In Reply to: OT: Taking June driving trip to NM. I seem to remember… posted by Fuzzy on April 02, 2024 at 10:14:14
neabarrya@aol.com
live just off the NW edge of Albuquerque - Village of Corrales (founded 1783).
Have a number of hiker friends who know lots of trails and places including on the Sandias.
Phil lives in NW NM - not too far from Farmington. And one other BZer has visited here as well.
So many options. Depends on where you're driving here from. You will pass points of interest along whatever route you choose but can select depending on what you want to see along the way and when you get here and ease of driving and all.
Santa Fe of course, Taos. White Sands and Carlsbad and the Silver City area is quite lovely down in SW NM - not that far from Tucson AZ.
Depends on when you'll be here. Albuquerque is at 5,000' elevation and the Sandias peak at about 10,800' so it will cool off as you gain altitude. However, seasons are offset from Southern California - it often gets warm to hot in May and by mid-June it's full on summer. Monsoon Season is roughly July and August - heats up during the day but afternoon clouds stop the heat rise by mid-afternoon so high tenps are about 10 degrees cooler than late June and often there are thunderstorms in the late afternoons. (Autumns are long and gorgeous generally.)
Send an email; let me know the timing of your trip and what you're looking for in terms of budget ranges and interests.
Check out - before you come - Acoma "Sky City" - unique old pueblo occupied more than 1,000 years now - it's off I-40 west of Grants; Very Large Array near Socorro (also near there off I-25, the major N-S highway through the state, crosses I-40 at "The Big I" in Albuquerque) is Bosque del Apache (amazing bird sanctuary though primarily in fall and winter); Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch (or Georgia O'Keefe fame); Taos; Santa Fe of course; Albuquerque has lots to see and good hiking in the area - trails up the Sandias of various difficulty ratings plus canyons and such in the East Mountain area - just the far side of the mountains.
You'll enjoy this place - may remind you of how LA once was at least back when I was growing up there