Sign-up is by contact with leader (phone or email, if shown).  You’ll need to sign a waiver that leader will provide. Dogs only allowed as noted.

Trips are normally free (pay when carpooling) and open to non-members, although we do like it if you join the Club to increase our local and national clout.

Please RSVP the leader unless otherwise stated. Updates and reservations on some outings are available on the Santa Fe or Rio Grande Chapter Meetup website.

April 2019

Saturday, April 6. Intermediate hike from The Park to Tool Box Spring, San Mateo Mountains. Meet at Magdalena post office at 8:30 a.m. This is a rare short route from East to West Red Canyons, with some curious features along the way. Nine-mile round trip with 1,900 feet of elevation gain, taking just under 5 hours. We’ll drive FR 478 from NM 107 into the East San Mateo foothills and walk down into East Red Canyon and up over a ridge to the spring in upper West Red Canyon. One dog, no children under 15. RSVP by April 3, 2019.
Trip leader: Jim Nelson at jcnelson@gilanet.com or (575) 854-2259
Location: west of Socorro

Sunday, April 7. Easy hike in Cerrillos Hills. Meet at 09:30 A.M. on the west side of the Smith parking lot, close to the intersection of I-40 , Central and Tramway. 4.5 miles, mostly flat, but some up and down of about 360 ft. We will see many old abandoned mines. Optional pot-luck after the hike for those who can join us.
Trip leader: Odile, odile@pitot.org or (505) 433 4692
Location: northeast of Albuquerque

Saturday, April 20. Easy Earth Day hike in the John A. Milne & Gutierrez Canyon Open Space. Meet at 9 a.m. at Hobby Lobby on Juan Tabo to carpool. This two-hour long outing is approximately 2.5 miles round trip with 250 feet of elevation gain. Join us in this piñon-juniper covered canyon near Cedar Crest for a dose of nature, solitude and camaraderie. Children over 12 and maximum of 2 dogs. This is the perfect way to celebrate Earth Day. Sponsored by the Military Outdoors Program and we welcome everyone. Contact leader no later than April 18th to RSVP.
Trip leaser: Terry Owen, (505) 301-4349 or teowen@comcast.net
Location: Albuquerque area

Saturday, April 20, Excursiones Earth Day Hike. 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Embudito Canyon Loop Trail. Montgomery Blvd NE towards the mountains, pass Tramway Blvd NE, left on Glenwood Hills Dr NE to Trailhead Rd NE. Guerreros adventurous children welcome. No dogs please. Facebook.
Trip leader: Cecilia, cecilia.chavez.beltran@sierraclub.org, (505) 319 7556
Location: Albuquerque area

Saturday, April 20. Strenuous hike of Vicks Peak, San Mateo Mountains. Meet at Springtime Campground at 9 a.m. and you may prefer to camp overnight. We’ll hike up to Myers Cabin on the Shipman Canyon trail saddle and then scramble 900 feet up Vicks Peak for views far over southern New Mexico. Round trip 10 miles, 3,000 feet elevation gain, 6 hours. One dog, no children under 15. RSVP by April 17, 2019.
Trip leader: Jim Nelson at jcnelson@gilanet.com or (575) 854-2259
Location: west of Socorro

May 2019

Saturday, May 4. Albuquerque Open Space Clean-up. Come join us as we partner with the Albuquerque Open Space Division to pickup trash, maintain trails and celebrate our amazing open spaces. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the designated open space area. Bring water, sunscreen, gloves, hat and a snack, and wear closed-toed shoes. This is a great activity for families with children. Contact leader no later than May 2nd to RSVP and obtain location or view our Meetup page.
Trip leader: Terry Owen, 505-301-4349, teowen@comcast.net
Location: Albuquerque

Saturday May 4. Outings leader summit. CANCELLED. The objectives of the Outings Leader Summit are to give us the ability to meet one another and collaborate, and share new information, knowledge and ideas. It will also include a community service project. More information to follow as the plan unfolds.
Trip leader: Terry Owen, 505-301-4349, teowen@comcast.net
Location: Albuquerque office, 2209 Silver Ave SE, Albuquerque

Friday, May 10.  Easy/moderate hike along the Las Conchas Trail in the Jemez Mountains. We will meet at 9 a.m. at the farthest NW area of the Home Depot parking lot at 7700 US Hwy 550, Rio Rancho, NM. Carpooling is recommended due to limited parking at the trailhead. Round trip hike is 2.5 miles with about 100 feet total elevation gain. Beautiful mountains in the pine forest along the trout-filled Jemez River. We will also pass through the hewn-through-the-mountain Gilman Tunnels on the way to Las Conchas. Trail is not handicap accessible. Cameras and binoculars are recommended. Dress in layers, bring water, snacks, and we encourage water resistance footwear. No dogs. No children under 12 years old. After the hike, we will return and have lunch at Los Ojos Restaurant in Jemez Springs, NM. Details, updates and sign-up for this Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter event at Meetup Site. Sign-up and RSVP no later than May 5, 2019.
Trip leaders: June Parsons and Terry Owen, teowen@comcast.net  or (505) 301-4349
Location: south of Los Alamos

Saturday, May 11. Excursiones easy walk along the Rio Grande. 9am – noon, starting at Rio Bravo Riverside Picnic Area (south side of Rio Bravo Blvd, east side of the river). We will walk north as much as the group chooses, then back. Shady, peaceful pleasant walk. Children welcome. No dogs please. Facebook.
Trip leader: Cecilia, cecilia.chavez.beltran@sierraclub.org, (505) 319 7556
Location: Albuquerque area

