ROI - New Mexico

[JaSAn]

A family celebration will find me in Midland, Texas first week of October.
I would like to spend a few weeks exploring New Mexico; never spent any time there IIRC.
I can leave anytime after mid September, return before Halloween.
Any recommendations for places to visit or places to avoid would be appreciated.

I have a Ram 2500 4WD with FWC.
I travel alone with a beagle, boondock or primitive camp.
I enjoy day hiking/wandering/meandering:
- with a beagle you are either sprinting or stopping to smell all the roses.

Thank you in advance, Jim.

 

[rruff]

I live in Ruidoso. Plenty of open beautiful land, that's for sure! Perfect for "hiking/wandering/meandering". Camp wherever you like on BLM or NF land. You'd probably want to avoid the forests that have been recently burnt though. There were big fires in the middle of the Gila and up west of Las Vegas this year.

That's probably the best time to visit, as the deserts won't be so hot, and the high mountain temperatures won't be too cold, and the rains should be over.