kids, Kid-friendly hikes, Dogs allowed.
Opinions: This company has 681 reviews on Google My Business.
Average opinion: 4.6/5.

📌 Location of Oliver Lee Memorial State Park

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park: An Exceptional Outdoor Destination

For individuals seeking a captivating blend of history, nature, and recreational activities, Oliver Lee Memorial State Park presents a truly remarkable destination. Located in Alamogordo, New Mexico, this state park offers a diverse range of experiences, catering to families, hikers, and history enthusiasts alike. This comprehensive guide will furnish prospective visitors with essential information, ensuring a memorable and enriching experience.

Location and Contact Information: Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is situated at 409 Dog Canyon Rd, Alamogordo, NM 88310, United States. Interested parties can readily contact the park via telephone at 5056607381. For detailed information and updates, the official website is emnrd.state.nm.us.

Specialties: The park’s core offerings encompass a state park setting, a well-equipped campground, expansive hiking areas, a compelling historical place museum, and, fundamentally, a popular tourist attraction. It successfully blends opportunities for outdoor adventure with a tangible connection to the region’s past.

Points of Interest and Amenities

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is brimming with attractions and facilities designed to enhance the visitor experience. Here's a breakdown of key features:

  • On-site Services: The park provides a variety of convenient services, ensuring visitor comfort and ease.
  • Accessibility: Recognizing the importance of inclusivity, the park offers a wheelchair-accessible car park and a wheelchair-accessible entrance, promoting equal access for all.
  • Recreational Activities: The park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking trails of varying difficulty levels wind through the surrounding landscape.
  • Outdoor Cooking: Visitors can enjoy barbecues at barbecue grills, and convenient picnic tables are strategically placed throughout the park.
  • Restroom Facilities: Clean and well-maintained public restroom facilities are readily available for visitor use.
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is particularly well-suited for families with children, offering good for kids and kid-friendly hikes.
  • Pet-Friendly Policy: Dogs are permitted in designated areas, providing opportunities for furry companions to enjoy the outdoors.

Historical Significance and Museum

The park’s historical place museum provides a fascinating glimpse into the region’s past, focusing on the life and legacy of Oliver Lee, a prominent figure in New Mexico’s history. Exhibits showcase artifacts, photographs, and narratives that illuminate the area’s early settlements, ranching traditions, and military heritage. The museum complements the natural beauty of the park, offering a deeper understanding of the landscape’s cultural significance.

Visitor Feedback and Ratings

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park consistently receives positive feedback from visitors. As of today, the park boasts 681 reviews on Google My Business, with an impressive average opinion of 4.6 out of 5 stars. These reviews highlight the park’s stunning scenery, well-maintained facilities, and engaging historical exhibits. Many visitors commend the park’s family-friendly atmosphere and the quality of the hiking trails.

Summary: Oliver Lee Memorial State Park offers a compelling blend of natural beauty, historical significance, and recreational opportunities. With its accessible facilities, diverse activities, and positive visitor feedback, it’s an ideal destination for families, hikers, and history enthusiasts alike.

👍 Reviews of Oliver Lee Memorial State Park

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park - Alamogordo, New Mexico
Rebecca L.
4/5

A beautiful ( overpriced ) state park with some of the friendliest employees I've ever met. The trails are nice and range from difficult to easy, the campsites are well maintained and many of them are level. The restrooms were way on the other side of the campground from where I was camping, which was a bit of a disappointment, but I'm sure those that were right next to it wouldn't share that complaint.. ( I wouldn't have wanted to be right next to them .. though they were very clean and the showers were better than most .. there was a slight smell in that area ). When reserving online, you are hit with extra fees, and I believe the total came to $24 for a primitive campsite for out of state guests .. which is ridiculous.
The visitor center has nice displays, and I love that some of the historical features of the area have been kept. I've never paid this much money for a primitive campsite in my life and don't plan to again. There are some great free campsites on BLM land just outside the state park boundaries. Great showers and awesome attendants, custodians, and hosts. The people who work at this state park made it almost worth the price. Bravo.

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park - Alamogordo, New Mexico
Amanda M.
3/5

Oliver Lee has a nice visitor center and desert garden with labeled plants. Getting there takes you through a pretty bad area and you might question if you are headed to the right place.

The hiking is very limited and really has only one very strenuous trail up into dog canyon then a few very short trails that couldn’t even fill a half day. The dog canyon trail is 5.2 miles to the top gaining 3,200’ of elevation then back down making for a full very strenuous day. It is beautiful landscape but the challenge is not for everyone. And the trail maps they have available are ridiculously tiny, you need reading glasses to read the 1/4 sheet of paper and does not have the complete dog canyon trail on it.

There is a nice desert campground with very sweet camp hosts and spacious gravel sites, some with utilities and picnic table shade shelters, some without. There are a couple of scattered pit toilets which were actually cleaner and nicer than the one “comfort station” with flush toilets and showers. It was dirty, smelled bad and the showers were scalding hot (not adjustable) and barely spit out enough water to rinse off in. Granted both times I showered were the end of the day after all the families had washed their kids, so mess is expected. But stink? And the showers were just bad.

The campground was said to be booked full the whole time we were there but about a quarter of the sites were unoccupied because people who had reserved them didn’t show and didn’t cancel so that someone else could use the site. There were people who had to camp in the overflow parking area with no amenities because of folks who weren’t thoughtful enough to cancel when they couldn’t show up. Please don’t be those people! Cancel if you can’t be there even if it is the same day and you can’t get a refund. Parks are busy and people are waiting for sites.

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park - Alamogordo, New Mexico
Blueknight
5/5

This is one of my favorite State Parks in New Mexico, close to Alamogordo, White Sands National Monument and White Sands Missile Range. Clean camp sites and bathrooms with hot showers. The best sites are the non electric/water sites, that over looks WSNM. Small but nice museum, nice hiking trails from the campground. Camp hosts are very helpful, and firewood is sold from their host sites.

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park - Alamogordo, New Mexico
Hiker S.
5/5

Oliver Lee Memorial SP, Alamogordo, NM

This is a stunning state park with mountain views, hiking trails, gorgeous valley sunsets, and a birders delight.

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park - Alamogordo, New Mexico
Ren R.
4/5

Great campground, nice facilities and beautiful view. 5 miles outside of Alamogordo if you need replacements. Whitesands National Park 20 miles south. Will come back if we get in the area again

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park - Alamogordo, New Mexico
Jack R.
5/5

Very nice campground, with large sites offering privacy even in the desert. We first had site 32 and later 38. Beautiful views of the Sacramento Mountains one end and White Sands National Park on the other. Hard but beautiful trail into dog canyon, especially the thrilling “eyebrow.” Unfortunately, signage stops after mile 4 or so. And it’s probably not a good idea to take your dogs into Dog Canyon. The path is strewn with fist-sized rocks that are tough on paws.

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park - Alamogordo, New Mexico
Renata R.
5/5

LOVE this state park!! Well maintained, great camp host, love the trails. The path to the bathroom was lit up! Who does that?! I want to go back!

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park - Alamogordo, New Mexico
Di R.
5/5

Lovely stopover for 1 night - site #17 (no electric) had nice unobstructed views across the plains. Hike up Dog Canyon looked great (leave early when cool) but we didn’t have time. Pleasant campground host (appreciate they are protective of facilities from noncampers - thank you), clean toilets and overall campground immaculate.

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