Beautiful scenery. Quiet atmosphere. You can hike, take classes, or come for R&R. No tvs. Minimal…read morecell/wifi service. A perfect place if you want to spend some time unplugged.

Beautiful views Great Food. But No AC and cabins. Casitas Rooms are in Disrepair. Typical desert,…read moreants. Spiders. Beetles in the rooms. Room not swept and can use a good vacuuming and swiffering One small bar of soap and towels. Some cabins WiFi spotty or non existent Lots of hiking trails but poorly marked trails. If you are an inexperienced desert hiker This is Not the place to start out Cost. $300 per night but does include food in A/C. Dining Hall. Limited use Pool. 1-5 PM. and the pool is about 70 degrees to Cold for THIS...Old Guy from Florida

This is a very well taken care of trail that is very easy for people to see quite up close. You…read morecould possibly have a stroller or wheelchair here and still see a lot. There are seats all throughout the routes. The first third of the trail isn't as shaded but the entire last portion is quite shaded. There's also a bathroom available about 2/3rds of the way to alcove house. The history is amazing. Glad we are preserving this place and sharing it with the public.

One of my favorite national parks that I have ever been to and hiked! STUNNING. I love that you can…read morehike up the ladders on one of the hikes here. That hike definitely is not for the faint of heart and pushed my limits at the top (you are high and it seems scary) but it is one of my most memorable hikes all around for the scenery and unique experience. A must visit! For those who don't to do the ladder hike, you can still walk to the bottom of it and look up and get a good view. So there is something for all levels here. The scenery is gorgeous. It does get windy here sometimes (we had a lot of wind blasting us as we were climbing the ladders) so be careful and be prepared for that. The nature all around is beautiful. Additionally, there are some tables so you could bring a picnic. Staff in the visitor center is very friendly and has lots of great recommendations of what to do here or nearby. A must do! This was the highlight of my trip to this area and I can't recommend it enough :)

Now this was my by far favorite hike/picnic in New Mexico…read more On the way from Valles Caldera to Santa Fe, we noticed few cars parked on the side off NM State Highway 4. I read about this trailhead but was also sure we'll probably miss it since location was not very detailed. There are two smaller parking areas (both on the left side of the road if you're driving to Santa Fe) and they fill out fast. This trailhead provides access to the East Fork Jemez River and views of lush meadows, gorgeous wildflowers and animals on the way. The trail is rated as easy for the first 2 miles and than moderate for the rest of the way to the East Fork Trailhead ( 5 miles). We only walked 1.5 miles, took some food with us and had a lunch on the banks of the East Fork Jemez River. It was mesmerizing. I wish we had more time to walk the whole trail, maybe some other time.

Hidden gem nobody really talks about. Short trail with minimal elevation on a sometimes rocky path…read more Has great historical plaques along the trail and pictures of the now gone Pueblo.

I'll never get tired of the view towards the Rio Grande River from Overlook Park in White Rock. On…read moreevery trip to Northern New Mexico (however far apart), you'll find me here (hot or not) admiring the scenery. Last week was but one experience that I hope to repeat.

We came back in May and it's just not as nice. No waterfall. It's hotter. The sunlight is so bright…read moreand air is drier so there's less color saturation/contrast in the area. Sept and October are the months to visit.

A Fun and Majestic Stop!…read more A must stop or visit if you are on the way to Chama, or Pagosa Springs or if you are in Lake Abiquiu area. Echo Amphitheater is a natural stone amphitheater formation, located in Carson National Forest, just off Highway 84 (on the westside of HWY84). About 15 miles north of the Village of Abiquiu, and 3 miles west from Ghost Ranch. You can see those impressive sandstone cliffs and their beautiful colors. There is parking available and the cost to enter is $2.00. there are bathroom facilities as well and picnic areas. The Amphitheater is a short and easy walk from the parking lot until you reach the foot of the canyon. There are benches along the way to sit and rest, and several steps that will take you close to the base of the canyon. The story goes that In the spring of 1861 a group of settlers from Iowa were farming in northern New Mexico when they were set upon by a band of Navajo who had ventured into the region. The settlers were taken by the Navajo to the top of the amphitheater and executed. Their blood spilled into the amphitheater, staining its walls. Three years later, when the Navajo were being forced on the "Long Walk" to Bosque Redondo by the U.S. Army, ten Navajo men were killed at the top of the amphitheater in retribution for the earlier settlers deaths. Once again, the blood spilled down the walls of the amphitheater. The blood seeped into the pores of the rock and dried out, and supposedly is still visible today. It is said that in the echoes returned from the cliff's walls one can hear the anguished cries of the dead. But that doesn't stop visitors walking around shouting loudly to hear sound bouncing back from the cliffs, it is fun! A must see destination during any season.

Great little spot to camp, far enough off the highway to minimize traffic noise. The bathrooms are…read moresuper clean.

Rio Grande Del Norte is vast-there are many different areas to explore and various corners of this…read morenational monument that range from moderately trafficked to fairly remote. Taos.org has a great summary page of the different areas. https://taos.org/explore/landmarks/rio-grande-del-norte-national-monument/ I had done some further research after this overview and opted to visit the Wild Rivers area in the morning and the Rio Grande Gorge area later in the day after lunch back in Taos. Wild Rivers is about 50 minutes from Taos but a scenic drive. Once you are in the public lands, the scenery gets more and more amazing. In the Wild Rivers area, there's a visitor center (currently only open on weekends), a scenic byway with overlooks, campgrounds and hiking trails that take you down to the river. I opted to do the trail to Big Arsenic Springs. The byway was very well signed and there's day use parking that does have a self paid fee. Since it's a BLM administered park (federal) you can instead display your America the Beautiful National Parks pass. Amazing scenery of the river and surrounding canyons along the petroglyphs towards the end of the Big Arsenic trail. The hike I opted for was short (2.5 miles but with an 800 ft elevation gain on the way back up from the river.) The park does an amazing job maintaining the trails and the well graded switchbacks made it a pleasant hike. On the drive out, after my hike, I stopped at other scenic view points. Later in the day, I visited another section of the park, closer to Taos where you can walk across and take in vistas of the Rio Grande Gorge bridge. If you're visiting Taos and love the outdoors, a visit to this park is a must. It's quieter than your typical national parks with fewer amenities but still an awe inspiring outdoor adventure (without the crowds!)

We took an hour walk on the West Rim Trail that's part of Rio Grande del Norte National Monument…read morewhile visiting the Rio Grande bridge in late May 2023. The trail starts right at the parking lot and it's beautiful. Gorgeous views of the river too. Many bunnies that day.

The Ranger was friendly! $20 per car, cash or card. The hike trails are both about 1/4 of a mile…read more Prepare to get your shoes and legs wet if you go through the bottom trail. Top trail has a few steep sections. We spent a little over an hour (hiking both trails). Got some good pictures and enjoyed nature!

This waterfall blew my mind! I didn't know that such a large waterfall existed in NM! I'm so glad…read morewe hiked it, and I'll be back! The water was pretty frigid, but still fun!

October 7, 2026. Went on a 2 hour hike (caution altitude watch the pace) with great quaking aspen…read morefall color this week. Talk about forest bathing! We felt completely rejuvenated on returning to our vehicle. And such short drive from Santa Fe. Get here early for the gorgeous light and to find parking.

I really loved this trail! This trail is not for the faint of heart or the beginner. It's a…read morechallenge but a good challenge. You can go at your own pace and you'll get to see all the beautiful butterflies and other creatures. Huge area and very clean. Great for camping, picnics, and hiking.