Northern New Mexico is filled with hidden gems. One of these is a beautiful overlook of the Rio Grande that’s easily accessible by all. It’s called the White Rock Overlook and in this article, I’ll tell you everything I need to know about giving it a good visit.
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What is the White Rock Overlook?
The White Rock Overlook is a beautiful overlook located near Los Alamos, New Mexico that offers brilliant views of the Rio Grande and surrounding mountains.
The White Rock Overlook overview
The entire landscape is volcanic in nature and began its formation millions of years ago. As lava from these volcanoes erupted and cooled down it formed land made of different kinds of rocks, like basalt and andesite.
Over time, the Rio Grande and its tributaries cut its way through this region and formed the magnificent canyon walls of Mortandad Canyon that you can admire from the overlook.
It’s quite an impressive sight because of the sweeping 270 degree view you have of the area, which includes the Jemez Mountains that offer a picturesque backdrop to the Rio Grande Valley.
How to visit the White Rock Overlook
Looking to check out the White Rock Overlook? No problemo!
It’s a breeze to swing by and it’s the perfect add-on if you happen to be in the area checking out the Manhattan Project sites in Los Alamos or exploring the ancient cliff dwellings at Bandelier National Monument.
If you’re coming from Los Alamos, just hop in your ride and it’s only a 15 minute drive to get there. And if you’re staying in White Rock, you’ll be just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the overlook at any given moment.
The viewpoint is located at the end of the Overlook Rd which runs through a number of different recreation sites like baseball fields, softball fields, a dog park, and a playground.
You’ll continue on the main road through all of these facilities until you arrive at the small parking lot for the viewpoint. It’s then just a very short and paved “trail” to the viewing platform.
Once you’re there, you can wander off the trail and explore the cliffs but obviously you want to be careful not to lose your balance or have an accident with loose rocks. It’s a long way down!
We were not aware that there were petroglyphs in the area where we visited but apparently you can find them on the rocks! I’m not exactly sure if they are on the rocks at the viewpoint or down below so keep those eagle eyes peeled and maybe you’ll spot some.
Another hidden treasure of this site is a beautiful waterfall that drops from the canyon on the west. We visited in April when the snow was melting and it had a good flow rate and so they had a pretty good showing at the waterfalls.
Oh, and here’s a little insider tip: there’s a trail near the parking lot that’ll take you up close and personal with that glorious waterfall and its charming creek.
If you want to hike all the way down to the Rio Grande you can do the Blue Dot Trail. You could do the full loop which is a pretty strenuous hike or you can opt to just go down for a closer view of the Rio Grande.
Final word
The White Rock Overlook is worth visiting. It’s free, beautiful, and incredibly convenient to access. We visited close to sunset but this might actually be a better spot for the sunrise considering where the sun will be rising from. And, assuming that the overlook remains open at night, this could be a really good place for stargazing because I doubt there is much light pollution in the nearby area.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.