Sierra Club started with outings!
Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter outings are free and open to the public. Outings are listed in the quarterly Rio Grande Sierran, on our event calendar and also as a quarterly text listing. The Northern Group outings are generally listed on the Santa Fe Group Meetup site, and Chapter outings may also be listed on the Rio Grande Chapter Meetup site.
We offer hikes at all levels of difficulty, and the difficulty level is listed in each outing, along with trip and leader details. Below are general Sierra Club protocols for all outings.
- Participants must sign a standard Participation Agreement, required when registering for each outing.
- Backcountry outings – participants must fill out a short medical form and provide it to the leader for backcountry outings or where a medical facility is more than one hour away. Forms will be destroyed or returned to the participant immediately following the outing.
- Minors – the participation agreement must be completed and signed by parent or legal guardian (accompanied or unaccompanied).
- Leaders may alter the destination or cancel a trip due to weather, unfavorable conditions, or insufficient number of participants. The trip leader will contact you via the information you provided during registration.
- Leaders reserve the right to turn away anyone whose experience or equipment appears unsuitable.
- Dogs are permitted only if specifically noted in the trip details.
- Bring water, lunch, sturdy hiking boots or shoes and clothing suitable for the weather.
- All mileages are round-trip.
Interested in being a trip leader? Contact Outings Chair Terry Owen.
- Select the appropriate month by using the left and right arrow buttons
- Locate the event or outing for which you’d like to register
- Click on the name of the outing or event and a registration form window will open
- Provide the requested information in the registration form. Upon completion, click on the red “Submit” button at the bottom of the form.
- If a liability waiver (participation agreement) is required to participate in the outing, a subsequent form will appear. Read and acknowledge the waiver (participants under the age of 18 will need a parent or legal guardian to complete the form with them) by checking the appropriate boxes at the bottom of the form. If you wish to submit a paper form instead, please request the form in advance from the Outings Leader listed in the announcement. Otherwise, click on the box labeled “Submit Digital Waiver”.
Please visit the calendar for more information or to register for any of these events.
April 2025
Saturday, April 5: Fort Stanton Historic Site – Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area (NCA),10 a.m-12 p.m. Join us for a leisurely hike on the grounds of the Ft. Stanton Historic Site in Lincoln County, famous for Smokey the Bear and Billy the Kid.
Saturday, April 12-13: Introduction to Backpacking — Overnighter. This is the perfect outing for those who have never backpacked before and would like to give it a try in a low-risk environment, accompanied by experienced mentors. This outing is appropriate for children 14 years of age and up when accompanied by parent/legal guardian.
Sunday, April 13: Earth Day Festival. 10am-4pm. Join us as we celebrate and work to protect the Earth! The global theme for Earth Day 2025 is “Our Power, Our Planet.” It is a call to action for all of us to embrace renewable energy and make a lasting impact on our planet’s future.
Saturday, April 19: Inclusive / Accessible Mindful Birding: Sit & optional walk, 8:30-10:30 a.m. If you are new to birding, a disabled birder, seasoned birder, or just want to enjoy a nice morning in the Mesilla Valley State Park, you are welcome. Your guide – Holly – loves exploring and sharing two of her greatest passions: birding and mindfulness practices.
Saturday, April 23: “Fire and Water”. We’ll be exploring the South Fork area of the Lincoln National Forest close to the South Fork Campground and the South Fork Trail No.19. We’ll discuss the federal seasonal public water system of the campground and its requirements of the EPA Federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
May 2025
Saturday, May 3: Early Migrating Birds Along the Animas River in Farmington. This trip is about three miles round trip along trails on flat terrain. Leisurely pace.
Wednesday, May 14: Zero Waste Tour of the Rio Grande Soil Amendment Facility. Come see how biosolids from the Wastewater Treatment Plant are blended with other components and turned into compost.
Thursday – Saturday, May 22-24: Rio Grande Del Norte – Wild Rivers Service Trip. This is a continuation of work done by club volunteers last year at the El Aguaje group camp, working on the Rinconada Trail at Wild Rivers. It’s possible to see bighorn sheep and to fit in a hike to the river (warning: strenuous/steep). This is also a great place to ride a bike.
June 2025
Saturday, June 7: Late Migrating and Early Summer Birds Along the Animas River in Farmington. We will start at the Riverside Nature Center in Farmington NM, and enjoy an easy birdwatching stroll along the river. This is about a three-mile round trip along trails on flat terrain. Leisurely pace.
Saturday 14: Member Appreciation Picnic. Calling all Sierra Club members and friends for our Third Annual Member Appreciation Picnic. 10:30 AM to 3 PM, Capulin Spring Picnic Site in the Cibola National Forest-Sandia Mountains. Potluck.
Thursday, June 19: Zero Waste Tour of the Cerro Colorado Landfill. What we’ve been waiting for! We will meet in the conference room at the main office for an orientation on the operation of the landfill and to ask questions. Then we will go on a tour of the landfill in their van.
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