Cerrillos Hills State Park, State park in Cerrillos, New Mexico, United States.

Cerrillos Hills State Park covers rolling hills from 6,000 to 6,900 feet above sea level, 16 miles south of Santa Fe. Its trails pass turquoise, lead and silver workings, and the visitors' center is in Los Cerrillos.

The Tewa and Keres knew these hills as the Turquoise Mountains for their turquoise mines, and the Spanish called them the Sierra de San Mateo. In 1581 the Spanish identified lead-silver deposits that Pueblo peoples had already used in pottery glazes. The Cerrillos Mining District was created in 1879 and added to the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties in 1973.

The hills reflect a mining heritage that shaped how people lived and worked in this region for generations. Walking through, you can observe evidence of past extraction practices woven into the current landscape.

The trails have varying difficulty levels and cross open terrain, so bring water and sun protection. Early morning or late afternoon visits work best, especially during warmer months when shade is limited.

The park sits atop mineral deposits that draw geologists studying rock formations and geological processes. This scientific value makes it an important site for hands-on learning about regional geology.