NM2007 - Attractions - Outdoor Pursuits

Try tempering a white-knuckle raft ride during the spring runoff on the Rio Grande with a slower, more serene float in late summer when the vibrant colors of fall appear and the scent of sun-warmed sage drifts across the river.

Or you might cruise the deep and bumpy moguls of Al’s run at Taos Ski Valley.

With 310 sunshiney days under impossibly blue skies, New Mexico has five national forests, 29 state parks, and 13 national monuments — extraordinary for hiking, camping, and biking, as well as water and snow sports, all in breathtaking landscapes. Welcome to the great outdoors — New Mexico style!

Take a powder

Angel Fire, Taos Ski Valley, and the Santa Fe Ski Basin lead the state’s nine alpine ski venues, offering some of the best dry powder conditions in the Southwest. Tucked into 13,000-foot peaks of the Carson, Santa Fe, and Lincoln national forests, most ski venues offer snowboarding, Nordic, and snowshoeing opportunities with state-of-the-art rental equipment centers and miles of groomed trails. A few companies offer dog sledding, and snowmobiles are welcome in several national forests, the Jemez Mountains area, and the Cloudclift region in the south.

Catch a wave

Crashing through the extreme whitewater of the deep and daring Rio Grande just west of Taos or the tamer nearby Rio Chama, river runners take advantage of the precious runoff each spring. With eight other major rivers and 30 significant lakes, you’ll also find the perfect water for kayaking, fishing, or boating.

Pedal to your mettle

Hikers and bikers revel in the state’s geographic diversity and visual beauty. Backcountry trails abound in every county, often leading visitors to significant archaeological and historical sites. The Continental Divide Trail traverses 650 miles of rugged New Mexico landscape along its western border and is one of the most pristine, remote, and beautiful hiking stretches in the West.

Look, up in the sky

The entire state is a bird sanctuary, with some of the best bird-watching in the world. Thousands of sandhill cranes, snow geese, bald eagles, and many other species migrate to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge south of Socorro. The Randall Davey Audubon Center in Santa Fe, Bitter Lake NWR near Roswell and Las Vegas NWR and MacAllister Lake near Las Vegas are other birding hotspots.The clear, dry night sky is great for star gazing.

GuestLife Don't Miss — Explore Early Pueblo Caves

Follow ancient footpaths worn into soft volcanic tuff, set in place in the 1400s by early inhabitants, when hiking the Tsankawi (san-ke-wii) cave dwellings site. A section of Bandelier National Monument located off Highway 4 near White Rock, this cave complex, occupied for 200 years, provides a glimpse of early Pueblo people’s lives. In many of the caves, you can see the blackened ceilings from fires used for cooking and warming. Also explore the ruins of Tsankawi village and search for petroglyphs. The trail involves ladders.
Information: (505) 672-3861 ext. 517, www.nps.gov

GuestLife Discover — Fly Fishing on the Pecos River

Flowing south from the spectacular Pecos Wilderness, Pecos River offers the experience of a fly fishing paradise. The upper reach tributaries, often only a few feet wide, are full of aggressive cut-bows and small colorful browns. As the Pecos reaches maximum flow in the lower elevations with swifter currents, deeper pools, and wider banks, the chances of landing a native Rio Grande cutthroat, New Mexico’s state fish, increase tremendously.

With fishing season typically running from early April through late September, this is the perfect place for fly fishers seeking a private, intimate experience in a remote setting loaded with trout.
Information: Check with local fly shops for gear and guides.