Hiking
Check back with us often as we add hikes or send in your favorite
The Abiquiu Lake Vista Trail
System begins behind the visitors center at the Dam.
Take Highway 84 north to US 96, turn left on continue on the the Abiquiu Dam
The Abiquiu Lake Vista Trail system offers miles of sustainable single track. It was built by rangers and hundreds of volunteers. It is a stacked-loop design that allows users to determine distances by connecting various lengths of trail loops.
Click on the Map to download a PDF Trail Guide
System begins behind the visitors center at the Dam.
Take Highway 84 north to US 96, turn left on continue on the the Abiquiu Dam
The Abiquiu Lake Vista Trail system offers miles of sustainable single track. It was built by rangers and hundreds of volunteers. It is a stacked-loop design that allows users to determine distances by connecting various lengths of trail loops.
Click on the Map to download a PDF Trail Guide
Poshuouinge
distance .5 mile, well marked
Santa Fe National Forest
Poshuouinge (pronounced "poe-shoo-wingay") is a large ancestral pueblo located on U.S. Route 84, about 2.6 miles south of Abiquiu. Its builders were the ancestors of the Tewa Pueblos who now reside in Santa Clara Pueblos and San Juan Pueblo. Poshuouinge was built on a high mesa, some 150 feet above the Chama River, around 1400. There are two springs located about 500 feet to the south of the ruins which are believed to have been the main water sources for the habitation. It is accessible by a United State Department of Agriculture Forest Service trail.
Abiquiu and surrounding areas provide almost limitless year round hiking opportunities from beginner hikes to difficult one. One such hike is to the overlooks above Poshuouinge Ruins.
This moderately steep, scenic half-mile ruin trail, has two vista areas and interpretive signs that overlook the Chama River Valley. There is no water. The trail rises approximately 220 feet from the parking lot to the hilltop overlook. The principal ruins included a large pueblo with over 700 ground-floor rooms surrounding two large plazas and a large kiva. Tree ring dates and the knowledge of local pottery designs indicate people lived at the site around AD1420 and abandoned it by the late 1400s. One tree ring date of 1391 suggest part of the village may have been built a generation or so earlier. If you want to explore a little further you can walk back on the mesa.
2.6 miles from the Abiquiú Post Office, south on Hwy 84. Approximately 18 miles south of Ghost Ranch.
The trail is short but steep. Take only pictures and please stay on the trail.
distance .5 mile, well marked
Santa Fe National Forest
Poshuouinge (pronounced "poe-shoo-wingay") is a large ancestral pueblo located on U.S. Route 84, about 2.6 miles south of Abiquiu. Its builders were the ancestors of the Tewa Pueblos who now reside in Santa Clara Pueblos and San Juan Pueblo. Poshuouinge was built on a high mesa, some 150 feet above the Chama River, around 1400. There are two springs located about 500 feet to the south of the ruins which are believed to have been the main water sources for the habitation. It is accessible by a United State Department of Agriculture Forest Service trail.
Abiquiu and surrounding areas provide almost limitless year round hiking opportunities from beginner hikes to difficult one. One such hike is to the overlooks above Poshuouinge Ruins.
This moderately steep, scenic half-mile ruin trail, has two vista areas and interpretive signs that overlook the Chama River Valley. There is no water. The trail rises approximately 220 feet from the parking lot to the hilltop overlook. The principal ruins included a large pueblo with over 700 ground-floor rooms surrounding two large plazas and a large kiva. Tree ring dates and the knowledge of local pottery designs indicate people lived at the site around AD1420 and abandoned it by the late 1400s. One tree ring date of 1391 suggest part of the village may have been built a generation or so earlier. If you want to explore a little further you can walk back on the mesa.
2.6 miles from the Abiquiú Post Office, south on Hwy 84. Approximately 18 miles south of Ghost Ranch.
The trail is short but steep. Take only pictures and please stay on the trail.
Hiking at Ghost Ranch
Ghost Ranch has a number of trails of varying degrees of difficulty - Box Canyon, Chimney Rock and Kitchen Mesa. Stop in the office for a trail map. For a complete list of trails available visit them online.
Ghost Ranch has a number of trails of varying degrees of difficulty - Box Canyon, Chimney Rock and Kitchen Mesa. Stop in the office for a trail map. For a complete list of trails available visit them online.
Plaza Blanca - The White Place
Off County Road 155 - Dar Al Islam
Registration required - We are accepting visitor registration for Plaza Blanca again. Visitors must email us at plazablanca@daralislam.org. We are no longer accepting registration over the phone or by text.
Response can take a few minutes or a few days, therefore visitors should email for registration in advance as much as possible.
