Manzano Mountains
For outdoor opportunities, the nearby Manzano Mountains have numerous hiking trails and campsites. The Cibola National Forest has several sites in the mountain range with a ranger station in the town of Mountainair, and the Manzano Mountains State Park is located on the other side of the range, 16 miles northwest of Mountainair.
Belen Waterfowl Area
Three state wildlife areas are located south of Belen, with bird-watching and seasonal hunting opportunities. The Belen Waterfowl Area on Jarales Road, a couple miles south of Belen, the Casa Colorada Wildlife Area is across the Rio Grande on SR 304, 8 miles south of Belen, and the Bernardo Waterfowl Area is on US Hwy. 60 in-between the Rio Grande and I-25 about 25 miles south of Belen.