Saturday, May 11. Easy loop hike at the top of the Sandias. Meet at 09:30, on the East side of the Albertson parking lot at Tramway Blvd. and Academy Road; or, at 10:30, at the Sandia Crest Parking lot (close to the antennas).  Note that the hike will be changed to a different one if conditions are bad.Optional pot-luck after the hike for those who are interested.
Trip leader: Odile, odile@pitot.org or (505) 433 4692
Location: northeast of Albuquerque

Saturday, May 18.  Easy hike and tour of a portion of the Army Corps of Engineers’ bosque restoration project in the South Valley. This is different area than that which was visited in February. Meet at the Valley High Street SW access to the bosque at 8:30 a.m. which is 1.5 mi. south of Rio Bravo off Second St. to see an excellent example of successful restoration of our beloved bosque, including revived wetlands, new cottonwoods, willows, and understory plantings, a yerba mansa patch.  If we’re lucky this year the restored area may be flooded, so prepare for a somewhat muddy trail. This outing is approximately two miles and 50 feet of elevation gain over 2 hours. For more information and precise directions, contact leader.
Trip leader: Mark Rudd, mark@markrudd.com or 505-270-5449
Location: Albuquerque

Saturday May 18. Moderate hike of Pine Tree Loop, Aguirre Springs. Let’s celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument with a hike on the Pine Tree Loop Trail in the newly created Organ Needles Wilderness Area. Spectacular views of the Organs Mountains and the Tularosa Basin to the east. This is a moderate hike with elevation gain of 1,000 feet. Four and a half mile loop. Day use fee required for Aguirre Springs.
Trip leader: Howie Dash (575) 652-7550 or howiedash@aol.com
Location: Las Cruces

June 2019

Saturday, June 8. Moderate/strenuous hike at high altitude in the Pecos region to view wildflowers on the mesa. The hike will pass through pine and aspen forest. Meet at 6:45 a.m. at North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center located at 7521 Carmel Ave. NE in Albuquerque to leave promptly at 7:00 a.m. Drive time to the trailhead at Iron Gate Campground will be 2 1/2 hours. There will be four miles of dirt road to the campground. High clearance vehicles are recommended although not a necessity. The in and out hike will be 5.7 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 737 feet, and a total uphill of 1070 feet. The minimum elevation will be 9,370. The grade will be 6% at times. There will be a great views of the peaks of the Pecos Wilderness from the mesa where we will eat lunch. A raincoat or poncho are required in case there is an afternoon storm. The hike leader will cancel the hike if a thunderstorm is forecast and/or the four mile road to the trailhead will be impassable due to prior rains. Hikers from Santa Fe can meet the group at the trailhead before or at 9:30 a.m. Contact the hike leader telephonically or by text no later than June 5th to RSVP. Seniors, please bring your National Park passes. Please no dogs or children.
Trip leader: Diane, (505) 917-0556
Location: north of Santa Fe

Sunday June 9. 8am – 1pm. Excursiones moderate hike to Embudito Canyon loop trail. This time, we will do the 5 hour-hike clockwise. Go East on Montgomery Blvd NE, pass Tramway Blvd, left on Glenwood Hills Dr NE, right on Trailhead Rd NE. Always please bring water, snacks; wear appropriate clothing & shoes. No dogs please.Facebook.
Trip leader: Cecilia, cecilia.chavez.beltran@sierraclub.org, (505) 319 7556
Location: Albuquerque area

Saturday, June 22. Easy early summer hike in the Bosque. We’ll enjoy a leisurely walk on a trail that is flat and fairly even that will take about 1-1/2 hours. Meet at 8:30 at the tree sculpture garden  just off the Montano Bridge on the west side of the Rio Grande (turnoff is just before Coors if you’re going west on Montano). Bring water, hat, snacks, sunscreen, and favorite summer poem to share!
Trip leader: Margaret, mardel18@aol.com
Location: Albuquerque

Saturday, June 22. Strenuous hike of Wheeler Peak. Join the Sierra Club Military Outdoors Program to climb the tallest peak in New Mexico. Active duty, retirees, dependents and civilians are all welcome, must be in good physical condition and tolerate high altitudes. This very challenging hike starts near the upper ski area at 10,000 feet and proceeds to the summit at 13,161 feet. It passes a beautiful alpine lake, winds thru towering ponderosa pines and offers unforgettable views of the surrounding mountains. We’ll be camping the evening before (June 21st) at Taos Ski Valley. We’ll then meet at Williams Lake trailhead parking lot at 6:30 a.m. for the trailhead briefing. We’ll then celebrate the first full day of summer on the summit at noon with a high altitude lunch. Children over 16 years of age only and no dogs please. Contact leader no later than June 18th to RSVP and obtain recommended gear list.
Trip leader: Terry Owen, 505-301-4349, teowen@comcast.net
Location: Taos area

July 2019

Saturday, July 13. Moderate/strenuous hike at high altitude in the San Pedro Parks region traveling past the San Gregorio Reservoir, crossing creeks, and through evergreen and aspen forests, marshes, and open areas. Meet at 6:45 a.m. at North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center located at 7521 Carmel Ave. NE in Albuquerque to leave promptly at 7:00 a.m. Drive time to the trailhead will be 2 hours. The in and out hike will be 7.1 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 783 feet, and a total uphill of 806 feet. The minimum elevation will be 9269 feet. The grade will be 5% at times. A raincoat or poncho are required in case there is an afternoon storm. The hike leader will cancel the hike if a thunderstorm is forecast.  Contact the hike leader telephonically or by text no later than July 10th to RSVP. This hike will be limited to 15 hikers, including the hike leader, due to the group size limit. Seniors, please bring your National Park passes. Please no dogs or children.
Trip leader: Diane, 505-917-0556
Location: Cuba area