OUTDOORS
Summer of 2011 – Hiking Options
This article was contributed by Sue Mally of Santa Fe Walkabouts – providing private guided tours in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico. For more information please visit www.santafewalkabouts.com.
It has been a dry summer in much of the southwest, particularly New Mexico. Beset by fires in the Sangre de Cristo and the Jemez Mountains, local and federal authorities have had no choice but to close the majority of the hiking trails in the Santa Fe area. The Dale Ball Trails in the foothills, and popular hiking options in the Santa Fe National Forest such as the Borrego Trail, the Chamisa Trail, and Aspen Vista – CLOSED! The Randall Davey Audubon Center has also had to restrict access to most of their trails. Hyde State Park is closed as is the Carson National Forest.
Outdoor enthusiasts, and their pets, are suffering from bouts of cabin fever! Thankfully, there have been enough activities and events around town to keep us entertained but, for those who desperately need to hit the trails, there are options. Granted, we have no access to our beautiful mountains trails but you can hike on BLM property as well as certain New Mexico State Parks. And, much to my delight, sections of Bandelier National Monument re-opened on July 15th.
Tsankawi Ruins, the Tyuonyi Overlook Trail and the Burnt Mesa Trail are open again to the public. Tsankawi is located on Highway 4, about 12 miles from the main section of the park (http://www.nps.gov/band/planyourvisit/upload/los%20alamos%20white%20rock%20map.pdf). The Burnt Mesa Trail is approximately 0.5 miles west of the Park’s main entrance, on the left hand side of the road just beyond Technical Area 49 (TA 49), and the Overlook Trail, which is where I trekked on Saturday, July 16th, starts near the Juniper Campground.
After entering Bandelier National Park, off Highway 4, pay your fees at the entrance station ($12.00 per vehicle, valid for 7 days) and turn right shortly thereafter towards the Juniper Campground. Park on the left hand side and look for a paved path to the Amphitheater. The trail to the Overlook starts near the Amphitheater and is about 2.2 miles in length.
Be prepared for a good high desert walk if you’re thinking of venturing out on the Overlook Trail during the summer months. The trail itself is relatively flat and easy to traverse but there’s very little shade offered by the juniper and piñon trees. Take a hat and sunscreen, and lots of water, along with a desire to explore, and you’ll soon forget the heat and become immersed in the beauty of the place. There are two archaeological sites along the way – pueblo ruins and a stone circle that must have held religious significance for the Ancient Puebloans who once inhabited the Pajarito Plateau.
As you approach the Overlook, you’ll see the Frijoles Rim trail on the other side of the Frijoles Canyon and then, magically, the ruins of Tyuonyi Pueblo materialize right below, and a little beyond, the Visitor Center. It was surreal, viewing the ruins from the mesa top, strangely devoid of humans in the midst of what is normally the Park’s busiest season.
The Frey Trail, once the main route to the bottom of the Canyon, leading from the Juniper Campground area, down the Cliff Dwellings and the Pueblo Ruins, can be seen to the left of the Overlook. I made a mental note to hike the 2 mile trail, with its 550 foot drop in elevation, once the Park is able to re-open in its entirety.
After enjoying the views from the Overlook, my friend, Tracy, and I returned to the parking lot, taking a loop to the left of the main trail. We both remarked how dry the land is, and how great the potential is for more fires. I was grateful that portions of the park had re-opened, while feeling nostalgic and eager to re-visit the other sections. We often take so much of our national parks and forests for granted, only appreciating its true value once Mother Nature, or the carelessness of mankind, has taken away our access to the outdoors.
Sadly, our options for hiking in northern New Mexico are limited this summer but, as my visit to Bandelier shows, there are still some beautiful places you can enjoy. Take the time, go explore Tyuonyi Overlook, appreciate what we do have available, and do what you can to preserve our forests for future generations. Most importantly, have fun outdoors!
