Category Archives: Hiking

Sandy Bottom Hike – 07/28/2025

Jay and I are working up to our regular schedule of hiking, hiking regularly, and doing so where we started – trails around Placitas. We chose to return to a hike from 8 years ago (Sandy Bottom Hike – 12/10/2017).

The Drive In

We start this hike from the Agua Sarca Trailhead: Starting at the Cafe along NM 165 in Placitas, drive east for 2.7 miles, then turn right on Road 231 (Tunnel Springs Road). On the dirt road it is 1.3 miles to parking for the Agua Sarca Trailhead.

The Hike

Sandy Bottom Hike.Jay.2025-07-28

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

The hike begins by proceeding up the Agua Sarca trail for about 400 yards, then turn right – down a short steep slope onto the Sandy Bottom Trail (our name for the trail, GAIA has it marked as La Puerta to Agua Sarca Connector). The Connector appears to be an old two-track, easy to follow even as it goes down into ravines and back up again. And about .9 mile it -does- connect with the La Puerta Trail. We continued up La Puerta for .3 mile, then turned back and follow the outbound track back to parking.

Statistics

Total Distance:  2.5 miles
Elevation: start  6,358 ft, maximum 6,464 ft,  minimum 6,241 ft
Gross gain: 223 ft.  Aggregate ascending 708 ft, descending 709 ft
Maximum slope: 26% ascending, 26% descending, 9.9% average
Duration: 2:28, Average Speed: 1.0 mph

GPS Track Files for Download
31 Downloads
29 Downloads
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out  Using Google Earth Track Files.

Related Posts

Sandy Bottom Canyon Hike – 12/10/2017
Nearby Hikes

Photos

Views to date: 0 views.

Dark Canyon Hike – 07/25/2025

Introduction

‘Tis Friday, and we’re off to another trail, today to the Magdalena Mountains. We were seeking a trail with moderate elevation gain for 1.5 to 2.0 miles for an out-and-back hike; we’re back hiking regularly after nearly a year away from trails. We hoped for cool temperatures, but ’tis 1.5 hour drive from home so starting about 9:30, the temperatures was on the rise. And the elevation isn’t high enough to really get cooler air.

The Drive In

Water Canyon is south of US 60 west of Socorro. From south downtown Socorro, head west on US 60 for 15.5 miles, then turn left onto a paved Water Canyon Road, then 4.7 miles to the Water Canyon Picnic Area. From the picnic area we drove up the narrow steep road to the right, up to the Campground where we parked.

Of note: I had done some reconnoitering on GAIA (and other maps) and we set out for what GAIA labeled as the South Canyon Trail (15). It appeared to meet our objectives. But … land between US 60 and the boundary of the Cibola National Forest is BLM .. a gate blocked our way. And a glimpse of the ‘road’ just off the highway revealed – a very rough track, at least at the start. So we continued on to Water Canyon. 

The Hike

Dark Canyon Hike.Pat.2025-07-25

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

Geeze, it was 7 years ago that we camped here in Water Canyon, and one of our two hikes was .. Dark Canyon (or “North Fork Water Canyon”. My post back then provides a good description for this hike: “.. old two track .. hardly suitable for any but the best off-road vehicle .. etc”. The “trail”/canyon is much like it was back then – for the first half mile or so, it was sections of rocky stream bed interspersed with a smoother trail alongside the stream bed. Then the stream bed widened a bit and there was more “two track” for an easier trail. 

Statistics

Total Distance: 3.2 miles
Elevation: start 6,934 ft, maximum 7,318 ft,  minimum 6,916 ft
Gross gain: 384 ft.  Aggregate ascending 795 ft, descending 796 ft
Maximum slope: 30% ascending, 29% descending, 7.8% average
Duration: 2:51, Average Speed: 1.1 mph

GPS Track Files for Download
24 Downloads
29 Downloads

If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out  Using Google Earth Track Files.

Related Posts

North Fork Water Canyon Hike – 09/13/2018
Mesa Trail #15 Hike – 09/12/2018
Posts for hikes in the Socorro Area

References and Resources

Magdalena, New Mexico:
      Recreation – Magdalena Mountains – Trail Descriptions (.pdf)

 

Photos

Views to date: 11 views.

