La Luz & Tularosa


The painters, writers and craftspeople who live in the tiny enclave of La Luz, 4 miles north of Alamogordo, share a passion for creating artwork and living off the land; a wild outpost, it’s well worth a browse. Another 10 miles north, the attractive village of Tularosa is dominated by the 1869 St Francis de Paula Church, built in a simple New Mexican style.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. New Mexico Museum of Space History

4.17 MILES

Looming over the northeast corner of town and nicknamed 'the golden cube,' this four-story museum is surrounded by historic missiles, and holds excellent…

2. Toy Train Depot

4.47 MILES

Railroad buffs and kids flock to this 1898 railway depot, for five rooms of train memorabilia and toy trains, and a 2.5-mile narrow-gauge minitrain ($5)…

3. Alameda Park & Zoo

5.31 MILES

Said to be the oldest zoo west of the Mississippi, established in 1898, this small but well-run place features exotics from around the world. Assuming…

4. Tularosa Basin Museum of History

5.43 MILES

Thoroughly regional little museum, spotlighting ancient people, ranching life, the military and local families of note. Lots of small-town artifacts too,…

5. Mexican Canyon Trestle Overlook

11.51 MILES

Built in 1899 to carry timber down to Alamogordo for the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad, the railway line here twisted up the Sacramento Mountains for…

6. Sunspot Solar Observatory

15.06 MILES

One of the world's largest solar observatories is near Sunspot, 20 miles south of Cloudcroft. Though it's primarily for scientists, tourists can enter the…

7. Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation

15.64 MILES

Around 4000 Apache – not only Mescalero, but also Chiricahua and Lipan – live on this reservation, stretching approximately 720 sq miles south and west of…

8. White Sands National Park

19 MILES

Undulating through the Tularosa Basin like something out of a dream, these ethereal dunes are a highlight of any trip to New Mexico, and a must on every…