Hiking in New Mexico

New Mexico has a well-deserved reputation for deeply affecting, pastel colored high desert landscapes of the kind made famous in part by the artist Georgia O'Keefe. You can live and breathe these landscapes near Ghost Ranch in the northern part of the state, but there is much more to be found here as well. Rugged peaks top 13,000 feet in the Sangre De Cristo mountains, of which the Pecos Wilderness is the just the beginning. A whole array of volcanic features create alien landscapes like El Malpais National Monument. Those more interested in human landscapes can wander in the footsteps of ancient people all over the state in places like Chaco Culture National Historic Park and Bandelier National Monument. Welcome to New Mexico hiking!
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Capulin Volcano National Monument
Capulin Volcano National Monument
Capulin, New Mexico, United States
Moderate: 3.4 miles, 1-3 hours
Don't miss an opportunity to hike around and into a volcano, in beautiful Northeast New Mexico.

Capulin Volcano National Monument is the cinder cone of an extinct volcano. It is located New Mexico Highway 325, 3 miles north of Capulin, 33 miles East of interstate 25 at Raton. At the top of the cone are a parking lot, restrooms, and two trails. One trail circles the rim while the other descends into the crater. The rim trail offers spectacular...
Paseo del Bosque
Paseo del Bosque
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Easy: 16.0 miles, Half day
Albuquerque is becoming noted for its extensive network of biking/hiking trails, and the Bosque is the king of them all.

Bicycles, balloons, & the Bosque. These are three of the unique and wonderful attractions in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Paseo del Bosque Bike Trail, known to locals as "the Bosque," (pronounced Boss - key) is one of the premier bicycle trails in the southwestern United States. It is even better in early October during the Albuquerque International...
Santa Fe Rail Trail
Santa Fe Rail Trail
Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
Moderate: 15.0 miles, Half day
Ride the Rail Runner Express to Santa Fe for a glorious day of art, nature, food, southwest culture, & beautiful trails.

Planes, trains, and automobiles ... and bikes (a New Mexico biking odyssey) Before we begin our trail exploration, let's take a look at a couple southwestern recipes. We'll start w/ a "Regular Trail Burrito." Grab a tortilla, slap on some refried beans and chicken. Add a little rice & lettuce and there you have it. Now let's spice it up New Mexico...
Aguirre Springs Trail
Aguirre Springs Trail
Modoc, New Mexico, United States
4.8 mile trail near Organ Mountain National Recreation Area, New Mexico