Agua Sarca & Tunnel Spring Hike – 07/14/2025

Introduction

Picking up the pace of hiking this year, Jay met me in our old “hiking grounds” – the trails around Placitas.

The Drive In

The trailheads for Agua Sarca and Tunnel Spring are near each other. Starting at the Cafe along NM 165 in Placitas, drive east for 2.7 miles, then turn right on Road 231 (Tunnel Springs Road).

  • On the dirt road it is 1.3 miles to parking for the Agua Sarca Trailhead.
  • The Tunnel Spring Trailhead is 200 yards further along with ample parking.
    • One passes under a very big cottonwood tree, courtesy a spring flowing out of a pipe on the right.

The Hike

Agua Sarca (upper right, a short track) & Tunnel Springs Hike.Jay.2025-07-14
Agua Sarca Hike

Tunnel Spring Hike

Click on the images to see full-screen view; <back> on your browser to return to the page.
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

Driving to the trailhead(s) we first  encountered the sign for Agua Sarca, with an arrow pointing on to Tunnel Spring; we chose to go up Agua Sarca. It was many years ago that we last hiked this trail, so it was like new to me.

 

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  • From parking, the trail was a smooth incline — for a quarter of a mile or so.
  • But .. the sides of the cañon began to close in and the trail became nothing but rocks.
  • That was okay for a while, but then the incline went from 5% to 17%.
  • I’m not yet in condition to be strong enough for a trail like this, so I decided we should turn back at half a mile and check out the Tunnel Spring Trail.

 

Tunnel Spring must be one of the only trails that Jay and I have not hiked over these past 13 years hiking together. But it was more favorable to me than Agua Sarca – mostly a rock-free trail surface with moderate elevation changes.

Jay here: How we overlooked Tunnel springs is hard to understand. Very little grade so quite a comfortable and scenic jaunt. I would skip the lower return in favor of coming back the way we went out.

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  • From the parking area, a signboard with a map of trails in the Sandias introduces this trail. Not acquainted with the details, we inadvertently set out on what is the North Crest Trail (a fact that I discovered while writing this BLOG entry).
  • For the first half mile along this slope of this northeastern corner of the Sandias the trail is quite easy going.
  • Throughout the trail passes through the juniper/piñon “forest” typical at this elevation.
  • Past the half mile point and for the next half mile, the trail makes an easy  descent from 6,400 to 6.200 feet, then climbed a bit until we chose to turn back to make our goal of 3 miles for the day.
  • Noting on the map a parallel trail just downhill from our trail out, we descended (north) off of the North Crest Trail onto -the real- Tunnel Spring Trail (also discovered while reviewing details on GAIA, also on AllTrails). So then on the Tunnel Spring Trail we returned to the trailhead – still a nice trail with some elevation changes.
  • Note: Scrutinizing again the GAIA version of maps with trails etc., I can now see that -the- Tunnel Spring Trail (on which we returned to parking) would continue east from where we joined it, for only .2 mile to what GAIA depicts as .. a tunnel entrance. AllTrails also shows this extension as the “Tunnel Spring East Trail”.

Highlight

On so many of our hikes, we enjoy marvelous views under amazing skies across the valleys and mountains of New Mexico. So it was on this hike.

 

Statistics

Agua Sarca
Total Distance:  0.93 miles
Elevation: start 6,355 ft, maximum 6,580 ft,  minimum 6,354 ft
Gross gain: 226 ft.  Aggregate ascending 281 ft, descending 281 ft
Maximum slope: 35% ascending, 35% descending, 09.8% average
Duration: 0:40, Average Speed: 1.4 mph

Tunnel Spring
Total Distance:  2.29 miles
Elevation: start 6,388 ft, maximum 6,433 ft,  minimum 6,261 ft
Gross gain: 172 ft.  Aggregate ascending 598 ft, descending 603 ft
Maximum slope: 24% ascending, 30% descending, 07.9% average
Duration: 1:31, Average Speed: 1.5 mph

GPS Track Files for Download
32 Downloads
27 Downloads
30 Downloads
35 Downloads

If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out  Using Google Earth Track Files.

