Balloon Festival- Go Beyond the Balloons
With Balloon Festival nearly upon us, Albuquerque will soon be swarming with photographers eager to capture this amazing event. But what else might one do if weather cancels the flights on a particular day, or you are just in a mood for a change of pace?
Here are some suggested excursions- some right here in town, and a few a couple of hours away.
A Flickr Album of images from many of the mentioned areas can be found at https://www.flickr.com/gp/betchelphotography/J4jd4k76xf
Ride the Tram to the top of the Sandias. This is best done either in early morning or an hour or so before sunset. There are excellent opportunities to photograph the Tram cars as they climb and descend prior to boarding, then of course you have some exceptional views as you ride up to Sandia Crest. Once there you can enjoy epic views from 10,000 feet of Albuquerque as you look West, or of sprawling forests and surrounding scenery as you look to the East. If you are up for some hiking there is a relatively easy 3.5-mile round trip crest line trail that will take you to a WPA Kiwanis stone cabin and eventually to the Sandia Crest Antenna Farm. This is a very scenic hike on a well-marked trail.
Alternatively, and much cheaper- The La Luz trailhead is easily accessible and offers exceptional views of the Rugged Western face of the Sandias. There are hiking trails that will take you all the way to the top of the mountain, but great views are available even if you just set yourself up in the parking lot of the trailhead. Wider views are available with ample pull outs several miles before the actual trailhead. Near sunset you will be able to capture the lovely Sandia Watermelon glow if clouds do not interfere.
Sandia Crest by Car- If you have more time- you can travel by car to the top of the Sandias. If staying near downtown then allow a couple of hours for the round trip, plus whatever time you wish to spend either hiking or just soaking in the views. It is a very scenic and winding road, and at the top you will have nearly the same views as if you had taken the Tram. Sunrise can be quite remarkable up there. Just type in “Sandia Crest Gift Shop” to get directions. The Gift shop is no longer open, but there is easy access to paved trails with great views.
Five Volcano Trailhead. Located 25 minutes west of downtown, this is a National Parks site and there is a three-mile trail that winds between some extinct volcanoes, and the location offers great wider views of the Sandias, and the overall Albuquerque area. Official hours are 9 am to 530, but it is accessible from Dawn to dusk. This can be an excellent location for enjoying a sunset.
Petroglyph National Monument- Located on the west side of Albuquerque, Petroglyph National Monument protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago. These hundreds of images are a valuable record of cultural expression and hold profound spiritual significance for contemporary Native Americans and for the descendants of the early Spanish settlers.Gilman Tunnels. About an hour drive from downtown Albuquerque, you will find the Gilman Tunnels. These are a couple of short tunnels blasted through rock when a railroad once used this area. The surrounding scenery is the real draw to this location, and it can be quite amazing near sunrise.
Jemez National Historic Landmark If you continue along NM-4 East past the Gilman tunnels you will reach the Town of Jemez Springs. The drive alone is worth the trip as you travel through some beautiful landscapes along the way. In Jemez Springs you will find the Jemez National Historic Landmark. It includes the stone remnants of a 700-year-old village and the San José de los Jémez church dating to 1621-22. While in Jemez Springs check out the Jemez Mountain Brew house if you are in the mood for some amazing Pizza.
Las Conchas Trail- About 25 minutes past Jemez Springs, you will reach the Las Conchas trailhead. With a starting elevation of 8,400 feet above sea level, the Las Conchas trail follows the Wild and Scenic East Fork Jemez River and provides views of meadows, wildflowers, and wildlife. Frequently you will see rock climbers scaling some of the sheer cliffs near the start of the trail. The trail is quite lengthy, but even if you just explore it for a mile or two and then turn around, it is quite worth it.
Valles Caldera About thirty minutes past the Las Conchas Trailhead (about 2 hr 15 min from downtown Albuquerque) you will reach the Valles Caldera National Preserve. About 1.2 million years ago, a spectacular volcanic eruption created a 14-mile-wide circular depression in the earth now known as Valles Caldera. The preserve is known for its huge mountain meadows, abundant wildlife, and meandering streams. The area also preserves the homeland of ancestral native peoples and embraces a rich ranching history.
A proper exploration of this area would take a full day, but in just a couple of hours you can get a taste, check out the cabin district and take a short hike such as the Cerro La Jara loop. This 1.5-mile (2.4 km) loop trail circles Cerro La Jara, the smallest volcanic dome in the park, which formed about 500,000 years ago when lava oozed up and onto the caldera floor. (located adjacent to the ranger station).
Bandelier National Monument- About an hour past Valles Caldera, you will reach Bandelier National Monument. Once again- the drive alone is amazing due to the epic views along the way. Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of ruggedly beautiful canyon and mesa country. Petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls pay tribute to the early days of a culture that still survives in the surrounding communities.
