Petroglyphs National Monument

The Petroglyphs are located on the outskirts of Albuquerque, NM. If you are visiting the city take the time to go visit the Petroglyphs. They are like taking a walk back in time. My friend and I went here back in February, a perfect time to visit. Nice and cool. There are several trails to hike each are located a drive away from the visitor center. But all are worth it. One of the longer hikes is a flat path with no shade whatsoever. It is a beautiful walk. While walking among all of these boulders, you can find hidden pictures i.e. the petroglyphs. It is sort of like playing "Where's Waldo?". I think it would be a great hike for all ages. I would highly recommend it to anyone teaching home school courses on Native Americans.

I returned to the area in late February to take the next hike. The trail was located NE of the visitor center. Here my friend and I hiked to the top of a mesa. A great workout, mostly paved. A bit of a climb, but overall a great way to get to an interesting view. On one side you see the city of Albq and on the other prairie. It is sort of sad visiting here, because of the amount of civilization the has built up around this sacred ground. Sometimes I wish, as humans, we could leave more areas untouched.

This is a great monument to visit and one of the few places I have visited where you can get close enough to the pictures to touch them, but I don't and you should not either. It is just nice to be able to view them so closely. If you do decide to go take plenty of water, and a hat. I do not recommend this area in the summer heat, but once again it is the Irish in me talking. I highly recommend visiting in winter, spring, or even fall.

Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton is a spectacular National Park. It is one of my favorite parks to visit. Many people just drive through this majestic park on their way to get to Yellowstone. Never stopping to explore it. Well, I will tell you this STOP! is is well worth it. The hiking here is incredible. Inspiration point is truly inspiring. It is about a 4 mile hike with a steep climb in elevation. I recommend poles. If you look around while hiking you are bound to see Yellowbellied Marmots, Pika, and more. While living at the border of this park for 6 months, I explored numerous trails: Grand View, Inspiration Point, Swan Lake, and more. So take the time to take a hike. Besides if you want to see moose go to Moose Junction, Jackson Lodge, or take a walk in the early morning. Keep your distance they are an impressive, but still dangerous animal. One of my favorite animals to hunt for (I only hunt with my camera). I have captured some beautiful "moose moments." The Grand Tetons is also a wonderful place to view Bison, Elk, and Bear. I have seen all of these creatures while hiking around in this area. If you go try to stay a few days maybe back country camp, rock climbing, mountain biking, or take a Ranger Walk. All are great activities. If you like hot springs go out to Antelope Flats near Kelly.There is a nice warm spring out there. I have talked a great deal about the wildlife, but what really makes this park so unforgetable are the Tetons themselves. This mountain range makes me feel like I am in the Alps. Although I have never been there. In the spring time when all of the flowers are exploding like fireworks, it is almost unreal. Springtime usually takes place in June or July depending on the snow melt. If you are a nature lover then see Tetons.

Diablo Canyon

Diablo Canyon is located about 20-30 minutes outside of Santa Fe. It is a beautiful place to go hiking, but be prepared to do a lot of hiking on sand. Take lots of water. There is no trail and most people tend to hike the dried up river bed which will eventually lead to the Rio Grande if you are up for a very long hike. I have been to this location twice now. Once during the winter and once in the spring. It looks like a great place to take your dog. I have only encountered a few people on this trail most have had a dog with them. It is cool and well shaded in the canyon walls and looks like the ideal place to go rock climbing, which I would like to return to do. Once out of the Canyon it is all sun. So if you are like me and require shade and cool temps I wouldn't recommend this trail in the summer. However it is perfect for winter and spring.

I have have seen people set up tents out here. It would not be my first choice for camping. There is just something about camping in a river bed that does not appeal to me. Perhaps too many years of teaching hiking and camping safety. I have also worked in the Park system. It is hard for me to advise camping in areas that are not somewhat monitored by Rangers or Park Officials. I guess after having seen and been on a few rescues it changes ones perspective. But in any case it is a neat place to hike. To get out to Diablo Canyon you will travel on a dirt road for several miles. It is all washboard once you reach the parking lot be careful of the pot holes or craters. Enjoy the canyon there is no charge. Take a friend.

Tent Rocks a Hidden Treasure

This place is amazing. A hidden little treasure indeed. It is on the Pueblo Reservation just South of Santa Fe, NM off I-25. I had never even heard of this National Monument. It is so amazing. Probably my favorite park so far in the New Mexico area. There are several hikes here. One of the hikes is about 5 miles round trip. It weaves in and out of canyon walls that remind me of something you would only find in a Sifi movie. There are so many alien looking features. The hike to the top is strenuous. If you have knees like mind bring knee braces and poles for the decent back down. Once you reach the top the view is absolutely inspiring. I was so glad to have plenty of water and a snack. It is a windy trail to the top. There is shade along the way but sunscreen is a must for my fair Irish skin. I would not recommend hiking this trail in the summer. I went in April and it was a nice cool breeze but summer would be brutal. If you are not up for such an intense and amazing hike, then I recommend the Cave Loop it is moderate and one gets to see a great deal of tent shaped rocks, that to me resemble a Hershey Kiss gone slightly wrong. They are amazing to view and remind me of the area you might come across the sand people in Star Wars. The Cave itself was a bit disappointing to me, because I use to teach caving. But it is a nice little hole in the wall. I would give this park stars and return again and again. If you aren't up for hiking there is a road you can take to the top of the mesa. It is paved for a while then turns to dust. I had no trouble getting up this curvy dirt road with lots of rocks. For those of us who drive a Yaris or other compact car if you take it slow you can make it with no problem. It has a wonderful view of the canyon. One can really see the tent peaks from this vantage point. Tent Rocks is an fantastic park if you want to really explore all the trails and drive to the top give yourself several hours to be there.

