The Manzano Mountains State Park is situated in the foothills of the mountains of Manzano. It has been a popular place for photography, hiking, fishing and bird watching. It is also a safe habitat for various tree species with the most dominant one as the ponderosa pine and the alligator juniper. It is called like this since its bark carries a checkered pattern that looks like the hide of an alligator.

A lot of birds species also fly past the park in every season which makes it a nice spot for bird watching. During the winter season, the state park offers an outdoor experience that is fit for snow shoeing along with cross country skiing. One thing is for sure: the state park is full of beauty all year round.