Outings are normally free and open to non-members, although we do like it if you join the Club to increase our local and national clout.
All participants in Sierra Club activities are required to sign a standard Participation Agreement. If you would like to read the Participation Agreement before you choose to participate in an activity, please click here. You will be asked for consent when you register for each outing.
Events can be also found on our event calendar, and many on the Chapter Meetup site. The Santa Fe Group outings are listed on their Meetup site. Remember that outings may be added or changed as the season progresses.
Sign-up using the link below each listing. This link will take you to the calendar event listing with more information and registration.
June 2024
Saturday, June 29, Beginner/Moderate Bike Ride to Downtown Grower’s Market. Option to continue to Bike-In Coffee.
One opportunity to have fun in ABQ and explore while reducing car use is to bike to the Downtown Grower’s Market. Parking is limited near the market anyway, so take the opportunity to take a short bike ride for the last mile! The group will continue from the grower’s market to Bike In Coffee, just over 2 miles and sit under the trees and listen to music. Riders should plan to return with a group leader. This is an ideal opportunity for friends/family at varying levels of riding expertise to participate as there will be 2 trip leaders in order to accommodate different speeds.
Trip leader: Patrick Burton
Level: Easy to moderate
Location: downtown Albuquerque
Register for this event
Sunday June 30. Tres Pistolas (Three Gun Springs) Hike. 8:00am-12:30pm. This is a beautiful trail, uphill, rocky trail with lots of views along the way and lovely shade at the top. If the group agrees, will continue a short distance on the trail towards Oso Pass (more gradual and more shade) as few people are aware of this part of the trail. We will take breaks along the way and a snack or lunch break at top so bring food and water. Route is 5 miles + (max of 6 if we do the Oso pass portion) and approx 2,100 of elevation gain. Limited shade. Sunscreen and hat are a must; walking sticks are recommended. Dogs must be approved by leader 2 days in advance.
Trip leader: Debbie Bryant
Level: moderate
Location: east of Albuquerque in Monticello
Register for this event by June 28
July 2024
Saturday, July 13. Yoga In The Mountains. 8:30am-noon. Come celebrate the day with us. We’ll meet at the trailhead at 8:30 a.m. If you’d like to explore the wonders of nature, hiking and outdoors yoga in the company of really nice people, this is the hike! We’ll embark on an easy ~3.5 mile hike that incorporates a one-hour outdoor yoga and mindfulness break midway. Includes 300 feet of elevation gain and amazing views of the mountains. Limited to 15 participants, and children over the age of 12 are welcome when accompanied by parent or legal guardian. A $10 cash donation for our amazing yoga instructor, Pamela Cook, would be greatly appreciated. Good, well-behaved dogs are welcome. Afterward, some of us go for lunch and all are welcome.
Trip Leader: Debbie Bryant
Level: Moderate
Location: Tijeras
Register for this event by July 11
Friday, July 28. ZWAT Tour of Vivarium Exhibit – Albuquerque Museum. 11am-12:30pm. Latin for “place of life,” Vivarium demonstrates how contemporary painters create narratives that highlight the complex intersections between humans and the non-human living world. These works counter the prevailing belief that “4 legs are good, but 2 legs are better” by depicting animals as protagonists through a variety of cultural lenses and including references to relevant historical issues. This special tour is open to all but will have a zero waste emphasis. The tour is limited to 12 participants, so sign up early. Admission to the museum on Sunday morning is free.
Trip Leader: Laurie Zunner
Level: Easy
Location: Albuquerque
Register for this event by July 27
August 2024
Saturday, August 17. Yoga In The Mountains. 8:30am-noon. See description for July 13 listing.
Trip Leader: Debbie Bryant
Level: Moderate
Location: Tijeras
Register for this event by August 15
Saturday, August 24. Outings Leader Training. 9am- pm. Interested in becoming a certified Sierra Club outings leader and want to lead local outings? The first step in that journey is to successfully complete Outings Leader Training. This is a one-day course that will provide you with the foundational information you need to lead safe, fun and inspiring outings, such as hikes, bike rides, snowshoe or ski outings and ambles. Or, if you are a currently certified outings leader and it’s been about four years since you last attended this course, you should also join us. This training will provide some additional focus on risk management in the desert and Mountain West, including high altitude outings.
Trip Leader: Debbie Bryant
Level: Easy
Location: Virtual
Register for this event by August 20
Saturday, August 31. Fall Birds Along Animas River. 8am-11am. This is the first of two trips to look for migrating birds in the fall. Meet at the Riverside Nature Center at 8 a.m. 18 year olds and up. No dogs please. Leisurely pace. Trip will be 2.5 miles on level dirt trails. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars, snacks and water. Sunscreen and bug juice always good. For added enjoyment, download the free app called Merlin onto your phone. Limit of ten people.
Trip Leader: Mike Foster
Level: Easy
Location: Farmington, NM
Register for this event by August 28
September 2024
Zero Waste Tour of the Cerro Colorado Landfill, date to be determined. Yes, it’s back! Solid Waste will be offering tours of the landfill! We still don’t have a firm date but wanted to let you know.