Pecos National Monument

Pecos National Monument is located East of Santa Fe by about 30 minutes. It is an interesting structure. A short hike wheelchair accessible. When I say short hike I mean about 1 mile. For some that is a long hike. Easy walk. You can go inside of two kivas. I would not recommend this site for children. There is just not much to see. Very vast and aside from a few historical structures that is it. If you are into history or providing a historical program for homeschooling . I would also recommend the Puye Cliffs which I will blog about later. If you do visit this site outside of Glorieta,NM and are heading North on I-25 towards Las Vegas, NM you can also get into Fort Union on the same pass.

Bandelier National Park

I have been to most of the National Monuments and Parks of New Mexico in the last few months while living here. So far I would say of the parks I have seen Bandelier is impressive. It is a park I have wanted to visited for some time because my grandfather had part in helping build some of the buildings many many years ago.

The hike around the cliff dwellings is like being taken back in time. I love the fact that you can climb the ladders into the dwellings. As a kid I have always wanted to do this, but when I visited Mesa Verde as a child you could not climb into the dwellings. The hike is beautiful and seeing pine trees again is something to marvel at when one gets so use to see the cursed Juniper (which I am allergic to). If you visit this park, be sure you walk all the way to the Alcove House. That is just awesome. There are several ladders to climb which is so much fun. I mean really who doesn't want to climb a wooden ladder that looks athentic. If you have a fear of heights there is not better time to overcome it, because the view is breathtaking. Oh and at the top in the outcropping there is a Kiva to climb down into. It is a great spot for lunch.

Throughout my park visits I have acquired a National Park pass. If you want to find out more about this amazing pass just type in National Park Pass in the search window. There is also a Senior Pass for those of you who are 65 or older. It only costs about $10 and is good for the rest of your life at any park. You can also learn more by visiting any National Park or monument. It is well worth it.

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park located outside of Alamosa, CO. It is a wonderful place to visit. There are several ways to get into the park. The easiest by far is by way of Alamosa. But if you are up for a serious 4 wheel adventure there are some other ways coming in from Westcliff, CO. I drive a Yaris and it handles great in mud, snow, and rocky roads, but it stops when the road requires 4-wheel drive. If you get off on Colony Rd a dirt road that takes you to the base of the San De Cristo Mountains then you can go through the pass into the park. After speaking with one of the Rangers at Great Sand Dunes I was informed that no one has taken that route since the 1970's. So I challenge anyone out there with 4 wheel drive to take it this summer and get back to me. I would have love to have taken it.

Once you arrive there is a fee to get in of course. Which is why I travel with the National Park pass book and pass. It is $80 for the year pass, but it will get you into any National Park, National Monument, Federal Lands, and the BLM for a year without any costs. As much as I visit the parks I have already paid for mine.

Make sure you give yourself a day to visit if you want to hike to the top of the dunes. It is a real workout. If you are the adventurous type and feel up to it sledding is the bomb. As long as the sand is a bit wet. I don't recommend any metal bottom sleds that might get a tad bit hot. Depending on the time of year. The scenery here is breathtaking, but take all your pictures from the parking lot or trails. DON'T take your camera with you to hike the dunes, because if the wind is blowing it blows sand into the camera lens. That is no fun to try and clean out, plus it fills your camera case with sand. I learned this the hard way. But I also discovered that if you use the air spray for your computer key board on the camera it blows most of the sand right out. FYI.

This would also be a great place for kite flying. If I had kids I would take them to the sand dunes to sled, hike and fly kites. They would be so worn out at the end of the day. I recommend this destination for a family, couples, or individual trip.

Capulin Volcano National Monument

Recently I just visited Capulin Volcano National Monument. It is an amazing hidden treasure just 30 minutes East of Raton, NM. If you are resident of Raton you should really go and see this amazing monument. It is a volcanic cone that you can drive to the top of. The road is steep with a few switchbacks. If you have a fear of heights, this may not be for you. Once you reach the top there is a large parking lot. On a clear day you can see four different states. I was lucky enough to arrive on a clear day in April. The view was spectacular. I felt like I was in an airplane looking down from the window seat flying over TX, OK, NM, and Eastern Colorado. At the top of the Volcano there is a trail to walk the rim. If you are in good shape and do not get altitude sickness, then hike it! The altitude is around 7,800 feet roughly. It is very breezy so take an extra layer. The path is paved and there are some serious uphill climbs, but not to worry for those of us with bum knees there are benches along the way. Oh don't forget the binoculars! The trail is about 1.5 miles all the way around the rim. This is the only volcano I have been to that I could actually walk the entire rim in one day. Keep your eye out for mule deer. Oh if you have extra time there is a short trail to the base of the volcanic cone.

Side note: The picnic area is a great stop for lunch and if you are there you might as well hike the short loop trail. It is a mild hike. Poles are of use if you have bad knees. Overall, for a $3.00 entrance fee, I would say it is well worth the money to take the time to explore it. Give yourself at least 3-4 hours. When I went I had the rangers honking at me to get off the trail, because the park was closing and I didn't realize it. So if you don't want to be run off by the rangers just be aware of the time. The Rangers were extremely pleasant when I did come off the trail. I really appreciate all that they do.