Page 14 - SandovalCountyConnection_2017

f TRAIL BLAZERS

Close encounters with wildlife ƒ•ŠƒǦ ƒ–—™‡ ‡– ‘ • ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ ‘—‡– is a 3.1 mile heavily
are common on local trails. You –”ƒƥ ‡† Ž‘‘’ –”ƒ‹Ž ‡ƒ” ‘ Š‹–‹ —‡„Ž‘ǡ –Š”‘—‰Š ƒ •Ž‘– ƒ›‘ ™‹–Š
may see: hoodoos and striated rock formations. Accessible year-round, and
primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips. Moderate trail,
Bighorn sheep elevation gain 938 feet.
Black bear ‡‡œ ƒ›‘ ˜‡”Ž‘‘ is a 0.3 mile loop trail with scenic views near
Cougars Jemez Springs. Good for all skill levels and primarily used for walking.
Coyotes Elevation gain 45 feet.
ƒ‰Ž‡• ‡‡œ ‹˜‡” ƒ•– ‘” ”ƒ‹Ž ‹• ƒ ͗Ǥ͖ ‹Ž‡ ‘†‡”ƒ–‡Ž› –”ƒƥ ‡† ‘—– ƒ†
District 2
Ž back trail near Jemez Springs that features a river and is good for all
Ibex skill levels. A section of the trail from Battleship Rock to Jemez Falls is a
popular destination. Adventurous hikers face the challenge of
ƒ™• Battleship Rock, so named for its similarity to the prow of a ship.
The surface is peppered with bits of glassy smooth obsidian, black
”‘  ”‡ƒ–‡† ˆ”‘ ˜‘Ž ƒ‹ ‡”—’–‹‘• ‹ –Š‡ ƒ”‡ƒ ‘˜‡” Ƥ˜‡ ‹ŽŽ‹‘
The Bosque years ago.Best used from April until November. Elevation gain 229 feet.
Where the northern
portion of Rio Rancho meets ‡‡œ ƒŽŽ• ”ƒ‹Ž ‹• ƒ ͔Ǥ͛ ‹Ž‡ Ž‹‰Š–Ž› –”ƒƥ ‡† ‘—– ƒ† „ƒ  –”ƒ‹Ž ‡ƒ” ‡‡œ
the Rio Grande lie 60 acres of “bosque,” Springs that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. Multiple
a riverside environment where cottonwood activitity options, best used from March until October. Jemez Falls is also
trees and lush native plants and grasses grow accessible from the East Fork Trail. Water shoes recommended for the
—–‡†‡†Ǥ ‡–™‘” ‘ˆ ™ƒŽ‹‰ –”ƒ‹Ž• ‘ơ‡”• shallow pond at the top of the falls. Elevation gain 147 feet.
™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡ Ž‘˜‡”• ƒ Ƥ”•–Šƒ† ‡š’‡”‹‡ ‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡
many species of plants and animals who call the ƒ—Ž‡› ‘– ’”‹‰• ‹• ƒ ͗Ǥ͜ ‹Ž‡ Ž‹‰Š–Ž› –”ƒƥ ‡† Ž‘‘’ –”ƒ‹Ž Ž‘ ƒ–‡†
mid-Rio Grande valley home. Bald eagles, near Jemez Springs that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate.
beavers, coyotes, jackrabbits and other wildlife Š‡ –”ƒ‹Ž ‘ơ‡”• ƒ —„‡” ‘ˆ ƒ –‹˜‹–› ‘’–‹‘• ƒ† ‹• ƒ ‡••‹„Ž‡ ›‡ƒ”Ǧ”‘—†Ǥ
ƪ‘—”‹•Š Š‡”‡ǡ ƒ† –Š‡ ‹–› ‘ˆ ‹‘ ƒ Š‘ Šƒ• Elevation gain 951 feet.
recognized this special natural resource and
protects the Bosque as a natural preserve. Spence Hot Springs Trail ‹• ƒ ͔Ǥ͚ ‹Ž‡ ‘†‡”ƒ–‡Ž› –”ƒƥ ‡† ‘—– ƒ†
back trail located near Jemez Pueblo, that features hot springs and is
‡–”‘‰Ž›’Š ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ ‘—‡– rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature From the Country to the City
South and west of Rio Rancho, Petroglyph trips, and birding and is best used from March until October. Elevation Experienced, Professional Brokers and Development Specialists
ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ ‘—‡– ‘ơ‡”• •‡˜‡”ƒŽ Š‹‹‰ –”ƒ‹Ž• gain 147 feet.
with views of natural features and a variety of San Antonio Hot Springs Trail ‹• ƒ ͔Ǥ͛ ‹Ž‡ Š‡ƒ˜‹Ž› –”ƒƥ ‡† ‘—– ƒ†
petroglyphs. Western Pueblo, Navajo and back trail located near Jemez Pueblothat features hot springs and is
Apache people believe these landforms were rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature
created by spirtual beings who lived in the trips, and birding and is accessible year-round. Elevation gain 42 feet.
ancient past. Several trails lead amongst the
volcano cones.
Sandia Cave Trail ‹• ƒ ͕Ǥ͕ ‹Ž‡ ‘†‡”ƒ–‡Ž› –”ƒƥ ‡† ‘—– ƒ† „ƒ  –”ƒ‹Ž
near Placitas that features a cave and is good for all skill levels. Eleva-
Paseo del Bosque Trail tion gain 426 feet.
South and East of Rio Rancho, Paseo del Bosque
Trail ‹• ƒ ͕͛Ǥ͚ ‹Ž‡ Š‡ƒ˜‹Ž› –”ƒƥ ‡† point-to-point ƒ†‹ƒ ‘—–ƒ‹ ‹Ž†‡”‡•• ”ƒ‹Ž• ‹‹‰ ‘’’‘”–—‹–‹‡• ‹ –Š‡ ƒ†‹ƒ
trail located near Albuquerque, New Mexico that Mountains are endless, where some 200 miles of trails cover all parts
features the Rio Grande and is good for all skill of the mountain, ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 feet. Trails are accessi-
Ž‡˜‡Ž•Ǥ Š‡ –”ƒ‹Ž ‘ơ‡”• ƒ —„‡” ‘ˆ ƒ –‹˜‹–› ble from the Albuquerque Foothills, Placitas, Tijeras Canyon, and from
options and is accessible year-round. the Sandia Crest Scenic Byway.

12 Sandoval County Connection