We will be down in Santa Fe this weekend and would like to get some snow free hikes in. Any good 6-8 mile RT hikes in the surrounding areas that would be good for mid April?

COTrekker02 wrote:We will be down in Santa Fe this weekend and would like to get some snow free hikes in. Any good 6-8 mile RT hikes in the surrounding areas that would be good for mid April?

Tent rocks is fairly nice, though I suspect it is quite popular these days.

We will be down in Santa Fe this weekend and would like to get some snow free hikes in. Any good 6-8 mile RT hikes in the surrounding areas that would be good for mid April?

It's pretty popular, but Bandelier is a really neat area and right near Santa Fe. Unless you are there right after a recent snowstorm, there shouldn't be snow.

See below, specifically the dates March 13 and 21:

http://www.summitpost.org/trip-report/6 ... eport.html

Also see:

http://www.summitpost.org/area/range/444038/bandelier-national-monument.html

Scott wrote:It's pretty popular, but Bandelier is a really neat area and right near Santa Fe. Unless you are there right after a recent snowstorm, there shouldn't be snow.

I have to second Bandelier. In particular, you will want to hike Frijole Canyon to the Rio Grande. Nearby Buckman Mesa is also a nice option.

Also, the lower sections of the Winsor Trail in Tesuque are open and if you are lucky, the Borrego Trail is snow free too, though neither trail are spectacular or anything. If you head up to Taos, a hike down into Rio Grande Gorge is a great trip, as is a hike along the rim of the canyon south of the Highway 64 bridge. If you are out that way, Tres Piedras could be snow free and makes for a great day. South of Santa Fe, you may consider Pecos National Historic Park. If you can get onto the Glorietta Battlefield, there is some nice strolling (not really hiking, but very interesting).