Trip Leader: Laurie Zunner
Level: Easy
Location: Albuquerque
Check the calendar for details and date
Saturday, September 14. Yoga In The Mountains. 8:30am-noon. See description for July 13 listing.
Trip Leader: Debbie Bryant
Level: Moderate
Location: Tijeras
Register for this event
Wednesday, September 18. Rio Bravo Open Space Hike. 10am-1pm. Welcome to the beautiful South Valley! Rio Bravo Open Space Riverside Picnic Area provides excellent access to forest paths and river views. W’ell head north through the bosque about 2 miles, then go back.
Trip leader: Diane Reese
Level: easy
Location: Albuquerque
Register for this event by September 16
Saturday, September 21. Service Project at Chiricahua National Monument. September 21 – September 28. The Austin group of the Sierra Club is hosting a service trip and the Rio Grande Chapter is working with them again. Join us for a week of camping and service work at Chiricahua National Monument. This monument is located near Willcox, Arizona at an elevation of about 5,200 feet. Service projects include re-decking the footbridge at the Bonita Creek Nature Trail, Silver Spur trail, invasive plant removal, and trail and sidewalk maintenance. We will have a day off for hiking. Participants are responsible for their own transportation, camping equipment, and breakfasts and lunches. You and partners will also be responsible for feeding the entire group one evening. This includes bringing and preparing the food, dish patrol and washing said pots and pans.The National Park Service is providing free park admission, campsite, and work tool usage. For information about the park, visit the NPS site.
Organizer: Stan Peyton
Level: moderate
Location: San Simon, AZ
More information about this event | Register via Austin MeetUp
Friday, September 27. Salinas Pueblo National Monument Tour. 9am-5pm. Tucked away in the middle of New Mexico, you’ll find Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. We will stop and explore two of the three distinct sites, Quarai and Abo, each offering a glimpse into a unique time in pre-US history. These sites offer a quiet place to reflect on this history, local archeology and the Land of Enchantment. This outing affords abundant photo opportunities with stops at each to hike around each mission, perhaps finding inspiration to write a quick poem or make a quick sketch. Wear comfortable attire and sturdy shoes. Bring clothing layers, hats, sunscreen, water and your picnic lunch. Total hiking distance is less than one mile and 50 feet of elevation change. No dogs, please.
Trip Leader: June Parsons
Level: easy
Location: Mountainair (east of Manzano Mountains)
Register for this event by September 25
Saturday, September 28 – Sunday September 29. Wilderness First Aid 2-day Course. 8am-4pm. Rio Grande Chapter and Women Who Opt Outside are jointly sponsoring a coed Wilderness First Aid course. The SOLO Wilderness First Aid Course is a two-day first aid course that provides training for anyone who spends time hiking, skiing, engaged in other outdoor pursuits, or just wants to know what to do when things go south. The course is a blend of lectures, demonstrations and scenarios. At the successful completion of the two day course, you will be certified or re-certified. Why attend? People get hurt, sick, or lost. The temperature drops, the wind picks up, and it starts to rain. Would you know what to do? If you’re ever more than an hour away from a hospital or one mile from any road, these skills are essential. The price for the course is $200 per person. Participants must commit to attend both days. Payment instructions will be sent in mid-August requesting a $65 deposit to hold your seat. Applicants will be taken in the order they register and pay by the deadline. Maximum class size is 22.
Trip Leader: Debbie Bryant
Level: easy
Location: Tijeras Village Hall
Register for this event by September 24
October 2024
Saturday, October 5. Bicycle to Balloon Fiesta Saturday. 5:45 a.m. start. Want to experience the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta morning mass ascension but don’t want the hassle of fighting traffic? Join us for your own dawn patrol bike ride to Balloon Fiesta Park. We will meet up near Rio Grande Nature Center State Park and ride along the bosque to the park. When we arrive at the park, we’ll leave our bikes with the bike valet and enjoy the show. Then we’ll return via the bosque on both paved and single-track trails. Multispeed mountain or gravel bikes, road or e-bikes with tire sealant are required. Helmet, gloves, headlamp and/or bike light are required. Riders should have the ability to average 10-12 mph and stay up with the group. Just over 11 miles each way and less than 100 feet of elevation change. We will do bosque trail to Paseo del Norte trail to North Channel trail, so almost no roads (approx. three road crossings). Sponsored by the Sierra Club Military Outdoors Program, and everyone is welcome.
Trip Leader: Debbie Bryant
Level: moderate
Location: Albuquerque
Register for this event by September 27
Saturday, October 26. More Fall Birds Along Animas River in Farmington. 8am-11am. This and the August trip aim to discover which of the 31 migrants who headed north last spring will follow the same route heading south in the fall. We’ll also look for the 24 residents discovered last spring and hopefully find a few more. Eighteen years-old and up only. No dogs please. Use sunscreen, bring binoculars, water, snacks, and dress for the weather. Limit of ten people.
Trip Leader: Mike Foster
Level: easy
Location: Farmington
Register for this event by October 24
Featured image at top: Wild Rivers Service trip in May. Photo by Debbie Bryant.