Rockhound State Park, near Deming, New Mexico, was a new discovery for me. So far, every state park I've visited in New Mexico has been unique, quirky and pleasant. I haven't found one yet that I wouldn't be glad to stay at again. What made Rockhound unique was that it allowed visitors to collect and remove up to fifteen pounds of rocks per day; quite a surprise considering most parks ask that you "take nothing but pictures." Various rocks and minerals can be found throughout the park, including quartz, jasper, agate, opal and other semi-precious gems.
Rockhound's campground is in a little bowl surrounded on three sides by the Florida and Little Florida mountains, some of them snow-capped. There are several foot trails nearby including a cactus garden nature trail.
After dinner, I went out for a little hike on one of the rocky, cactus-covered slopes behind my campsite. I talked to a collector hammering rocks out of the slope. He didn't think he'd found anything of great value but would know more after he had examined his haul that evening. After he returned to his campsite I watched the sunset and enjoyed seeing the glow of the lights of Deming off to the west and the stars appearing above.
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