Related Posts

Agua Sarca Hike – 06/15/2014
Agua Sarca Hike – 9/18/2016
Agua Sarca Trail Hike – 12/15/2019
Placitas Area Hikes

References and Resources

AllTrails: Tunnel Springs Loop
                  Best trails near Tunnel Spring
ASCHG: Tunnel Springs Hike (This too is the Loop)
ondafringe: Tunnel Spring
Trails Offroad: Highlights of Tunnel Spring
Woman Seeks Elevation: Tunnel Spring will show you ….

Photos

Views to date: 15 views.

Tecolote Trail Hike – 07/11/2025

Pat & I are working ourselves back into hiking, after nearly a year off-trail, me with issues with stenosis. We’re rebuilding our hiking muscles with lots of walking along the Rio Grande (in the bosque) and getting out on a trail each week., each week a bit more challenging.

The Drive In

From downtown Albuquerque: east on I-40 to the Tijeras turnoff, then north on NM 14 through Cedar Crest to Antonito and the turnoff for NM 536, Sandia Crest Road (also known as the Sandia Scenic Highway). The Tecolote Trailhead is not far up the Crest Road: six miles from San Antonio/NM 14 to the Dry Camp Picnic Ground – parking and a pit toilet.  

The Hike

Tecolote Trail Hike.Pat.2025-07-11

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

We haven’t done much hiking on the east slopes of the Sandia Mountains. This trail fit our current criteria – reasonable length and elevation change.

  • The trail starts out with an easy climb (10% slope) from 8,620 to 8,820 feet in 2/3rd of a mile. It remains at that elevation for 1/3rd of a mile, then makes again an easy descent to the end of the ridge on which the trail is situated (another 1/3rd of a mile).  
  • Generally the trail is a smooth surface; there are a few sections that are a bit rocky.
  • The trail proceeds through a juniper and piñon “forest” (this type “forest” is never very tall) with some sections of oak bushes flanking the trail. Thus there isn’t a lot of shade, ‘tho the elevation of close to 9,000 moderates the summertime temperatures (but none-the-less we start early).
  • Midway on the ridge, we came across this interesting .. relic of some unknown activity?
  • At the end of the ridge, as the trail makes a small loop, one enjoys a great view of the territory east of the Sandias – the valley across to the San Pedro mountains and on the horizon to the northeast, the Sangre de Cristo mountains.

Highlight

It seems that on nearly all the trails on which we hike, there are flowers in blossom. And I’m invariably drawn to take photos and share them with readers of my Posts. So here are photos that I collected on this hike.

Statistics

Total Distance:  2.6 miles
Elevation: start 8,630 ft, maximum 8,831 ft,  minimum 8,629 ft
Gross gain: 202 ft.  Aggregate ascending 637 ft, descending 638 ft
Maximum slope: 47% ascending, 30% descending, 7.7% average
Duration: 3:12, Average Speed: 0.8 mph

GPS Track Files for Download
40 Downloads
32 Downloads

If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out  Using Google Earth Track Files.

References and Resources

AllTrails: Tecolote Trail
Dog of the Desert: Tecolote Trail in the Sandia Mountains

Views to date: 3 views.

White Oak Trail Hike – 07/06/2025

Visiting Virginia, in July??. Yes, after many years not accepting his invitation, we traveled to attend the annual Fourth of July bash hosted by my son James’ and his wife. And to visit daughter Valerie and family.

The Drive In

The entrance to Newport News Park – north on Jefferson Avenue, just north of Fort Eustis Blvd. Turn east onto Constitution Way, 1 mile to the parking lot next to the bridge across the lake.

The Hike

White Oak Trail.Pat.2025-07-06

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

This was a favorite hike for us back when we lived in York County, winter and summer. Across the lake on the bridge, then into open forest on a well groomed trail. Tho’ not this day, one can continue around the upper end of the lake and return to parking.