Off County Road 155 - Dar Al Islam
Registration required - We are accepting visitor registration for Plaza Blanca again. Visitors must email us at plazablanca@daralislam.org. We are no longer accepting registration over the phone or by text.
Response can take a few minutes or a few days, therefore visitors should email for registration in advance as much as possible.
Old Spanish Trail
Distance 7 miles
From the north the trail begins beneath the Abiquiu Dam
The Old Spanish Trail is a 7-mile corridor that connects Abiquiu Dam to the Pueblo de Abiquiu. Originally used by Antonio Armijo in 1829 as a trade route to Southern California, it is now a seldom-used single lane dirt road that runs along the beautiful canyons of the Rio Chama. This is a very difficult road to drive, at best. It's a great mountain bike ride.
Distance 7 miles
From the north the trail begins beneath the Abiquiu Dam
The Old Spanish Trail is a 7-mile corridor that connects Abiquiu Dam to the Pueblo de Abiquiu. Originally used by Antonio Armijo in 1829 as a trade route to Southern California, it is now a seldom-used single lane dirt road that runs along the beautiful canyons of the Rio Chama. This is a very difficult road to drive, at best. It's a great mountain bike ride.
Echo Amphitheater
Carson National Forest
1/4 mile
On Highway 84-from from the Ghost Ranch 3 miles. Located on the west side of the road, right off of Highway 84.
Attractions and Considerations:
The Echo Amphitheater Trail is a local favorite. There is a covered picnic area and camping. Small day use fee. The trail from the parking lot to Echo Canyon is asphalted. The trail ascends at a moderately easy pace. The last part of the trail has stairs leading up to the Echo Canyon. Rocks are a natural habitat for snakes, so stay on the trail and off the rocks.
Carson National Forest
1/4 mile
On Highway 84-from from the Ghost Ranch 3 miles. Located on the west side of the road, right off of Highway 84.
Attractions and Considerations:
The Echo Amphitheater Trail is a local favorite. There is a covered picnic area and camping. Small day use fee. The trail from the parking lot to Echo Canyon is asphalted. The trail ascends at a moderately easy pace. The last part of the trail has stairs leading up to the Echo Canyon. Rocks are a natural habitat for snakes, so stay on the trail and off the rocks.
Rim Vista Trail
First you need to find FR 151. This is the road to the Monastery which is about 2.5 miles past Ghost Ranch. There will be a sign on your right for the Monastery and when you reach 151 turn left to head towards the Monastery. Approximately 1/2 mile down this dirt road is a sign on your right saying Trail. If you’ve gone a mile you missed it. Turn right onto a dirt road that leads to the trail head. The trail head is well marked and the trail is easy to spot. As you hike up you will gain 1300ft. of elevation. The hike is moderately strenuous and there are plenty of rocks to choose from. You will go approximately 2.3 miles to reach the top. Along the way you will see fantastic vistas of red rock, Abiquiu Lake and Pedernal. My favorite was the lake and the spectacular red rock. The vistas increase as you reach the top. Once there you can choose left or right paths. We chose the northern trail where I found the views spectacular and I was able to set my tripod on flat ground.
Kevin and I enjoyed a leisurely hike stopping for photos and just to enjoy the scenery. And many thanks to Kevin Spitzer for showing me the trail head. We are planning more as the season progresses.
For more info on the hike check out Abiquiu Inn for the book ’50 hikes in northern NM’. The Rim Vista train is number 21 on page 116.
Happy Trails
Greg
First you need to find FR 151. This is the road to the Monastery which is about 2.5 miles past Ghost Ranch. There will be a sign on your right for the Monastery and when you reach 151 turn left to head towards the Monastery. Approximately 1/2 mile down this dirt road is a sign on your right saying Trail. If you’ve gone a mile you missed it. Turn right onto a dirt road that leads to the trail head. The trail head is well marked and the trail is easy to spot. As you hike up you will gain 1300ft. of elevation. The hike is moderately strenuous and there are plenty of rocks to choose from. You will go approximately 2.3 miles to reach the top. Along the way you will see fantastic vistas of red rock, Abiquiu Lake and Pedernal. My favorite was the lake and the spectacular red rock. The vistas increase as you reach the top. Once there you can choose left or right paths. We chose the northern trail where I found the views spectacular and I was able to set my tripod on flat ground.
Kevin and I enjoyed a leisurely hike stopping for photos and just to enjoy the scenery. And many thanks to Kevin Spitzer for showing me the trail head. We are planning more as the season progresses.
For more info on the hike check out Abiquiu Inn for the book ’50 hikes in northern NM’. The Rim Vista train is number 21 on page 116.
Happy Trails
Greg
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