Hi Fellow Fodorites!

Our long planned trip to New Mexico and southern Colorado starts this weekend. We will be spending time in and around Santa Fe, Taos, Mesa Verde and ABQ. We plan to do some hiking and wondered if we could use our hiking shoes or if hiking boots are a better options for places like Bandelier, Tent Rocks, Chaco etc? Are many trails rocky? I tend to be clumsy and boots usually help with this but if I can get away with leaving them home, that would be my preference.

Thanks so much!

I wear the high-top Merrell's that are light-weight and they are fine for the rocky trails. They are great for Bandelier & Chaco. Haven't hiked Tent Rocks yet but would imagine they would be fine there as well.

I've been to Bandelier, and Chaco and just had sneakers with good soles for hiking. If you plan to go way off the beaten path you might want boots but even in the Tsankawai part of Bandelier they were fine.

I think you'd be fine in shoes. I wear merrels. I have never turned an ankle in my life. If you are subject to having ankle problems I would wear the boots. Boots are always safer and almost always less comfortable.

Thanks so much for your suggestions. I'm trying to do some strategic packing and leaving the clunky boots would help immensely. It sounds as if I'll be find in my hiking shoes.

Thanks so much-so looking forward to this break!

We were fine in Rockport walking shoes, but they sure got dirty fast in NM.

You don't need the big-uns for Bandelier. And certainly not for wandering around Albuquerque.

But they can't hurt either -- I tend to turn an ankle now and again and carry a miniature person who looks like my wife on my shoulders almost all the time in Bandelier so I wear something with a strong and rugged sole.