Statistics

Total Distance:  2.31 miles
Elevation: start 17 ft, maximum 119 ft,  minimum 17 ft
Gross gain: 102 ft.  Aggregate ascending 757 ft, descending 731 ft
Maximum slope: 50% ascending, 51% descending, 10.0% average
Duration: 1:13, Average Speed: 1.9 mph

GPS Track Files for Download
40 Downloads
32 Downloads

If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out  Using Google Earth Track Files.

References and Resources

AllTrails: Newport News White Oak Trail, Virginia
Go Hike Virginia: Newport News Park: An Easy Wetlands Hike on the White Oak Nature Trail
Hiking Project: White Oak nature Trail

Views to date: 4 views.

Survey Trail Hike – 07/18/2025

Introduction

‘Tis summer in Albuquerque, and .. we seek cooler conditions for our hikes. It can can expect such temperatures up on the Sandia Mountains, and .. it was in the low 60s when we got to the trailhead (at ~10,000 feet elevation).

The Drive In

From another post for a hike up on the Sandia Mountains: From downtown Albuquerque: east on I-40 to the Tijeras turnoff, then north on NM 14 through Cedar Crest to Antonito and the turnoff for NM 536, Sandia Crest Road (also known as the Sandia Scenic Highway).  The Crest Road has many twists and turns, many at 20 mph to change direction by 180° or more. But that’s the way to get to 10,000 feet in 17 miles. There are numerous parking areas along the way – we chose to start our hike in the Ellis Lower Parking Lot. (Our Annual Pass had expired, so we found an envelope waiting for us. We paid the $5 “Amenity Fee” online.)

The Hike

Survey Trail Hike.Pat.2025-07-18

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

Survey Trail is a short distance from “the edge” of the Sandia Mountains. In the screenshot above, one can see that “edge” and the Rincon Ridge, separated from North Sandia Peak, in the upper right of the screen shot. And beyond the edge? Sandia Heights in the upper left. And the screenshot from Google Earth shows snow – that would be from a photo taken in winter – no snow on this July day (when the temperature for the hike was in the 60s and in the 90s down in the city).

From the parking lot, we opted to walk the short distance up the Crest Road to the Survey Trail  Trailhead. The trail was most inviting – a clean surface (for nearly all the way). In only a few places there were rock outcrops (including a couple that required -very brief- climbing). In many places there were green grasses and flowers alongside the trail; in other sections there was much downfall but always clear of the trail.

Highlight

Cool air! And a nice trail – a gentle trail with the right amount of elevation gain as we train for future hiking after nearly a year being off-trail. Oh – and a favorite of mine – wild flowers (see below).

Statistics

Total Distance:  3.22 miles
Elevation: start 10,271 ft, maximum 10,436 ft,  minimum 10,237 ft
Gross gain: 199 ft.  Aggregate ascending 847 ft, descending 847 ft
Maximum slope: 31% ascending, 28% descending, 8.4% average
Duration: 3:40, Average Speed: 0.9 mph

GPS Track Files for Download
35 Downloads
29 Downloads

If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out  Using Google Earth Track Files.

Related Posts

References and Resources

AllTrails – Survey and Ellis Trail Loop
                 – 10k and Survey Loop
ASCHG – Crest Trail – Survey Trail Loop
               – 10K – Osha Loop – Survey Hike
Dog of the Desert – North Crest Trail, North Sandia Peak, and Survey Trail
                                 – The delightful mess of trails below Crest House ..

Photos

Borrego Trail Hike – 06/30/2025

Introduction

This is one of the first forays back to hiking on forest trails. After a year-long layoff for medical reasons and a month walking mostly on the Bosque Trails along the Rio Grande, the body is coming back. And the progress has been to gradually take longer walks and now get back on trails. I look forward to continuing hikes, with Pat and with Jay, like we did in the past.

The Drive In

The drive to the trailhead: from downtown Santa Fe, head out on Hyde Park Road (NM 475), 9 miles from the Santa Fe Plaza (by way of Washington Ave/Bishops Lodge Road, right/east on Artist Road, then continue onto Hyde Park Road). The trailhead will be on the left just beyond Hyde National State Park.

