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.

Aspen Vista Road is a service road that requires no technical skills, just a strong pair of lungs. The parking lot is located at 10,000 feet and you will be climbing the whole way up to the summit of Tesuque Peak - if you aren't acclimated to the altitude, this one will burn. Summer will bring ample wildflowers but also mid-afternoon thunderstorms, so be prepared. Fall, on the other hand, has much more stable weather and you can enjoy the changing colors of the trees. Once you reach the top, you will be rewarded with amazing views in all directions. This road will also connect you to a bunch of other single track routes at the top, so bring a map and enjoy the area.

Otero Canyon offers up some great single track that travels through a colorful limestone canyon with some strenuous climbing at the beginning and a rewarding, technical downhill at the end. You will mainly be travelling through pinon-juniper forest with some wetters areas down on the canyon floor. Most of the ride is on hard packed trail, but there are some loose, rocky sections that can be difficult to navigate. There are many different trail options once you get to the top, so be vigilant if you want to stick to this route. Also, be aware of federal land and no trespassing signs.

Late summer is the best time to enjoy this trail up to Pecos Baldy Lake, located at the base of Pecos Baldy Peaks. Park at Jack's Creek Campground ($2 fee) and head on up to Trail 257. This trail takes you through amazing mountain scenery, with wildflowers and shimmering aspens, up to a pristine high alpine lake. Bighorn sheep frequent the area, and have actually been known to be a bit of a nuisance up by the lake. This trail is heavily travelled, so be prepared for fellow hikers, and keep an eye out for afternoon thunderstorms - the terrain is rather exposed. This trail is located in the Pecos Wilderness, so mountain bikes are not allowed.

This trail starts out at the Battleship Rock, a 200 foot tall formation of welded volcanic ash, that also sports an impressive 25 foot waterfall if you take the short foot path from the north end of the picnic area. Follow the signs for trail 137, which will lead you from the base of the canyon where the East Fork of the Jemez River runs, steadily up the side of the canyon until you reach the popular McCauley Hot Springs. These springs are not very hot, so can even be an enjoyable dip in the summer - each pool is a different temperature, so be sure to try them all! Beyond the last pool of the hot springs, the trail continues upwards through pine forests, giving you views of the volcanic canyon below. Once you reach the Jemez Falls parking area, follow the signs that lead to falls viewing area. You can also take a small footpath, scramble down closer to the water. You could also do this trail as a one-way shuttle, if you park a car at the Jemez Falls parking area.

Head up to the picturesque Nambe Lake, via the Windsor Trail. Nambe Lake is nestled in an old glacial cirque with Lake Peak towering directly above. The Windsor Trail is well marked, but once you turn off onto Trail 400 it can be difficult to follow at some points - just stick to the creek, Rio Nambe, and you will find your way. This hike will take you through coniferous forest, bogs, meadows, and towering cliffs & steep scree slopes, all on the way to this crystal clear glacial lake.

The Chamisa Trail will take along the bottom of a couple of canyons, until you reach the lush Big Tesuque Creek basin. Most of the hike is shaded, so it is good for hot summer days (although the first 1.5 miles will leave you pretty exposed, so be prepared). There are plenty of birds and wildflowers to be seen along this hike, and your turnaround point provides a nice, cool area to have a picnic and enjoy the Creek.

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.

If you would like to take an easy hike through some brilliant fall foliage, the Albuquerque Trail Loop is the hike for you. In late September - early October, the maples are fully displaying their bright fall colors. The trail is beautiful at other times of year as well, including summer during it's abundant wildflower displays.

This hike will take you for a fairly casual hike at the base of the Sandia Mountains. The route is typically well shaded and will take you past springs, streams, and more importantly - odd tipi structures. Now informally named Tipi Village, this band of oddly shaped piles of sticks can be hiked around, off the Armijo Trail. Although it may seem like an odd art installation, these cones or "tipis" are what is left of a Forest Service thinning project, improving the forage of the area and making for a great conversation starter. If you would like to visit Torro Spring, said to be one of the prettiest springs in the Sandias, take a short spur west at the junction of the Armijo and Faulty Trails.