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Cochiti Lake, New Mexico

Top Spots in and near Cochiti Lake

  • Albuquerque, New Mexico

    Photograph the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

    5.0
    This is one of the most photographed festivals in the world. Professionals and amateurs gather here each year to take millions of photos, and your goal (albeit a difficult one) is to capture a unique perspective at this event. Something that conveys the particular emotion of what the balloon fest...
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  • Albuquerque, New Mexico

    Michael M. Emery and Trail 305 Loop

    5.0
    3.17 mi / 335 ft gain
    The Michael M. Emery and Trail 305 Loop in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a moderately challenging hiking trail. It spans approximately 3.17 miles and is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips. The trail is well-marked and offers a variety of terrain, including dirt paths, rocky sectio...
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  • Albuquerque, New Mexico

    Hike Embudito Canyon

    4.0
    4.2 mi / 1204 ft gain
    This is a hiking area in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains. This route is a 3.9 mile heavily trafficked loop up Oso Ridge and down Embudito Canyon.  There is plenty of room to park at the Embudito Trail Trail head, on the eastern side of Albuquerque. From the parking lot, take the center trai...
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  • Pecos, New Mexico

    Ancestral Sites Trail

    5.0
    1.2 mi / 89 ft gain
    The park is easy to get to from Santa Fe. It's about 30 miles SE on the I-25 highway that leads you through Pecos. Once at the park, the 1.25 mile loop trail begins and ends at the visitor center. Don't forget to stop in there. It's surprisingly nice with some terrific history of the area dating...
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  • Pecos, New Mexico

    Hike the Grand Slam in Pecos New Mexico

    7.5 mi / 600 ft gain
    Pecos National Historical Park offers up the "grand slam" for hiking, which is a bit of a misnomer because they only have 3 trails and a grand slam indicates you would have completed 4 of something. In order to achieve the "grand slam" you need to hike all 3 trails in one day, completing approxi...
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  • Pecos, New Mexico

    Hike the South Pasture Loop Trail

    3.8 mi / 196 ft gain
    The South Pasture Loop trail, while part of the Pecos NHP, isn't in the main park. Currently, this trail is only open on the weekends and the road gate closes at 1pm. The trail itself closes at 3pm, and takes about 2-3 hours unless you plan on hiking for speed. No pets allowed. 0.7 miles down th...
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  • Tijeras, New Mexico

    Sandia Crest Trail

    26.24 mi / 5528 ft gain
    This point-to-point hike took me about 11.5 hours to complete, however I consider myself to be in decent hiking shape and was moving at about 2.5 miles per hour for the majority of the hike. I would give yourself ample time if you want to complete this in 1 day or you can back country primitive c...
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  • Tijeras, New Mexico

    Hike the Upper Faulty Loop

    5.4 mi / 1040 ft gain
    Loop: South Crest Trail > Lower Faulty Trail > Upper Faulty Trail > South Crest Trail The trail starts at the Canyon Estates Trailhead along the South Crest Trail. You'll follow this trail for 0.8 miles before you reach the junction for the Lower Faulty Trail. This is the steepest part o...
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  • Rio Arriba County, New Mexico

    Backpack the Vacas Trail Loop

    4.0
    15 mi / 1000 ft gain
    You start at the hiking at base of the the San Pedro Wilderness at the San Gregorio Lake Trailhead! This particular hike is called the Vacas Trail loop.For directions: Take US 550 to Cuba (north west of Albuquerque), turn east on NM 126 and go for about 9 miles. Just past the community of Deer La...
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  • Albuquerque, New Mexico

    Summit South Sandia Peak

    10.78 mi / 3595 ft gain
    *This is a loop hike so you can go either direction. I like going counterclockwise to hike the steepest part up instead of down at the end of a long hike.* You'll start out on the Three Gun Trail for about half a mile until you reach a spur to take Hawk Watch Trail. After traveling briefly on thi...
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  • Albuquerque, New Mexico

    Hawk Watch Trail

    4.61 mi / 2267 ft gain
    The trail starts out at the Three Guns Trailhead and has great signage as you drive to it. You'll start the hike on the Three Guns Trail for about 0.5 mile before you'll officially cross into Cibola National Forest. Once you enter there will almost immediately be a spur to the Hawk Watch Trail to...
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  • Petroglyph National Monument, New Mexico

    Petroglyphs National Monument, Albuquerque, New Mexico

    4.0
    2 mi / 10 ft gain
    Petroglyph National Park - Amazing Rock Art - Petroglyph National Monument has one of the biggest, and easiest to find group of petroglyphs in the United States. There are over 20,000 carvings in this monument. It is on the western side of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is easy to reach. The vast m...
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  • Chamisal, New Mexico

    Hike to the Trampas Lakes in Carson National Forest

    4.9
    11 mi / 2400 ft gain
    This hike is worth its weight in gold. By far one of the most beautiful places in all of New Mexico. Located in the Carson National Forest, the options for camping are limitless. Did I mention this is ranked one of New Mexico's best hikes yet it rarely gets done. The potential for solitude is ver...
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  • Abiquiu, New Mexico

    Hike to Chimney Rock at Ghost Ranch

    4.5
    3 mi / 600 ft gain
    Start your adventure by checking in at the Ghost Ranch Visitor Center, then find the trailhead just behind the building. You'll quickly drop down through an arroyo and then walk through a gate. The trail begins to climb briefly then flattens out with beautiful views across to Pedernal and the Pie...
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