The Hike

Borrrego Trail Hike.Jay.2025-06-30

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

This is a downhill-uphill-downhill (and reverse returning) out-and-back hike. The trail is wide and smooth (some areas of exposed roots and rocks) … easy ambulating. It proceeds through mature forest (many pine trees and aspen too). It is truly like the proverbial park, the New Mexico kind of parks. We chose to turn back where it crosses Teseque Creek (at first we thought crossing the creek would require rock/log hopping, but .. there is a bridge that was just out of sight from where we decided to stop).

Highlight

For me … to be back on a forest trail. And to be hiking again with Jay. 

Jay here: Was great to be back in the woods….about 5 years since we were on this trail. Had to hustle at the end to beat a thunder shower.

Statistics

Total Distance:  3.4 miles
Elevation: start 8,880 ft, maximum 8,892 ft,  minimum 8,490 ft
Gross gain: 402 ft.  Aggregate ascending 1,054 ft, descending 1,056 ft
Maximum slope: 40% ascending, 36% descending, 10% average
Duration: 2:26, Average Speed: 1.4 mph

GPS Track Files for Download
44 Downloads
28 Downloads
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out  Using Google Earth Track Files.

Related Posts

Bear Wallow-Winsor-Borrega Trails Hike – 06/02/2019
Borrego-Winsor-Bear Wallow Hike – 7/29/2018
Posts for Trails on Hyde Park Road

References and Resources

AllTrails: Borrego Trail   
                  Borrego (150), Windsor (254) and Bear Wallow (182) Trail Loop
Hiking Project: Borrego Trail
Santa Fe New Mexican: Happy Trails: Borrego Trail offers a mixture of history, rough-edged beauty

Photos

Views to date: 114 views.

Oak Flat “Easy Pickin” Loop Hike – 06/20/2025

Introduction

It is great to get back on the trail after many months dealing with medical issues. Oak Flat is a perfect area – well used smooth trails, generally smooth and with easy and minimal elevation changes. Plus, it isn’t far from home, it is an open forest of oak and ponderosa pine trees, and we can have breakfast or brunch at one of our favorite places, Roots Farm Cafe in Tijeras. 

The Drive In

From Albuquerque eastbound on I-40 exit at Tijeras onto NM 337 southbound (folks who have been in these parts for many years know it as South 14). From Roots Farm Cafe (1/3 mile from the stoplights), proceed uphill for 8.5 miles, then turn left (east) onto Oak Flat Road. A mile on turn left into the Oak Flat Group Campground complex,then turn to the left to follow the road around to the parking area and the Trailhead.

The Hike

Oak Flats “Easy Pickin” Loop Hike.Pat.2025-06-20

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

We’ve done many hikes or walkabouts in Oak Flat over the years. I can’t add much to what I wrote for previous posts, so please check out this one in particular: Oak Flats Trails Walkabout – 08/04/2023

Statistics

Total Distance: 1.69  miles
Elevation: start 7,694 ft, maximum 7,706 ft,  minimum 7,644 ft
Gross gain: 12 ft.  Aggregate ascending 57 ft, descending 52 ft
Maximum slope: 18% ascending, 15% descending, 4.3% average
Duration: 1:11, Average Speed: 1.4 mph

GPS Track Files for Download
34 Downloads
24 Downloads

If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out  Using Google Earth Track Files.

Related Posts

Posts for Oak Flat

References and Resources

All Trails: Oak Flat Loop

Photos

Views to date: 11 views.

Spur Trail Hike – 06/17/2025

Introduction

Another “back on the trail” hike, this day with my long time hiking buddy. For some weeks, he’s invited me to join him on a new trail near Santa Fe. We hit the trail a bit early, hoping it would be a bit cooler even at the higher elevation. And afterwards, as has been our habit we stopped for breakfast, this day at Pantry Dos (the best smothered breakfast burrito that I’ve eaten).

The Drive In

Getting to the Spur Trailhead is a bit convoluted. I won’t try to describe it, but use this link to GoogleMaps.

