rockie

I've been reading all the great information for Santa Fe and had a few questions for our upcoming trip (end of July). We'll be driving from the Denver area and wondered about any good places to stop to break up the drive. We have heard about the Sand Dunes but we're not sure about adding to the total distance of the trip. Also, I've read about the fire closures and wondered about any other good hiking opportunities if places like Bandelier and Tent Rocks are still closed. Also, is Santa Fe bike friendly? We've thought about bringing the bikes but haven't read too much about bike trails. We would need flat, perhaps paved, trails as our daughter is in a bike seat on the back of our bike. Thank you!

DebitNM

Tent Rocks and Bendelier are still closed as of today:
http://publiclands.org/firenews/NM.php

Bike trails: http://www.trails.com/activity.aspx?...m=terrain&a=RB

http://www.santafenm.gov/index.aspx?NID=1059

http://santafe.org/Visiting_Santa_Fe...ils/index.html

islandaze

If Bandelier is closed, would that include Tsankawi? I was going to suggest Puye, but it's apparently closed too. We've done one of the loop trails at Dale Ball Trails in the hills east of town, and I know there are parks with trail heads on the road up to the ski area, but I doubt you'll find any with the dramatic landscapes of Bandelier, Tent Rocks, or Puye. You'd probably prefer hiking the streets of downtown.

rockie

Deb, thanks for your info. I have been reading your advice on other threads. Those links have a lot of good info. Thank you!

Islandaze, I did see Puye recommended on another thread and it is closed too right now. Thank you for your help!

Any other help would be appreciated! Thanks!

isabel

That link indicates that both the Santa Fe National Forest and the Carson Forest are affected. Are any of the towns or pubic roads in the area between Santa Fe and Taos affected (the 'High Road')? How about the Turquoise Trail south of Santa Fe and the towns along that?

The fires aren't in the national news much any more so it's hard for us back east to get a sense of how bad it is out there. I just googled 'new mexico fires' and the first site I got, dated today, said that parts of Bandelier are going to re-open tomorrow (July 15). The second site was a map that looked like the entire area between and including Albuquerque and Santa Fe was on fire. All the other sites after that were from June.

DebitNM

I can still see smoke and I live about 40 miles away from the fire. The entire area between Albuquerque and Santa Fe is NOT on fire.

Portions of Bandelier are opening: http://www.abqjournal.com/main/2011/...ng-friday.html

santafefoodie

The entire area of Santa Fe and Albuquerque are NOT on fire. There is a contained fire above Santa Fe and the Las Conchas fire is now pretty much north of Los Alamos. The National Forest and other trails are mostly closed. Tsnkawi and a few trails are supposed to open tomorrow (the 15th according to a friend of mine who keeps close tab on this. This is a good site for fire info http://inciweb.org/incident/article/2406/12283/
The Turquoise Trail and the High Road are fine at the moment and not near any fires. Dale Ball Trails are still closed, I believe. As the rains are starting, the picture can change.
The best bike trail follows the railroad tracks out toward Lamy. The best thing to do is call the CVB, Forest and National Parks Services right before you come down.
Great Sand Dunes are on 285, the long way down. I-25 offers Fort Union in NM which is worth a stop.

martym

We live in the Denver area and go to Santa Fe often. If we are taking I-25, we leave leave about 8- 8:30 am which gets us to Trinidad in time for lunch. Our favorite place is Nana and Nono's Italian Deli-basic Italian American food--inexpensive. http://www.frommers.com/destinations...co/D44775.html

If you want to go to the Sand Dunes, take the scenic routs. Take highway 285 from the Denver area. It does take at least hour longer). After Poncha Pass, take highway 17 toward Mosca--the Dunes are about 15 miles east of there. After a stop there, continue on highway 150, I think it is, to Fort Garland. Then go south on 159 which becomes 522 when you cross into New Mexico and on to Taos. Take highway 68 out of Taos--which become 285/84 and on into Santa Fe.

isabel

I didn't think that the entire area between Albuquerque and Santa Fe was on fire - I'm just saying that as an example of the kind of information you get when you google it, and how difficult it is to get accurate info when you aren't in the area.

Also, that reference above about the 'rains starting' is at least the third time I've seen mention of rains, once even referred to as 'monsoons'. So could you explain to a 'Back Easter' about that? According to the weather sites your rainiest months look like our driest. Just trying to plan for my trip (which is in August). Thanks

DebitNM

According to weather models, in a "normal" year, the summer is our rainy season. It runs approximately from July through September. They are indeed called "monsoons" but do not think of monsoons that are in Asia.

The rains, IF they come, usually arrive late afternoon. They are short-lived, heavy rains and are done in less than an hour. Once the rain stops, everything dries quickly, the air is clean and clear and smells so fresh. There is no humidity after the rain, not like afternoon rains in August back east. There are often rainbows, and lots of double rainbows.

Unfortunately for us [good for visitors]we are in an EXTREME drought and have had little rain in many, many years. As of July 1, we have had .2 inches of rain since Jan 1. That is decimal point 2 inches, not a typo.

martym

More information about the southwestern US monsoon. The traditional definition of monsoon is 'a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation.' If you'd like more info about this phenomenum, here's a link http://www.home-weather-stations-gui...on-season.html

While New Mexico has been missed by the monsoon so far this year, Colorado (where I live) has not. It has rained every afternoon and night in the Denver area since the 4th of July and there is a chance of rain again today. No need to water lawns now and the danger for forest fires is much reduced.

We hope our neighbors to the south in New Mexico start to get some of the precipitation soon.

martym

More information about the southwestern US monsoon. The traditional definition of monsoon is 'a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation.' If you'd like more info about this phenomenum, here's a link http://www.home-weather-stations-gui...on-season.html

While New Mexico has been missed by the monsoon so far this year, Colorado (where I live) has not. It has rained every afternoon and night in the Denver area since the 4th of July and there is a chance of rain again today. No need to water lawns now and the danger for forest fires is much reduced.

We hope our neighbors to the south in New Mexico start to get some of the precipitation soon.

rockie

Thank you all so much! I appreciate all of the feedback. Good to hear some of Bandelier and others are starting to reopen. Thank you for the lunch recommendation in Trinidad and the Fort Union mention.