Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park
- Status
- Status not postedDaily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- emnrd.nm.gov(575) 887-5516
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park is a park in Eddy County, about 4 miles northwest of Carlsbad.
Popular activities here are ranger programs, wildlife watching, picnicking, and hiking.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | — |
| Store — Gift Shop | Not stated | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | — |
Official wording
9 am-5 pm Last entry into Zoo is 3:30 pm
Gift Shop: 9 am-4 pm
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Denver).
Pets
Pets are allowed at most state parks and must be on a leash at all times. Only service dogs are allowed at Rio Grande Nature Center and Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Parks.
Statewide rule from New Mexico's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
Per vehicle, statewide flat rates with resident/non-resident pricing (since Jan 1, 2025): NM resident day-use $5 (residents exempt Oct 1 – Apr 30), non-resident $10; walk-in/bicycle no charge. Camping per night: primitive $10 resident / $15 non-resident; developed $15 / $20; utility fees water $5, electric $10, sewer $5. Federal passes not accepted.
Statewide fee rule from New Mexico's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
New Mexico park passes
- Annual Day-Use Pass/Permit (ADU) — New Mexico resident — $75. Day-use entry, calendar year (expires Dec 31) Details
- Annual Day-Use Pass/Permit (ADU) — non-resident — $150. Day-use entry, calendar year Details
- Annual Camping Permit (ACP) — New Mexico resident — $300. Camping (resident only; proof of NM ID and plate) Details
- Lifetime Veterans pass (NM veteran with 50%+ disability) — No charge Details
From the New Mexico state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveAmerica (newmexicostateparks.reserveamerica.com)
- Phone
- 1-877-664-7787
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Things to do
Ranger and interpretive programsPicnickingHikingWildlife viewing and birding
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park trails (total) | 1.3 mi | — | 1.3 Miles; Hiking; Interpretive Trails; Accessible Trails (ADA); Wildlife Viewing; Zoo Exhibits; Birding |
Trail descriptions from the park
Trails: 1.3 Miles; Hiking; Interpretive Trails; Accessible Trails (ADA); Wildlife Viewing; Zoo Exhibits; Birding
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
- Park or camp store
- Group facilities
Accessibility
- Accessible trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
- Accessible trails
Accessible Trails (ADA)
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 1504 Skyline Dr.
Carlsbad, NM 88220 - Nearest town
- Carlsbad — about 4 mi northwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 32.4400, -104.2782
- Phone
- (575) 887-5516
- andrea.falcetto@emnrd.nm.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- New Mexico State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026; page says updated Oct 28, 2026
- WordPress REST API: child pages of the official 'Find a Park' page (35 pages), plus coordinates from that page's map pins
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology