Day Hikes of Central New Mexico
Early last year, I started hiking locally with a group of about four or five regulars. These were friends I'd hiked with before, but we fell into a rhythm of hiking every Sunday.
It seemed to work out for all of us, and even during the pandemic lockdown, we decided to continue despite the risks.
I'd hiked before, mainly with UNM's Recreational Services Getaway Adventures program, but this was the first time in years I had gone so regularly, and gone on so many trails that were new to me.
There are some real benefits to hiking: mental, physical, social, and emotional.
Probably my favorite is a Japanese concept called "forest bathing". Being in a natural setting, especially hiking among trees, is supposed to mentally refresh you with the oxygen and good tree vibes.
It is proven to reduce stress hormone production, improve feelings of happiness and free up creativity, as well as lower heart rate and blood pressure, boost the immune system and accelerate recovery from illness.
And we can certainly use a mental refreshment during the stress of a global health crisis.
Another benefit of hiking with friends is it gives you the chance to check in with each other regularly. Over the past year, I've heard about jobs, house renovations, relationship challenges, and political speculation. I've gotten to knowmy friends much better, and I enjoy the time spent with them. Walking and talking is a good way to get to know someone.
Of course hiking is good exercise. I recently read an article about an unexpected benefit of hiking: challenging your legs and brain to handle unstable footing improves your balance, making you less likely to fall.
I've also enjoyed hiking because there is so much to enjoy about this beautiful state, and hiking gives you a chance to spend time in it and see it up close. During the past year, my friends have wanted to try new trails, and I've done hikes I have never done before (see the list below). There is good day hiking to the east, in the Sandias and Tijeras; to the south, like the Manzanos, Magdalena near Socorro; to the west, the Malpais, Ojito Wilderness, the Continental Divide; Jemez to the north west, and of course Santa Fe, Taos, and Pecos to the north.
During this pandemic, I've found myself thinking often about things I'd like to do when we can travel freely again after being immunized. It's been a kind of mental tic, "I'll do that when this pandemic is over".
But the good thing about hiking throughout the year with my buddies is that I don't have to postpone any joy. Hiking in New Mexico is available to us all the time, despite the pandemic. In this interim period when some of us have gotten our first Covid-19 vaccine, some are fully immunized, and some, like me, are still on the waiting list, it's nice to have something we can still all do together.
Get out there and hike New Mexico!
Day Hikes
Albuquerque proper
- Rio Grande Nature Center in ABQ
- Valle de Oro in South Valley
East
- David's Canyon in Tijeras
- Hawk Watch in Tijeras
- Tree Spring Trail in the Sandias
- North Faulty Trail in the Sandias
- Smelter Trail in the Sandias
- Sandia Man Cave in the Sandias
- Palomas Peak near Sandia Park
- Del Agua in Placitas
- Golden Open Space
- 10K in Sandias
West
- Goblin Hike (Paliza Canyon) in the Jemez
- Continental Divide Trail
- Ojito Wilderness by San Ysidro
South
- Fourth of July Trail in the Manzanos
- South Peak Trail near Magdalena/Socorro
North
- Rio en Medio near Tesuque
- Panchuela in Pecos
- Jack's Creek in Pecos