Haynes Canyon Vista · U.S. Forest Service
Located about 1 mile south of the NM6563 and NM130 turnoff, this viewing area (vista in spanish) makes for a wonderful photo opportunity.
Haynes Canyon Vista
VerifiedOpenStreetMap + U.S. Forest Service
Haynes Canyon Vista sits at 8,846 feet on the Sunspot Scenic Byway, facing 270 degrees toward Red Hill, which rises to 6,687 feet 4.8 miles west-northwest. The terrain drops 450 feet within 600 meters of the overlook, giving an open sightline in that direction. The facing points directly toward the sunset, so evening light here comes in square with the view rather than off to one side. Alamogordo lies 11.7 miles west, Tularosa 17.9 miles west-northwest, and Ruidoso 28.1 miles north. The site is located about one mile south of the NM6563 and NM130 turnoff. It falls along the byway between the Haynes Canyon Vista Observation Site and the Nelson Canyon Vista Interpretive Site, making it a stop to combine with either of those.
Access
On the byway
Elevation
8,846 ft
View
West · 270°
Light
Best at sunset
Relief
450 ft drop
In view
1 named features
What you’re looking at
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
- Red Hill6,687 ftwest-northwest · 4.8 mi
Light
This overlook faces sunset — 0° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:08 | 19:15 | 18:42 |
| June solstice | 05:56 | 20:15 | 19:39 |
| September equinox | 06:52 | 19:01 | 18:29 |
| December solstice | 07:03 | 17:01 | 16:23 |
Local time (America/Denver). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
- Alamogordo11.7 mi west
- Tularosa17.9 mi west-northwest
- Ruidoso28.1 mi north
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How high is Haynes Canyon Vista?
Haynes Canyon Vista sits at about 8,846 feet (2,696 m).
What can you see from Haynes Canyon Vista?
From Haynes Canyon Vista: Red Hill (WNW, 4.8 mi).
Is Haynes Canyon Vista better at sunrise or sunset?
Sunset. The land falls away from Haynes Canyon Vista toward the sunset, so at sunrise the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.
What is the nearest town to Haynes Canyon Vista?
Alamogordo, 12 miles W of Haynes Canyon Vista.
What is the next lookout after Haynes Canyon Vista?
Nelson Canyon Vista Interpretive Site is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Haynes Canyon Vista.
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Haynes Canyon Vista — confirmed, rated, and photographed by people who actually pulled over. A local confirmation is what upgrades a lookout from Discovered to Verified. Zero hallucinations.
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Field notes
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