The Hike

Santa Fe, Hiking, Spur Trail
Spur Trail Hike.Jay.2025-06-17
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

The Spur Trail is a well groomed out-and-back trail through open juniper forest (if one can call it a “forest”); we hiked the eastern portion of the trail, from Falcon Way to the Santa Fe Rail Trail and back. The trail presents a few ups-and-downs with easy slopes and only a little elevation gain overall. At the highest point one can see the mountains in every direction (except southeast): Ortiz, San Pedro, and Sandias to the southwest, Jemez to the northwest, and the Sangre de Cristo to the northeast. Oh, and some nice person has placed 4″ painted rocks marking 1 mile outbound and 2 mile return-bound – a nice touch – thanks.

Highlight

Simply being back on a hiking trail, again.

Statistics

Total Distance:   3.03 miles
Elevation: start  6,652 ft, maximum  6,847 ft,  minimum  6,741 ft
Gross gain:  106 ft.  Aggregate ascending 307 ft, descending 307 ft
Maximum slope: 13% ascending, 13% descending, 03% average
Duration: 1:31, Average Speed: 2.9 mph

GPS Track Files for Download
34 Downloads
28 Downloads
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out  Using Google Earth Track Files.

References and Resources

AllTrails: Spur Trail from Rancho Viejo to Santa Fe Rail Trail

Rio Cebolla Hike – 06/13/2025

Introduction

After nearly a year off-trail, this is our first return to hiking – a short one but a step in rehabilitation from back issues that severely limited my mobility. It was a good choice – a seldom used two-track (even surface) and with little elevation gain (‘tho with some ups-and-downs for the walking stride to get re-accustomed to sloped terrain). So I post this “sub-hike” more to document it as to share with others. If it peaked your curiosity, check out the Related Posts below for other forays into Rio Cebolla and references to it on other hikes in the vicinity.

The Drive In

To get to the trailhead drive west on NM 126 up over the high terrain and down to Fenton Lake. At the entrance to the lake turn to the right to remain on NM 126  and continue for about 3 miles. Then turn right on NM 314 towards the Seven Springs Fish Hatchery. Past the fish ponds the road becomes a bit rough, not so rough as previous posts described; medium clearance vehicle is recommended. ‘Tis about 1.5 miles to the Seven Springs Picnic Site (formerly Campground – camping not allowed now).  There is a pit toilet and some picnic tables, plus plenty of parking.

The Hike

Rio Cebolla Canyon Hike Jun 13 2025
FR 314-Cebolla Canyon Hike.Pat.2025-06-13

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

The Rio Cebolla is in a -beautiful canyon-. The trail follows a two-track used regularly by officers tending this “Red Chile Water”, a designation given by the NM Department of Game and Fish for streams receiving special attention. Their goal is the return of native fish, particularly Rio Grand Cutthroat trout, to New Mexico waters.

 

We hiked in 1.2 miles where the two-track cross to the east side of the Rio Cebolla. For this day, that was as much as I wished to go. During the hike, I recalled some great hikes in Cebolla Canyon and in the canyons that come down from the ridge to the east – Oat, Hay, and Pony.

Statistics

Total Distance:  2.29 miles
Elevation: start 8,073 ft, maximum 8,165 ft,  minimum 8,073 ft
Gross gain: 92 ft.  Aggregate ascending 546 ft, descending 550 ft
Maximum slope: 27% ascending, 34% descending, 6% average
Duration: 1:37

GPS Track Files for Download
30 Downloads
30 Downloads
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out  Using Google Earth Track Files.

Related Posts

Cebolla Canyon Hike – 10/23/2017
Cebolla Canyon to Oat Canyon to Hay Canyon Hike – 04/23/2017
Cebolla Canyon Hike – 06/29/2014
All posts with reference to Cebolla Canyon (Rio Cebolla)

References and Resources

US Forest Service: AllTrails: Rio Cebolla Trail #68
US EPA: Watershed Program Reduces Sedimenation
New Mexico ENMR: Fenton Lake State Park
Southern New Mexico Explorer: Rio Cebolla-Santa Fe National Forest
Jemez Central – Rio Cebolla
New Mexico Wildlife: Red/Green Chile Waters …