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New Mexico Magazine’s Ashley Biggers has put together a stellar list of hikes in the Land of Enchantment for every level of hiker that all have one thing in common: they’ll all have you coming back for more.
The sign of Rio Grande Gorge Recreation Area under the blue sky in New Mexico, USA
“Hiking is New Mexico’s favorite pastime. And no wonder: The call of the trail is easy to answer in a state that ranks sixth in the country for public lands, and where uncrowded tracks lie within minutes of even the largest cities. The terrain varies, climbing from high desert to alpine, sometimes in one hike. In the descriptions that follow, “easy” trails are generally in good condition, with little elevation gain. “Moderate” trails require a bit more fitness for longer distances and more elevation gain, and “strenuous” ones may require good conditioning and cover significant mileage and elevation changes. Consult the information resources provided for detailed directions and updates on trail, weather, and other variable conditions. (Read more…)”
Kiva in Chaco Culture National Historic Park in New Mexico
Every region in New Mexico has its special wild spots, where you can hike, gaze at the stars, learn about dinosaurs and ancient Native culture, play in a lake and connect with the unmatched wonder of the natural world. Starting at the Northwest and traveling clockwise across the state, here are some favorites among the 35 state parks and 14 national monuments.
NORTHWEST
The Bluewater Lake State Park, located 25 miles west of Grants, is set in a pinon-juniper landscape with views towards the Zuni Mountains. The park offers camping, hiking, birding, horseback riding and some of the best tiger muskie fishing in the state. Those who want quiet will camp on the canyon side, and those wanting to socialize will be lakeside.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park was home to thousands of people between 850 and 1250 A.D., and the ruins of the highly complex, massive cities they built are one of the wonders of the American Southwest. Guided tours, hiking and biking trails, evening campfire talks and night sky programs make this a must-do experience.
Aztec Ruins National Monument is home to spectacular architectural remains of ancestral Pueblo people, including a 400-room Great House and the only reconstructed Great Kiva in the world.
El Malpais National Monument is an eerie and beautiful landscape of black basalt formations, considered one of the best continuous geologic records of volcanic activity on the planet, and makes for memorable hiking and photography.
El Morro National Monument, a sandstone bluff where ancestral Puebloans, Spanish and American travelers carved their signatures, dates, messages and designs over thousands of years, includes hiking trails, a visitor center and small Puebloan ruin.
NORTH CENTRAL
Heron is a “quiet lake” where boats operate at no-wake speed and is ideal for sailing and windsurfing. El Vado offers boating, water skiing, lots of coves for fishing and lakeside playground. Both lakes have a variety of campsites, from primitive to fully developed.
Rio Chama Trail, a hiking and fishing trail along the river, connects the two lakes by suspension bridge. Bandelier National Monument preserves the remains of buildings constructed by ancestral Puebloans who first settled here more than 11,000 years ago. The easy trails allow walkers to explore dwellings and petroglyphs carved into the sandstone cliffs, masonry pueblos below the cliffs and miles of wilderness. An extensive visitor center and picnic area.
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument near Taos is more than 240,000 acres of wilderness cut through by the Rio Grande Gorge, with some of the best whitewater boating in the state. The area also has campgrounds, excellent fishing and wildlife viewing, trails and visitor centers.
NORTHEAST
Enjoy boating, picnicking, camping, fishing and hiking in the rolling grasslands about 12 miles northwest of Clayton at the Clayton Lake State Park, where you can explore one of the most extensive dinosaur trackways in North America and get a close-up look at the stars at the Lake Observatory. The park has an RV site, tent camping, boat ramp and picnic sites. It is stocked with trout, catfish and bass, and hosts an annual Clayton Lake Trout Derby each June.
Fort Union National Monument played a significant role in the Civil War and today interpretive talks, guided tours and living history programs make a visit here entertaining and educational. Capulin Volcano National Monument offers hiking trails around the rim and into the mouth of this extinct cinder cone volcano.
Pecos National Historical Park, just outside of Santa Fe, has a complete visitor center, picnic table and a self-guided trail to explore the ruins of Pecos Pueblo and its mission church.
SOUTHEAST
The Bottomless Lakes State Park is located 14 miles southeast of Roswell along the Pecos River, offering non-motorized boating, camping, fishing, birding and scuba diving along with a visitor center and shaded picnic shelters. This became New Mexico’s first state park in 1933. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a labyrinth of 119 caves that ranks as one of the state’s must-do experiences. Self-guided walks, guided tours, backcountry hikes, birding at Rattlesnake Springs, nature trail hikes and camping are all available.
