7 Best Outdoor Adventures in El Paso, Texas
UTV tours, mountain hikes, bouldering, biking, sunsets, white dunes and stargazing.
El Paso might be famous for its food and culture, but the great outdoors here is the real sleeper hit. Sitting in the Chihuahuan Desert with the Franklin Mountains cutting right through the city, El Paso packs more outdoor adventure into one metro area than most cities twice its size.
Here are the seven best outdoor adventures in El Paso, Texas — ranked by how likely they are to become your favorite story from the trip.
1. UTV Tour Through Red Sands
The #1 outdoor adventure in El Paso, no contest. Red Sands is a vast stretch of red desert dunes just east of the city, and the best way to experience it is behind the wheel of a UTV.
Rent a UTV El Paso runs guided tours where you drive a brand-new turbocharged four-seat Can-Am Maverick X3 through roughly 25 miles of Baja-style desert trail. A professional guide leads from the front, helmets and goggles are included, and the whole experience takes about 1.5 hours. At $195 for a solo driver or $295 for the whole crew (up to four riders), it's the most adrenaline per dollar in West Texas.
No experience needed — most riders are first-timers. Book ahead; weekend spots go fast.
2. Hike the Franklin Mountains State Park
The Franklin Mountains slice straight through El Paso, and the state park wrapped around them is the largest urban park in the United States. Hundreds of miles of trails range from easy nature walks to serious summit pushes.
Don't miss the Ron Coleman Trail to the top of North Franklin Mountain — it's a workout, but the view from the summit stretches across Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico. Go early, bring more water than you think you need, and watch for mule deer and golden eagles.
3. Boulder and Hike at Hueco Tanks State Park
About 30 miles northeast of El Paso, Hueco Tanks is world-famous among rock climbers — it's considered one of the best bouldering destinations on the planet. But you don't need to climb to love it.
The park's ancient rock formations hold thousands of Native American pictographs, and guided tours reveal the human history written on the stone. Visit November through March for the best weather. Note: access to parts of the park requires a guided tour, so check ahead.
4. Mountain Bike the Franklin Mountains
El Paso's trail network is a hidden gem for mountain bikers. The west side of the Franklins offers everything from flowy beginner singletrack to technical rocky descents with serious exposure.
Local bike shops rent bikes and can point you to the right trailhead for your skill level. Early morning rides beat the heat and catch incredible desert sunrises.
5. Catch Sunset at Scenic Drive Overlook
Not every adventure requires breaking a sweat. Scenic Drive winds along the face of the Franklin Mountains above downtown, and the overlook at the top delivers a panoramic view of El Paso, Ciudad Juárez, and the desert beyond.
Go at sunset. Bring someone you like. Thank us later.
6. Day Trip to White Sands National Park
Okay, it's technically in New Mexico — about 90 minutes from El Paso — but no El Paso outdoor adventure list is complete without it. White Sands is the world's largest gypsum dune field: 275 square miles of brilliant white sand that looks like snow and feels like a beach.
Sled down the dunes (yes, really — you can buy a waxed sled at the visitor center), hike the Alkali Flat Trail, and stay for the sunset ranger programs. It's one of the most surreal landscapes in America, and it makes an easy day trip from El Paso.
7. Stargaze in the Desert
Far from city lights, the Chihuahuan Desert offers some of the darkest skies in Texas. Red Sands, the Hueco Tanks area, and the desert east of the Franklins all make phenomenal stargazing spots on clear, moonless nights.
Bring a blanket, download a stargazing app, and give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust. The Milky Way core is visible spring through early fall.
Plan Your El Paso Adventure
El Paso's outdoors reward the bold — and there's no bolder start than a UTV tour through Red Sands. Knock out #1 on this list with Rent a UTV El Paso, then spend the rest of your trip working through the other six.
For events, dining, and trip planning resources, check out Visit El Paso — the city's official visitor guide.