North Central New Mexico

As under "See," check the listings for the towns, etc., for more things to do; this is a tremendous area for the active visitor, particularly if your interests run toward the outdoors. Some things not fitting into a separate article:

Outdoor recreation in the mountains is covered under the articles for the respective monuments, forests, towns and ranges, but there are also outdoor recreational opportunities in the valley. The Rio Grande is a well-known destination for river runners, and the Rio Chama, which flows into the Rio Grande near Española, has one short but spectacular white-water stretch above artificial Abiquiu Lake. There are outfitters in Santa Fe, Taos, and some of the small towns between Taos and Española that run raft trips when conditions are satisfactory water flow in the rivers varies seasonally.If you like water sports of a less dramatic nature, there are several small, man-made lakes along the Rio Chama that are suitable for small boating and fishing: Heron Lake and El Vado Lake near Tierra Amarilla, and Abiquiu Lake near Abiquiu on the north side of the Jemez Mountains. The Rio Grande has Cochiti Lake south of Bandelier National Monument at the extreme southern end of the region.Bandelier National Monument contains the best canyon-and-mesa hiking in the region outside Ghost Ranch, and there are similarly pleasant trails near Los Alamos.Birdwatchers can have an interesting time along the Rio Grande, particularly in October and February-March. One of the major North American migratory routes follows the Rio, so that all manner of southbound birds are visible in October and again in late February as they make their way back north. Vast flocks of sandhill cranes and geese fly overhead and can be heard a long distance away. Their wintering grounds are at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in the central part of the state, which is open to the public fee.

The Rio Grande is a well-known destination for river runners, and the Rio Chama, which flows into the Rio Grande near Española, has one short but spectacular white-water stretch above artificial Abiquiu Lake. There are outfitters in Santa Fe, Taos, and some of the small towns between Taos and Española that run raft trips when conditions are satisfactory water flow in the rivers varies seasonally.

If you like water sports of a less dramatic nature, there are several small, man-made lakes along the Rio Chama that are suitable for small boating and fishing: Heron Lake and El Vado Lake near Tierra Amarilla, and Abiquiu Lake near Abiquiu on the north side of the Jemez Mountains. The Rio Grande has Cochiti Lake south of Bandelier National Monument at the extreme southern end of the region.

Bandelier National Monument contains the best canyon-and-mesa hiking in the region outside Ghost Ranch, and there are similarly pleasant trails near Los Alamos.

Birdwatchers can have an interesting time along the Rio Grande, particularly in October and February-March. One of the major North American migratory routes follows the Rio, so that all manner of southbound birds are visible in October and again in late February as they make their way back north. Vast flocks of sandhill cranes and geese fly overhead and can be heard a long distance away. Their wintering grounds are at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in the central part of the state, which is open to the public fee.

At the end of a day out and about, go for a soak in a hot spring. The villages of Ojo Caliente and Jemez Springs contain "developed" hot springs with tourist facilities and of course a fee. If you prefer "wild" hot springs, several are along SR 4 through the Jemez Mountains. Warning: dangerously pathogenic amoebas have been isolated from some of the wild springs. Don't let water from the wild springs get into your eyes, ears or nasal passages.