White Sands National Monument extends throughout the Southeast and Southwest regions, with 275 square miles of glittering white dunes of gypsum sand – the largest in the world. Photo buffs are in heaven here, as are those who like to surf or sled the dunes, picnic and watch the sun and moon rise in this otherworldly landscape.
SOUTHWEST
New Mexico’s largest state park surrounds Elephant Butte Reservoir, the state’s largest reservoir and largest body of water. The Elephant Butte Dam, which celebrates its 100th birthday this coming October, was a major engineering feat in its day. The lake has three developed camps with more than 200 camping and picnic spots, concession-operated marinas, stores, sandy beaches, playgrounds, RV sites and a fine visitor center. Kayaks, jet skis, pontoons, sailboats, ski boats, cruisers, and houseboats are in play all summer, and the fishing is superb, with record-breaking black, white and striped bass, crappie and bluegill.
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Surrounded by the Gila National Forest, this lies within the Gila Wilderness, the nation’s first wilderness area. Cliff dwellings here inside natural caves were first occupied sometime in the 1280s, and the remains are accessible by guided tour. There is also a small museum and visitor center.
Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument is the newest national monument, with miles of hiking, horseback and mountain biking trails, campgrounds and picnic sites with shelters and shade trees, a visitor center and spectacular views from Picacho Peak.
Prehistoric Trackways National Monument just north of Las Cruces, contains fossilized trackways with the footprints of hundreds of amphibians and reptiles that predate the dinosaurs, as well as plants and petrified wood as old as 280 million years.
CENTRAL
Right in the middle of Albuquerque, the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park is a peaceful nature retreat with easy walking trails, bike paths and a nature center/visitor center that offers education programs, gardens and a gift shop. There are indoor and outdoor wildlife viewing areas, trail access to the Rio Grande, picnic spots and a window into how nature – including families of porcupines, roadrunners, turtles, ground squirrels and many types of waterfowl – can flourish in the middle of an urban environment.
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, with spectacular hiking in the cone-shaped rock formations formed by volcanic eruptions 6-7 million years ago. Petroglyph National Monument, a treasure house of more than 20,000 Native American and Colonial Spanish rock carvings, miles of hiking, five volcanic cones and a visitor center – all within the Albuquerque city limits.
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument gives visitors the opportunity to explore three ancient ruins dating from the early 17th Century. Valles Caldera National Preserve, site of a “super volcano” that left a 13.7-mile wide crater in the Jemez Mountains. Hot springs, streams and herds of wild elk can be seen along the miles of trails.
To find the details on these and all New Mexico State Parks, National Monuments, National Parks and National Historical Parks, as well as complete information on outdoors adventures and lodging, dining and attractions in each area, visit Closer to Wild at www.NewMexico.org.
“Silversmith” aims to bring attention to Santa Fe’s impressive market season
SANTA FE, N.M. – Santa Fe is known for many things, with history, art and culture often topping that list. At no time are those three interests more intricately woven than during “market season,” the busy summer months that play host to more than a dozen art markets in the City Different’s historic center. Now, New Mexico has a new way to celebrate market season, while bringing attention to the handcrafted detail that goes into each piece created and displayed during these uniquely New Mexican events.
“Silversmith” features Navajo artist Roland Brady, who creates intricately handmade art and jewelry in his northwestern New Mexico home near Shiprock. His mother taught him to work with silver, melting down old coins and silver scrap and hammering the metal into something beautiful. Now, five decades in, Brady produces intricate and soulful pieces inspired from the landscape that he calls home. View “Silversmith” here.
Artists like Brady are drawn to Santa Fe each summer to showcase their handmade pieces and works of art, which, in turn, attracts tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world.
“As consumers our values are changing, and we have a deep desire to know more about the food we eat, the experiences we have, and the art we buy,” said Rebecca Latham, cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Tourism Department. “Markets allow consumers to have a deeper connection to what they’re purchasing, and also allow visitors to take a tangible memory of New Mexico home with them. ”
Fine arts and crafts will be on display many weekends throughout the summer, with the most widely known events being the International Folk Art Market (July 8-10), Traditional Spanish Market and Contemporary Spanish Market (July 30-31), and the SWAIA (Southwestern Association for Indian Arts) Indian Market (August 20-21).
