Marcadas Canyon Short Loop

Petroglyph National Park - Amazing Rock Art - Petroglyph National Monument has one of the biggest, and easiest to find group of petroglyphs in the United States. There are over 20,000 carvings in this monument. It is on the western side of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is easy to reach. The vast majority of the petroglyphs (rock carvings) are from the Pueblo IV period. That runs from about 1300 ...

This is one of the most photographed festivals in the world. Professionals and amateurs gather here each year to take millions of photos, and your goal (albeit a difficult one) is to capture a unique perspective at this event. Something that conveys the particular emotion of what the balloon festival means to you. Dates  You can get information for dates on their website: BalloonFiesta.com W...

Start at the Sandia Mountain base terminal where you can purchase your tickets to ride the tram (Tip: If you make reservations at the peaks restaurant, High Finance, you can get a discount on your ticket). Enjoy the 15 minute ride to the peak while taking in beautiful city views of Albuquerque as well as the valley directly below the tram. Prepare yourself for the "Dip & Swing" as you cross...

Up near the iconic La Luz Trailhead is a smaller and somewhat hidden trail a little farther up the road, Piedra Lisa Trail.  This short two mile climb to the ridge that divides the view of Albuquerque and Placitas tops out at a rocky outcrop that provides simply stellar views of the city and to the other side Placitas and onward towards Northern New Mexico.  The trail is a steady climb the can ...

Point 8300, also nicknamed Mayan Temple by the locals, is the highest point in the Rincon Ridge. In order to reach the summit you start by following the South Piedra Lisa Trail for about 2.25 miles to the ridge. Once you reach the ridge the Piedra Lisa goes off to the right, but there is an unmarked trail that goes to the left. You can follow that unmarked trail for about a mile along the ridge...

Leaving from the foothills above Albuquerque this trail leads you from the desert up to the peaks of the Sandia Mountains.  You'll climb from the city at 7000 ft above sea level all the way up to 10,378 ft in altitude along a trail the changes from high desert to deep pine forest.  The views along the way looking out over the city, the river valley, and the mountain range is an unending show of...