New Mexico is home to 13 named waterfalls, a modest catalog that ranks #33 nationally. This interactive map plots every named fall in the state from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Geographic Names Information System. Click any marker for the waterfall’s name, county, exact coordinates, driving directions, and a deep link to the USGS GNIS record.
How to Use This New Mexico Waterfalls Map
- Search by waterfall name or street address — the search box geocodes any US location.
- Click any marker for the waterfall’s name, county, GPS coordinates, a one-tap Google Maps directions link, and a deep link to the USGS GNIS detail page.
- My location centres the map on your current GPS position to find the closest falls.
- Basemap switcher (top right): swap between Light, Topographic, and Satellite views. The Topo view is especially useful for visualising terrain around each fall.
- Share copies a permalink that preserves your zoom and centre so you can drop a friend straight into the same view.
Waterfalls in New Mexico by the Numbers
- Total named waterfalls: 13
- National rank: #33 out of 53 US states and territories
- Counties with at least one named fall: 9
- Data source: USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), queried May 2026
Top Counties for Waterfalls in New Mexico
| County | Named Waterfalls |
|---|---|
| Sandoval | 4 |
| Rio Arriba | 2 |
| Santa Fe | 1 |
| Union | 1 |
| Eddy | 1 |
| McKinley | 1 |
Notable Named Waterfalls in New Mexico
- Chamisa Vega Spring Falls — Sandoval County
- Lower Frijoles Falls — Sandoval County
- Upper Frijoles Falls — Sandoval County
- Sitting Bull Falls — Eddy County
- Petrero Waterfall — Rio Arriba County
- Rio Quemado Falls — Rio Arriba County
- Folsom Falls — Union County
- Garcia Falls — Socorro County
These are a selection of New Mexico’s most distinctively named falls. The map above includes every one of the 13 named waterfalls catalogued by the USGS — click and explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many waterfalls are there in
USGS GNIS records 13 named waterfalls in New Mexico. The true count is higher once you include unnamed seasonal cascades, but 13 is the official federal tally of falls notable enough to carry an established name.
Which county has the most waterfalls in
Sandoval County leads with 4 named falls, followed by Rio Arriba County (2) and Santa Fe County (1). The full county breakdown is in the table above.
Are these New Mexico waterfalls accessible to visit?
Most named falls in New Mexico sit on publicly accessible land — state parks, National Forest land, BLM tracts, or county/municipal property. Some are on private land or tribal land with their own access rules. Always check the relevant land manager before visiting, and never trespass. The driving-directions link in each map popup takes you to the nearest road; some falls then require a short or moderate hike.
When is the best time to visit New Mexico waterfalls?
For most of New Mexico, peak flow is during spring snowmelt and after heavy rains; late summer and early autumn typically give lower but clearer flow with better foliage colour. In high-elevation parts of the state, many falls partially freeze in winter and become spectacular ice formations.
Where does this data come from?
The USGS Geographic Names Information System, the federal standard for U.S. place names since 1890. We queried The National Map’s ArcGIS REST service in May 2026 for every feature classified as Falls within New Mexico. GNIS does not record waterfall heights — for that, see the World Waterfall Database.
