Take a trip out to Amole Canyon the next time you're looking for a fun place to break out the cross-country skis or snowshoes. 5 miles of trails are intermittently groomed here by the Taos Nordic Ski club, but you are free to explore the entire area. The trails range from easy, beginner to very difficult. The groomed sections are well marked. During the summer months, the trails are used mainly by mountain bikers and are very easy - nice, rolling terrain with no technical difficulty.

Check out this cross country skiing only trail located near the Santa Fe Ski area. Meander your way through the beautiful snowy forest on an intermediate trail. Well groomed, but with a number of ups and downs, this trail may require a little more skill than the average beginner. The Norski trail is also home to the Santa Fe Snowshoe Classic, the one and only day that snowshoes are allowed. Dogs are not allowed on this course. Hiking is permitted in the non-snow packed months.

Come hone your mountain biking skills on the Rio Grande del Rancho Trail, before hitting some of the tougher stuff in the Taos area. The toughest part of the ride is the very beginning, where novices may want to dismount, but after that it is smooth sailing. You will ride through beautiful pinon-juniper forest up to ponderosa and oak, with wildflowers dotting the landscape from spring to fall. You will also be rewarded with some great views of Jicarita Peak while heading south.

This trail is in the Valles Caldera National Preserve, where most activities require a reservation and/or guide- this is one of the two free and open trails. Check out the beautiful obsidian under foot as you hike through the Jemez Mountains. You will wander through open meadows and aspen forests with some fantastic views of the Valles Caldera. There are no pets or bikes allowed on this trail. During the winter, the trails in the preserve are groomed for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. This trail remains free in the winter, but also be sure to check out the other reservation only trails!

The acreage for Juan Thomas Open Space was acquired by the city of Albuquerque in 1983 and has since been very nicely developed into great multi-use trails right in the city. Mountain bikers, equestrians, bird-watchers, hikers, and even cross-country skiers (when the opportunity presents itself), all enjoy these trails. Many of these trails also connect up with the Oak Flat Picnic Area and US Forest Service trails, if you are looking for some alternative routes.

Hike up to (almost) the summit of Caballo Mountain, the tallest peak in Los Alamos county (you cannot quite reach the summit, as it lies within the Santa Clara Indian Reservation). The climb to the top gives an amazing view of the Rio Grande gorge out to the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The hike can be challenging, as it goes in and out of Guaje Canyon, but will you give you even more terrain to enjoy. The trailhead starts at the Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, so there should be no parking fee, although winter time may change this. The trail is popular with mountain bikes & trail runners as well. During the winter, the beginning of this trail falls within the Southwest Nordic Ski Club's groomed cross-country ski trails and snowshoeing trails.

Pacheco Canyon Road is a forest service road that closes down seasonally. Once there is enough snow, head out there for a great snowshoeing or cross country skiing trip. If you chose to snowshoe, you can make it down and back the entire way, or as long as you wish. It is recommended if you are cross country skiing, to turn around roughly 3 miles in at the junction up to the Rio en Medio. This is a beginner ski route and is not groomed.

The Black Canyon Trail provides an easy and great hike for families, with tons of wildflowers and butterflies to keep you company. The trail leaves from the Black Canyon Camground and hike through beautiful aspen-fir forests. If you decide to park in the campground, there is a $10/vehicle fee.