“New Mexico is consistently seen as a top destination for people who appreciate handmade art,” said Latham. “Art markets drive visitors here from all over the world, and bring a significant economic impact to the state’s economy. These beautiful works of art are serious business for New Mexico, and the department is using this video to show a deeper look behind one artist to make people think about the bigger picture of art in New Mexico.”
“Silversmith” is the tenth video in the “New Mexico True Stories” series. Others in the series include “Aunt June,” which features a 91-year old Hatch native sharing her family’s history in the chile business; “The Visionary,” the story of a Native American veteran who returned from Vietnam without sight but the ability to create beautiful works of art from memory; and the recently-released “Cured Earth,” which tells the story of New Mexico’s unique adobe architecture and our relationship with mud.
TAOS SKI VALLEY, N.M., — This 2014-2015 winter season, Taos Ski Valley will open Kachina Peak to lift-accessed skiing and snowboarding as well as several additional new enhancements, including new hike-to terrain.
“Kachina Peak offers some of the most spectacular views and terrain in North America,” said Gordon Briner, CEO of Taos Ski Valley. “The new Kachina Peak lift provides the opportunity for everyone to enjoy this iconic terrain and have one of the most unique experiences in winter recreation. In addition, since Kachina Peak captures snow early in the season and holds it well into spring, we’re excited that the area that holds the most snow on the mountain is now lift-served.”
With a summit of 12,450 feet, the Kachina Peak lift is one of the highest chairlifts in North America and increases the mountain’s lift-serviced terrain by 50 percent, further establishing Taos Ski Valley as a premier ski resort. From the top of Kachina, guests can enjoy the unforgettable vistas of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, and will have access to a broad range of terrain, from the wide open bowls of Main Street, to the narrow and steep lines of the K Chutes.
Those who enjoy the valley’s legendary hike-to terrain can still earn their turns, as the majority of Highline Ridge and West Basin will remain accessible by foot only. In addition to preserving the existing hike-to terrain,Taos Ski Valley is adding new hike-to terrain this season with the opening of The Wild West Glades. Accessible via the West Basin Ridge, The Wild West Glades will consist of 35 acres of some of the best tree skiing in the country.
New Season Pass, Ski School Perks Taos Ski Valley’s season pass, has always been one of the best values in skiing, and it just got even better. The popular Millennium Pass (good for 70 days), the unlimited Adult Full Season Pass, and the Family Full Pass, will each include exchange days at Copper Mountain, Durango Mountain Resort, Crested Butte, Arapahoe Basin, Powder Mountain and new this year, Silverton Mountain. Taos Ski Valley will also continue to offer discounted season and day passes to active military, college students, seniors and children.
Taos Ski Valley’s famed Ernie Blake Snowsports School also will be unveiling the new Mountain Guide program, which connects guests with the valley’s top ambassadors who will show them the best spots to ski or ride on a given day, take them to off-the-map runs, and share some of the ski area’s local lore and history.
For those looking to take their skiing or snowboarding up a notch, the Snowsports Week is an incredible value at just $130. Running every Sunday-Friday throughout the season, guests receive personal attention from top instructors for two hours each morning.
Additional new developments Taos Ski Valley has also upgraded its snowmaking system with two energy-efficient compressors. The upgrades will be part of helping Taos Ski Valley be prepared to open Thanksgiving weekend, as well as provide skiing from the top of the mountain as soon as possible.
Finally, guests will enjoy a new drop-off area that features views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, and a walkway with stores and services that line the path to the base area and lifts. These improvements are the first stages of the renovation of the base area.
“We couldn’t be more excited about this upcoming snow season,” said Briner. “We are making positive changes while simultaneously preserving what makes Taos Ski Valley so extraordinary. Our commitment to delivering a world-class experience is stronger than ever.”
For more information about the 2014-2015 winter activities at Taos Ski Valley, go to www.skitaos.org.
About Taos Ski Valley Located in northern New Mexico, Taos is one of North America’s premier ski and snowboard destinations, with more than 305 inches of average annual snowfall and more than 110 trails. Taos has a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, spectacular scenery, and amazing terrain, truly make it a world of its own.
To learn more about Taos Ski Valley or to plan a vacation, please visit www.skitaos.org.
