Santa Fe National Forest, NM

I spent three days outside of Santa Fe. I hiked the first two mornings amid the beautiful landscape of northern New Mexico. I'd planned a third hike but canceled it in order to give my body some much needed rest.

I found a spot in the national forest where I could relax in the mid-afternoon and evening, and continue to experience the mountains, enjoy their cooler temperatures, and have a quiet place to sleep in the van.

Nambe Lake

This hike was physically challenging for me, and boy was I tired by the end. Its beautiful scenery of trees, plants, creek, and lake partially distracted me from the effort required. For that I was thankful.

The first part of the hike involved a steady, although not overly aggressive climb amid a forest of mostly pine trees.

Trail through the Pines

After it topped a crest in the hill, the trail began a gentle decline. It also became rougher with a lot of rocks to navigate. Partway through this section, the dominant species of tree switched to aspen.

Trail Becomes Rocky

Aspen Trees

During the hike I saw two interesting animals--a large, gray, and plump rabbit (very different from the scrawny jackrabbits I'm used to) and what I am pretty sure was a ferret. I unfortunately couldn't get a photograph of either one. Although not as spectacular, here are a couple of small plants that caught my eye.

Flammulina Populicola
(winter mushroom)

Common Puffball

My arrival at Nambe Creek signaled the transition to the most difficult part of the hike which included three very steep climbs. I am glad the trail followed the creek for most of this final section as I had the wonderful sight of running water with its beautiful sound to accompany me as I trekked up to Nambe Lake (and later back down).

Nambe Creek

Water Spills over Rocks

Here, the trail was a mixture of rocks, roots, and with a little dirt and mud mixed in. It went virtually straight up the incline with little deviation and definitely no switchbacks. While I wasn't forced to use my hands, I used a lot of high steps and my hiking stick to clamber up and down the hillside.

A Trail of Rocks & Roots

At about the midway point, I came to a mountain meadow that turned out to have a layer of water below the tops of the grasses. While I didn't sink in too far and my socks only got a little wet, I navigated around the meadow on the return trip.

Marshy Meadow

In numerous places, the trail blurred, and I had multiple options on how I wanted to navigate upwards. Each time, these different branches met up again and it often wasn't until then that I'd realize whether I'd taken the easier or more difficult route from one point to the next.

Is This the Best Route up the Incline?

Nambe Lake was a nice, small mountain lake that presented a serene setting for me to rest, eat my apple, take in the view, and think about whatever came to mind.

Nambe Lake

Rugged Cliff Face near Nambe Lake

Atalaya Mountain

This hike began at St. John's College on the eastern edge of Santa Fe. The trail ran eastward through the foothills dotted with (mostly) adobe-style houses and then up to the top of Atalaya Mountain.

I went into the hike believing it to be moderately challenging. It wasn't until I got back that I discovered it was rated "hard" just like the one to Nambe Lake.

Attempting a second physically demanding hike without a day of rest in between proved too much for me. I never made it to the top as I chose to turn around with about a half of a mile to go. I felt I was about out of energy, and I wanted to ensure I could make it back.

Atalaya Mountain

From the beginning to the end, I found myself among a diversity of desert trees and bushes.

Trail Enters Cluster of One-Seed Juniper Trees

Tall Rubber Rabbitbrush Crowd the Trail

Broom Snakeweed

I came to and walked in a dry riverbed for a short distance. I then followed along, crossed several times, and walked in a creek bed that had a trickle of water in it.

Dry Riverbed

Trickle of Water

As the trail began to gain elevation, the piñón pine trees became much more prevalent.

Trail Heads through Colorado Piñóns

Colorado Piñóns Provide Nice Shade

Atop a rise, I took a short rest while I viewed St. John's College and Santa Fe below me.

View of the Valley

At about the halfway point to the top, I left the foothills began the ascent of the mountain. It wasn't long before the trail became much rockier and steeper as it headed almost directly upwards.

Trail Climbs Mountainside

Steep, Rocky, and Rugged

Quite frequently, I came across a place where the tan dirt was bisected by a vein of pink to red rock. In this one, the rock even stuck of the ground quite a way.

Red Rock Protrudes from Vein

Rocks were not the only things colored red that I encountered during the hike. I'm not sure I would have seen this little fella if he hadn't moved as I approached.

Greater Short-Horned Lizard

I got another view of Santa Fe and the valley below not too long before I decided it was better to head back than continue to struggle upward the rest of the way.

Santa Fe