What's the bug situation in Santa Fe in September? We'll be in Santa Fe and want to do some hiking in the area. Do we need to be prepared for lots of bugs, esp mosquitos? thanks

I can't ever recall having to "swat" any mosquitos during our many trips to Santa Fe.

Same here. We've been in September several times and have never been bothered by mosquitos. Going again next month. When will you be there?

There shouldn't be any issue with mosquitos in Santa Fe, at anytime of year.

They live and breed in wet swampy areas. You aren't going to find that in Santa Fe or most anywhere in NM.

There may be some flies but nothing to be concerned with or that would interefe with hiking.

We carry a tiny bottle of off in our backpack and hardly ever have to use it, if we do it is more in the earlier part of season.

You should be fine.

Are you used to hiking in altitude? That would be a bigger issue to consider.

Also, since you are going to be at altitude, remember to drink LOTS of water, wear sunblock and lip.

You tend to not feel the heat since you will not perspire and it is easy to not realize that you are getting dehydrated. Also, you can and will burn way faster up there.

Adjusting to high altitude:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34865407

Deb

Thanks for the replies.
beachbum - we'll be there Sept 5 - 10. How about u?
DebitNM - thanks for the reminders on the altitidue. Have previously hiked in NM and Colorado, but haven't hiked in high altitiudes since last year in Peru so always good to refresh my memory on it. haven't looked at where we'll hike. Guess I'll look for ones with slight inclines since we'll only be there for such a short period of time. Any suggestions? We usually have no trouble with moderate to difficult trails and would enjoy spending a couple hours each day out on a nice hike.

Now scorpions in the outhouse; that's a different story. That and the occasional black widow. Otherwise, NM is arthropod heaven.

Tent Rocks for sure! It is a really amazing place for the views and the rock outcrops:

http://tinyurl.com/2cn6ly

Look here too --
http://santafe.com/Pages/994

The Ski Valley would be nice as well and take the lift for a nice ride:

http://www.skisantafe.com/index.php/...enic_chairlift

Bandalier Forest
http://www.nps.gov/band/

Look here too --
http://santafe.com/Pages/994


Deb

DbitNM -- thanks so much! great sites. U just saved me hours of time searching the internet.

DebitNM -- thanks so much! great sites. U just saved me hours of time searching the internet.

I have inlaws who live about 30 miles south of Albuquerque. There are indeed (!) mosquitoes there in the summer. The area has many irrigation ditches, and the mosquitoes breed in them. They're right by the Rio Grande, too. And while the Rio Grande water level is usually very low, there often are pools left here and there, where I suspect more mosquitos breed.

The water in the river and irrigation ditches is flowing. Mosquitos breed in still/standing water.

Deb

As a frequent visitor and well-known mosquito magnet, I can testify you won't need OFF. Really.

You may need more film for your camera though as September is gorgeous.

Hmmmm....September 5-10 - wonderful! We like to do a long weekend in Santa Fe on Labor Day whenever possible. You will enjoy it. We have been rained on a few times, and it will cool down at night. "Off? We don't need no stinkin' Off!" Have a great trip.

Hi, Debit,
My inlaws blame the mosquitoes on the irrigation ditches and the still-water pools along the Rio Grande.

So I did some googling for: "new mexico" irrigation mosquitoes". Indeed, leaks from irrigation ditches and still-water pools along the river allow mosquitoes to breed. I'd attach a link, but most of the info I found is in PDFs, and I'm not sure how to link to them. Anyway, if you are interested, there's google.

They live in Belen.

I would be amazed if there were any mosquitoes! It's a bit dry, you know.

Yestravel, you won't have to worry about mosquitoes in Santa Fe. If you're in Albuquerque or points south, especially if you're in the Valley or anywhere close to the river, you can get bit. We always carry repellent if we have go to the Rio Grande Nature Center in the summer and early fall, or if my son has a baseball game. Our all-star tournament was in Los Lunas, south of Albuquerque, and the mosquitoes were bad down there.

Lee Ann

Glad to hear that mosquitoes shouldnt be an issue. I know how dry SF is, but when I was looking at weather in SF at I believe weather.com, it gives a mosquito forecast and it had a moderate one for SF from late afternoon into the evening whch I thought odd and is why I posed the question.
Thanks to all for your responses.