Last year, the New Mexico National Guard’s 44th Army Band performed a special Fourth of July concert at the New Mexico Veterans’ Memorial in Albuquerque. The band played traditional ceremonial music as well as performances by the saxophone quartet and the brass quintet. In addition, the first ever Military Mariachi Band performed for the audience.
The United Veteran’s Council is pleased to announce that the 44th Army Band will again present a Fourth of July concert at the Memorial. The concert will be in the Memorial Amphitheater and will begin at 5:00 PM and last for approximately one hour. We suggest you arrive early to facilitate parking. Also, you are advised to bring chair pads, lawn chairs, or blankets for your personal comfort during the concert.
For this special event, the Memorial Visitor Center will be open and visitors are welcome to view the displays therein.
The New Mexico Veterans’ Memorial is located at 1100 SE Louisiana Blvd. SE. For additional information about the Memorial and this event, please go towww.nmvetsmemorial.org and access the events calendar or call the Memorial office, 505-256-2042.
Union Pacific facility construction created 3,000 jobs during the build phase from 2011 to 2014. The site will be home to 300-600 permanent jobs once the facility reaches full capacity. (PRNewsFoto/Union Pacific)
– Construction completed one year ahead of schedule
– 3,000 jobs created during build phase
– Economic impact to New Mexico exceeded $500 million
Union Pacific Chairman and CEO Jack Koraleski joined New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez in a grand-opening ceremony celebrating the newest facility on the railroad’s 23-state network. The 2,200 acre site, which officially opened April 1, will create value for Union Pacific customers and produce greater logistics efficiencies along Union Pacific’s critical Sunset Route, the rail line running 760 miles from El Paso, Texas, to Los Angeles.
Located just west of the Santa Teresa Airport, Union Pacific’s Santa Teresa rail facility includes a fueling station, crew change buildings, and an intermodal ramp with an annual lift capacity of around 225,000 containers. The southern region of New Mexico is now a strategic focal point where shippers can leverage the economic and environmental benefits of shipping freight by rail.
“Our new rail facility in New Mexico is a key part of our relentless effort to create value for our customers through safety, service and efficiency,” Koraleski said. “Union Pacific’s $400 million investment in New Mexicowill improve the fluidity and efficiency of the Union Pacific network and will have a positive long-term economic impact in the region.”
Facility construction created 3,000 jobs during the build phase from 2011 to 2014. The site will be home to 300-600 permanent jobs once the facility reaches full capacity. The project’s estimated overall economic impact to New Mexico exceeds $500 million, with Union Pacific’s investment highlighting the company’s commitment to enhancing the nation’s transportation infrastructure and setting the standard for outstanding customer service.
Union Pacific is planning to invest approximately $4.1 billion in 2014 – capital investment that is part of a long-term strategy to provide safe, efficient service across its 32,000 mile network.
About Union Pacific
Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America’s most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2004-2013, Union Pacific invested approximately $30 billion in its network and operations to support America’s transportation infrastructure. The railroad’s diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada’s rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.
Taos Ski Valley will this summer launch four new mountain biking trails, including a family friendly biking park that offers something for all skill levels. The new attraction will give families and visitors even more reason to take in the pristine alpine destination during the summer months.
On June 28 Taos Ski Valley will hold a grand opening celebration for Pioneer’s Bike Park, a collection of biking trails that will offer the only lift-accessed novice mountain biking in the country. Also launching will be the Berminator, a 3.6-mile, intermediate mountain biking track beginning at the top of Lift 1. The mountain biking launch weekend will offer an array of fun activities for the whole family, including bike demos from several manufacturers, live entertainment and more.
“Mountain biking is a thrilling outdoor activity for the whole family, but until now it has been very difficult to find lift-serviced trails suitable for beginners. Our Pioneer’s Bike Park will offer something for everyone: two novice trails and one intermediate, lift access and a lower placement on the mountain for easier access and proximity to other base area activities,” said Gordon Briner, COO of TSV, Inc. “Additionally, the Berminator will be an excellent track for more seasoned mountain cyclists. We are very proud to offer this comprehensive summer expansion, demonstrating to visitors why Taos Ski Valley is not just a winter destination, but an excellent choice for summer travel, as well.”
