SummitPost.org

Hi everyone,
My first post here...
I am traveling to New Mexico in the second part of April with 4 friends - mostly for hiking. We will use Santa Fe as a base and drive to hiking destinations. We have 4 hiking days. Could you recommend the most spectacular day hikes we can make within 1.5 hours driving distance from Santa Fe? All people in the group are experienced hikers in the 50s.
Thanks in advance.
Anatoly

Santa Fe Baldy and Hermit Peak are both good hikes within that range. So is the Rio en Medio trail, though it doesn't lead to a summit. Over in the Jemez, there are a few hikes starting from the Los Alamos ski area.

The following are also great destinations within about 1.5 hours of Santa Fe:

Truchas Peak
North Truchas Peak
Jicarita Peak
Lake Peak/Penitente Peak
Tent Rocks (not a peak, but a spectacular and unique area)
La Luz Trail (Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque)
Cabezon (fun scrambling)
Cerro Grande (great views in the Jemez Mountains)
Mt. Taylor (big volcano near Grants, more than 1.5 hours from Santa Fe)

If you can extend your drive to two hours, you can hit up the peaks near Taos:
Wheeler Peak
Lobo Peak
Gold Hill

*Note: the high peaks listed above will likely hold snow into May/June, depending on snowfall from here on out.

If you don't insist on hiking in the mountains, then you should consider hiking in the lava beds of El Malpais National Monument, south of Grants. It's about a 2-1/2 hour drive from Santa Fe, though.

There are some well-marked lava caves at Big Tubes (take a few sources of light, and a warm jacket). The Continental Divide trail runs through the Chain of Craters. There are a few ancient Native American trails through the lava beds that the National Parks Services has marked for day hikes.

https://www.google.com/search?q=el+malp ... 80&bih=958

Along with many of the above recommendations, I would add Bandelier National Monument. See the main ruins and hike the loop, but also hike to at least Upper Frijoles Falls. Not sure if the trail to the lower falls is open. Lots of backcountry here, too.

If you get to the south, usually Organ Needle is still cool enough in April. A fit person can complete the hike in 6-8 hours from Dripping Springs. I haven't been to Ladrone since 1984, but that was (then) a neat and wild area.