Aguirre springs trail-Las Cruces is about 4.8 miles long and located near Modoc (historical), New Mexico. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes a full day. Trail starts at 4400 feet elevation and climbs to about 6800 feet at the halfway point. The gates to the trailhead don't open til 8:00 AM each day.
Trips
More wreckage (Tierra Monte Subdivision, New Mexico, United States) Photo
Part of wreck (Tierra Monte Subdivision, New Mexico, United States) Photo
Misc. Wreckage (Tierra Monte Subdivision, New Mexico, United States) Photo
TWA Canyon
by Senior Hiker on Jan 31, 2007
Sandia Heights, New Mexico, United States
Hiking | 3.8 miles
Hike to wreck of TWA plane that crashed into Sandias.
Rincon Ridge (Tierra Monte Subdivision, New Mexico, United States) Photo
Sandia Crest (Tierra Monte Subdivision, New Mexico, United States) Photo
Rio Grande Valley (Tierra Monte Subdivision, New Mexico, United States) Photo
View to the north (Tierra Monte Subdivision, New Mexico, United States) Photo
Juan Tabo Canyon
by Senior Hiker on Feb 04, 2007
Tierra Monte Subdivision, New Mexico, United States
Hiking | 4.2 miles
A short hike close to the city with great views of Albuquerque, the Sandias and Rio Grande Valley. A lot of off-trail.
Gate (El Valle, New Mexico, United States) Photo
Wilderness Boundary (El Valle, New Mexico, United States) Photo
San Leonardo Lake Photo
Gentian - what kind? Photo
Sheep's Head Peak Loop
by cyberhobo on Aug 14, 2008
El Valle, New Mexico, United States
Hiking | 14.1 miles
Tom Hickey takes me on one of his favorite hikes.
Aspen Pockets Photo
Aspen After Burn Photo
Gamel Oak and Aspen Photo
Roadside Aspen Photo
Borrego Mesa / Truchas Peak Loop
by cyberhobo on Sep 28, 2008
Truchas, New Mexico, United States
Hiking | 22.2 miles
As a long day hike I make a loop of the high and low trails from Borrego Mesa campground to Truchas Peak. The aspen are just hitting their full fall color.
Rock Formations (La Gotera, New Mexico, United States) Photo
Can you fly? (La Gotera, New Mexico, United States) Photo
Volcanic Plugs (La Gotera, New Mexico, United States) Photo
The Igloos (La Gotera, New Mexico, United States) Photo
Pino Springs Loop
by Senior Hiker on Feb 03, 2007
La Gotera, New Mexico, United States
Hiking | 5.1 miles
Short hike on the western edge of the Rio Puerco valley with some of the best views of the volcanic plugs in that area.
Trailhead Photo
To Junction 39 Photo
To Junction 39 Photo
Junction 40 Photo
Picacho and Atalaya
by cyberhobo on Dec 11, 2008
Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
Hiking | 5.5 miles
This is one of the shorter loops to hit both Picacho and Atalaya. I combined this with a bike ride to the trailhead for a human-powered outing.
Mitchell Trailhead Photo
Burn Area Photo
Natural Arch Trail Junction Photo
Natural Arch Photo
Mitchell Trail / Caballo Peak Loop
by cyberhobo on Oct 09, 2008
Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States
Hiking | 22.0 miles
I try to make a loop hike to Caballo Peak. The descent route I choose has been ravaged by the 2000 Cerro Grande fire, and is very rough going. Otherwise, the hike tours through some very nice terrain, especially with the lingering Aspen colors.
2008-07-21 07.09.08 IMG_0443 (Bonito, New Mexico, United States) Photo
2008-07-21 07.15.18 IMG_0458 (Bonito, New Mexico, United States) Photo
2008-07-21 07.57.38 IMG_0472 (Villa Madonna, New Mexico, United States) Photo
2008-07-21 07.59.34 IMG_0476 (Villa Madonna, New Mexico, United States) Photo
Crest Trail (No. 25), White Mountain Wilderness, Lincoln County, New Mexico
by Big Blister on Jul 21, 2008
Ruidoso, New Mexico, United States
Hiking | 23.0 miles
This was a one-day, end-to-end hike on the Crest Trail in the White Mountain Wilderness near Ruidoso, NM.Highs:  Many panoramic views from the crest.Lows:  Rained for the last three hours!Most of the attached photos record the location of trail junctions, water sources, and good tent sites for future. overnight trips.
Black Canyon trailhead Photo
Bench Photo
Dad at the apex Photo
Apex Picnic Table Photo
Hyde Memorial State Park Circle Trail
by cyberhobo on Sep 20, 2008
Tesuque, New Mexico, United States
Hiking | 2.2 miles
Leaving from a campsite in the Black Canyon forest service campground, three of us have a nice afternoon hike on this state park trail.
The Canyon Photo
Fajada Butte Photo
Approching Pueblo Bonita Photo
Pueblo Bonita East Photo
Pueblo Alto Loop in Chaco Canyon
by cyberhobo on Nov 01, 2008
Kimbeto, New Mexico, United States
Hiking | 5.9 miles
I spend the first day of November sweating amidst the mysterious ruins of a thousand-year-old culture.
Trailhead Photo
Morning Sun in the Valley Photo
Rock Bands Photo
Morning Cliff Photo
North Sandia Peak
by cyberhobo on Nov 14, 2008
The Overlook, New Mexico, United States
Hiking | 18.1 miles
On a cold, clear day I take in the views from the Sandia Crest, snacking on pine nuts on the way down.
Road Closed Sign Photo
Deadfall Photo
Deadfall Photo
Stream Photo
Wheeler Peak Loop Hike
by cyberhobo on Jul 31, 2008
Hematite (historical), New Mexico, United States
Hiking | 19.1 miles
Trailhead (Upper Frijoles Crossing, New Mexico, United States) Photo
Mystery Plant (Upper Frijoles Crossing, New Mexico, United States) Photo
Ann Investigates (Upper Frijoles Crossing, New Mexico, United States) Photo
Ann in the Meadow (Upper Frijoles Crossing, New Mexico, United States) Photo
Cerro Grande Hike
by cyberhobo on Aug 17, 2008
Upper Frijoles Crossing, New Mexico, United States
Hiking | 4.0 miles
Ann and I squeeze this hike in between storms on a day when floods and hail damage occurred in the valley below.
Parking Photo
Baldy Trailhead Gate Photo
Baldy Trailhead Photo
You Are Here Photo
Apache Canyon to Thompson Peak
by cyberhobo on Oct 26, 2008
Cañada de los Alamos, New Mexico, United States
Hiking | 16.5 miles
I climb this peak at the very south end of the Sangre de Cristo range on a lovely Indian summer day. The last mile of the track fell victim to low batteries.
Rio Grande Valley Photo
Vulture Photo
Vultures Photo
Mariposa Lily Photo
Mount San Antonio
by cyberhobo on Jul 27, 2008
McGreggor Place, New Mexico, United States
Hiking | 7.4 miles
see blog post
IMG_2792 (Ponderosa, New Mexico, United States) Photo
IMG_2809 (Ponderosa, New Mexico, United States) Photo
IMG_2810 (Ponderosa, New Mexico, United States) Photo
IMG_2817 (Ponderosa, New Mexico, United States) Photo
Goblin Colony
by intermediate_hiker on Sep 05, 2009
Ponderosa, New Mexico, United States
Hiking | 6.4 miles
A great day trip we made from Santa Fe, through the windy roads outside of Los Alamos and down through Jemez Springs and then Ponderosa, New Mexico.Although we took a wrong turn (at the first marker), it was still beautiful.