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As the sky’s hue deepens from twilight blue to black and stars, too numerous to count, fall into place above our camp, I can barely stay awake. We’ve been up since dawn, when a Stellar’s jay sounded the alarm (too bad he didn’t also fire up the cowboy coffee). After a morning mountain bike ride through the Santa Fe National Forest, my companion and I set off by foot along the banks of the San Antonio River — he to fly-fish, I to daydream, hike, and find a cool spot for cloud-watching. After dinner — fresh-caught trout, of course — we headed back downstream to soak in hot springs bubbling from a rocky hill slope above the San Antonio. Naturally, we were exhausted by the time we returned to our campsite.
Even now the memory of that weekend in New Mexico’s Jemez Mountains stands as proof that days well lived are twice enjoyed. Nights spent curled in a sleeping bag, kayak trips on the Rio Grande, and treks through a desert wilderness sustain my soul.
Admit it: You have come to the Land of Enchantment not only to nourish your spirit, but also to stretch your legs. There are a variety of ways to do that: New Mexico’s outdoor recreation activities are wildly diverse.
This is home to expert-run ski slopes and Class IV whitewater rapids, as well as cliffs of granite perfect for feeling out finger holds and high-elevation meadows that birth trickling trout streams. And while there are millions of acres of backcountry to explore, there’s also the remarkable quality of recreation opportunities adjacent to the state’s three most populous cities — Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Las Cruces — all flanked by mountain ranges with trails for all abilities and tastes.
While Santa Fe is renowned for historic architecture, world-class art galleries, and museums, none of those things compares to the hiking and running (or snowshoeing and crosscountry skiing) trails leading from outside of town up into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. These range in difficulty from the Borrego Trail, which loops for four miles through pines and meadows, to the seven-mile Atalaya Mountain Trail, which ascends the 9,121-foot peak. And the foothills of the Sandía Mountains, which frame Albuquerque’s east side, are also crossed with single-track mountain biking trails. Who knows? If you befriend local riders in the Sandías, they might reveal other hot spots — trails whose locations are carefully guarded by those who can’t bear to watch the state’s best biking trails become overcrowded.
If you crave water, the Chama, a 31-mile stretch of which Congress designated a wild and scenic river, winds through Georgia O’Keeffe country, offering fairly calm waters for families and beginners, as well as views of red-rock cliffs and wooded canyons. And then there’s the Río Grande. Flowing down the middle of the state, the Río offers everything from whitewater rafting near Taos — the Taos Box is a 17-mile stretch of rapids that churn beneath 800-foot high cliffs — to canoe-worthy waters through Albuquerque and sport fishing and sailing in Elephant Butte and Caballo reservoirs downstream near the town of Truth or Consequences.
When it comes to getting outdoors and having a great time, New Mexico offers all you could ever seek. Now, grab a sturdy pair of shoes, sunblock, and a hat and get out there!
