Oliver Lee Memorial State Park
Tucked at the base of the Sacramento Mountains in the Chihuahuan Desert, Oliver Lee Memorial State Park features diverse wildlife and vibrant human history. The park offers great hiking, camping, and picnicking opportunities, as well as, interesting exhibits and informative tours.
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The Visitor Center offers great displays on Oliver Lee, his family, and other inhabitants of the area. There are a few interactive exhibits and great showcases full of artifacts collected in the area. The park staff is great for answering any questions you may have regarding the rich history of the park. If you are interested in identifying the local plant and animal wildlife, the center offers bird, amphibian, reptile and mammal lists of Dog Canyon as well as an extensive book, complete with photos of common and not so common park inhabitants.
Just outside the visitor center is the life of the park, Dog Canyon, with natural flowing springs and many species of plants along its banks. The canyon is home to over 9 species of ferns, as well as, many typical desert plants. The Interpretive Tail and Boardwalk take visitors among this small secluded oasis. Along the path, small signs describe the significance of the plant life to past human inhabitants of the canyon. There are pleasant shaded resting areas along the trail perfect for relaxing and observing the animal life that frequent the canyon.
Oliver Milton Lee, the park’s namesake, built his home in this area and made it his ranch headquarters in 1893. He made use of the canyon’s natural springs to build irrigation ditches to water his pastureland, orchards and vineyards. During that time the water flowed much stronger than it does today. The surrounding area also consisted of mainly grassland, perfect for cattle grazing, unlike today’s brushy landscape.
Lee’s ranch house was recently remodeled and furnished with authentic furniture allowing visitors a better perception of life in the early 19th century. Restoration was based on old photos and oral interpretation. The Lee home originally consisted of four rooms with more added over time. In 1971, Walt Disney used the ranch house and fallen barn to film the western movie Scandalous John. In the film the ranch was called Lazy Mc.
Currently, the ranch house is open for public tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 3:00 pm. Times are subject to change without notice. Special tours and programs are available by request, contact park staff for more information. The Park office number is 505-437-8284.
The park has 44 developed campsites, 18 electric sites, handicap accessible tables and grills. Water is readily available throughout the campsite. Restrooms, showers and an RV dump station are located within the camp ground for convenience. Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is located just 8 miles south of Alamogordo via US 54. Turn left onto Dog Canyon road and follow 4 miles to park entrance. There is a small fee for day and overnight use. Due to the park’s locality, it is great for setting up base camp and visiting the surrounding Alamogordo attractions during your stay.
For the more adventuresome visitors, Dog Canyon National Recreation Trail #106 is a must do. It is a challenging 5.5 mile hike up 3,100 feet in elevation to Joplin Ridge Road. The round trip of 11 miles can be done in 8 to 10 hours. Some hikers prefer to arrange a shuttle pickup at the top and it is encouraged to contact the Cloudcroft Ranger District of the Lincoln National Forest to inquire about road conditions. Be sure to notify the Visitor Center if you are camping in the backcountry for your safety.