The Berminator, Taos Ski Valley’s first mountain bike flow trail, will feature berm turns, optional table top jumps, step downs, step ups, hip jumps and rock drops. For those who are not ready for the challenge of the Berminator, the Pioneers’ Bike Park offers accessible fun for the whole family, encouraging progression and skill building as visitors navigate beginner, intermediate and cross-country trails.
Taos Ski Valley’s mountain bike lift tickets will be competitively priced; adults and children will pay just $10 for a full-day pass in Pioneer’s Bike Park. Visitors who would like access to the Berminator will pay $22 for adult full-day passes and $15 for children 12 and under. Half-day passes for Berminator access will be $18 and $12respectively. Mountain bike rentals will also be available in the ski valley. More details regarding the Taos Ski Valley mountain biking offerings will be released in the summer, and additional information can be found here.
Average summer weather in Taos Ski Valley is sunny and in the high 60 degrees, offering visitors a welcome respite from hotter surrounding climes. Other summer attractions in and around the ski valley include hiking, rafting, horseback riding, art galleries and world-class dining.
About Taos Ski Valley, Inc. With more than 305 inches of average annual snowfall and more than 110 trails, Taos Ski Valley is New Mexico’s premier skiing and snowboarding destination. Taos Ski Valley boasts a unique, relaxed atmosphere, pristine scenery and unparalleled skiing and snowboarding. To learn more about Taos Ski Valley or to plan a vacation, please visit www.skitaos.org.
Ah, the breakfast burrito: that delicious standard of a proper New Mexico breakfast that, legend has it, first sprung up from the food vending stands at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in the early 1970s.
Everyone has their favorite recipe, but now New Mexico Magazine wants to know which restaurant is top of the pops. Click here to see the list of restaurants nominated for a coveted spot as one of the 50 founding members of the New Mexico True Breakfast Burrito Byway—and may the best burrito win!
Taos Ski Valley is offering its famous Millennium Pass for the 2014-2015 season at a discount over the current season rate – just $575 – if purchased by closing day, April 6, 2014. The pass will also be valid from March 17 through the remainder of this season for those who wish to ski or ride this spring.
“We are committed to keeping Taos Ski Valley one of the most affordable world-class skiing and snowboarding destinations in the world, and our historic decision to discount the Millennium Pass is to show our loyal visitors how much we appreciate and value them,” said Gordon Briner, Taos Ski Valley’s chief operating officer. “With new ownership now in place, our vision is to enhance the overall TSV experience while maintaining our affordable, family-friendly environment.”
For kids ages 7-17, seniors over 65 and active duty military, their respective season passes will be discounted to $315 and valid March 17 through closing day as well. Those interested in unlimited skiing and riding next season can also secure a significant discount over the current price on the Adult Full Pass, if they purchase byApril 6.
In addition to offering visitors over 113 trails on more than 1,200 acres, Taos Ski Valley has announced plans to open a lift to Kachina Peak next season. Kachina Peak is the area’s famed 12,000+-foot peak that is currently only accessible by hiking. The new lift will be among the highest chairlifts in North America and will increase the mountain’s advanced and expert terrain by 50 percent.
“Our passes are an incredible value that’s hard to beat, and the prices demonstrate our commitment to our loyal customers who come from all over New Mexico, the southwest and the world to ski and ride at Taos,” continued Briner. “We hope that everyone is as excited as we are for what Taos will offer during the 2014-2015 season.”
To learn more about Millennium Passes or to purchase a season pass for the 2014-2015 season, please visitwww.skitaos.org or call 866-968-7386.
About Taos Ski Valley, Inc. With more than 305 inches of average annual snowfall and more than 110 trails, Taos Ski Valley is New Mexico’s premier skiing and snowboarding destination. Taos Ski Valley boasts a unique, relaxed atmosphere, pristine scenery and unparalleled skiing and snowboarding. To learn more about Taos Ski Valley or to plan a vacation for the 2013-2014 season, please visit www.skitaos.org.
Now in its fifth year, New Mexico Restaurant Week is an 8-day culinary celebration featuring value-priced dinners and lunches, daytime cooking demonstrations, classes, and wine & spirits tastings held in Taos, Albuquerque and Santa Fe. In addition, several hotels will feature special Restaurant Week lodging packages.
From Sunday, Feb. 23rd to Sunday, March 2nd, you can dine, drink, and discover in the Land of Enchantment! Check www.nmrestaurantweek.com frequently for 2014 restaurants, lodging, and events.
