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Villanueva State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 651 Google reviews · Running trail in Villanueva, New Mexico · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Villanueva State Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
What runners say about Villanueva State Park
“The sites are large, the restrooms were very clean and the cost was well worth the side-trip up into the valley.”
“Beautiful campsite to stay at for two nights, with dramatic terrain and camping right by the river.”
“If you’re looking for peace and quiet with limited traffic you’ll have to go to spaces 19 and up.”
Edit: 2-10-2026. The adventures of Mut, Sidekick, Oscar, Hank and Ginger continue. I still hold this one at 5 stars. We spent the weekend here and found things to be still taken care of. This is an older park; that's fine. The staff here do a great job of keeping up with things.
Beautiful park. The sites are large, the restrooms were very clean and the cost was well worth the side-trip up into the valley. The views are spectacular and the hike up the ridge revealed several historical ruins site where conquistadors, Native Americans and other travelers camped in their journeys.
This site was excellent with beautiful views at the top of the hill. I wish we had stayed a bit longer. There is a small convenience store in the village nearby but they do not have much. Amazingly friendly and helpful people. The bathrooms at the site were old but everything was working well.
What a lovely campground! The location is deep set into an intimate rural community and lovely valley along the river. Many sites are right on the river or up on a bluff with a bit of a view. Most are in small clusters where you might have a direct neighbor or two, but decent privacy from the rest.
Trail conditions & character
“Unobstructed views, birds, a chipmunk, and the wind were my welcome camp mates; was just passing through NM, but I enjoyed my stay and would stay again if in the area.”
“The sites are large, the restrooms were very clean and the cost was well worth the side-trip up into the valley.”
“I did the Loop Trail in the evening and was rewarded with a gorgeous sunset.”
“There is considerable elevation change through rough terrain, mostly single file.”
“If you’re looking for peace and quiet with limited traffic you’ll have to go to spaces 19 and up.”
“The only thing is the significantly reduced water level, which limits available activities.”
Plan your run at Villanueva State Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websiteemnrd.nm.gov
- Phone(575) 421-2957
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–7 PM |
Running trails near Villanueva
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
