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Abiquiú Dam & Recreation Area

Abiquiu Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed lake, with recreation areas and a campground. The area includes great panoramic views of the Cerro Pedernal beloved by Georgia O'Keeffe. Piñon, juniper and sage grow among colorful rock formations. Reptile fossils 200 million years old have been found in the area. There are several trails in the area maintained by the USACE. A short trail is from one boat ramp to the other, bridge to bridge, across the peninsula. The trail between the Visitor Center and Riana Campground is just over a mile. Abiquiu Lake Vista Trail is a 4.4-mile hike and bike trail system.

In April the earliest bloomers are Dandelion, Filaree, Fringed Gromwell and Wallflower. In May you may see Crescent Milkvetch, Perky Sue, Jim Hill Mustard, Gypsum Scorpionweed, Rose Heath, Lobeleaf Groundsel and Spinystar. In June Indian Hemp, Pale Wolfberry, James' Buckwheat, Slender Buckwheat, Russian Knapweed, Spear Globemallow and Utah Sweetvetch are blooming. By August you can find Mullein, Clammyweed, Plains Flax, Poison Milkweed, Paper Flower, Drummond's False Pennyroyal, Wright's Thelypody, Woolly Prairie Clover and Arizona Thistle. As the summer ends in September Desert Willow, Paradox Cinquefoil, Tansyaster, Ragleaf Bahia, Spreading Buckwheat, Melon Loco, Spotted Lady's Thumb and Black Sagebrush can be seen.

Some of the wildflowers found on these trails.

 

Hiking guide.

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Red Wash Canyon

If you follow the arroyo north from the highway, this trail will take you all the way to Cañon del Cobre through amazing yellow, white and red rocks and hoodoos. Alternatively, a 30 minute hike to the first waterfall can have a profusion of flowers. A detour loop from the main trail will reveal ancient petroglyphs, see the Hiking Guide.

In April look for Tawny Cryptantha, New Mexico False Carrot, Freckled Milkvetch, Missouri Milkvetch, Newberry's Milkvetch, Wallflower, Cliff Fendlerbush and Perky Sue. May is peak with Rushy Milkvetch, Mountain Mahogany, Rose Heath, Torrey's Jointfir, Basin Fleabane, Spiny Bluebowls, Utah Sweetvetch, Tufted Evening Primrose, Western Pricklypear, Sidebells Beardtongue and Gypsum Scorpionweed blooming. In June White Prairie Clover, Apache Plumes, Southern Goldenbush and White Sweet Clover can be seen. As the summer winds down in August Spinystar, Blanket Flower, Golden Aster, Pale Wolfberry, Slimleaf Bean and Threadleaf Ragwort are blooming while September brings Bird's Beak, Slenderleaf Buckwheat, Cutleaf Blazingstar and Cocklebur.

Some wildflowers seen on the trail.

 

Hiking guide.

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Santa Fe National Forest Trails

Santa Fe National Forest offers a series of trails west of Highway 84 between Abiquiu and Chili to the south. These are from north to south: Poshuouinge, Espinosa, Apache, Madera, Arroyo Toro, Lemitas and Palacio Arroyo. Poshuouinge is the site of an ancestral Tewa pueblo on a mesa overlooking the Rio Chama valley. The moderately steep trail, has two lookout areas and interpretive signs.  The rest of the trails follow arroyos in the foothills of the Jemez Mountains so are sandy, rocky and dusty. Despite their usually dry appearance there is sometimes a bounty of flowers. Madera and Arroyo Toro trails take you to Window Rock, see the Hiking Guide.  

In April Newberry's Milkvetch, Stinking Milkvetch and Yellow Cryptantha are blooming. In May Rose Heath, Spiny Blue Bowls, Torrey's Jointfir, Eastwood's Sandwort, Red Bluet, Navajo Yucca, James' Prairie Clover, Claret Cup Cactus, Coiled Anther Penstemon, Sidebells Beardtongue, Fringeleaf Necklacepod and Scarlet Globemallow can be seen. June brings Spectacle Pod, Colorado Rubberweed, Woolly Plantain, James Cryptantha, Western Daisy Fleabane, Navajo Fleabane, Skeleton Plant, Pale Evening Primrose, Plains Prickly Pear, New Mexico Groundsel, Common Dunebroom and Woolly Plantain. Depending on the rains, in August Shaggy Dwarf Morningglory, Bristle Flax, Frosted Mint, Brownplume Wirelettuce, Fendler's Townsend Daisy and Western Spiderwort bloom. In September Woolly Prairie Clover and Manyflower Broomrape may be found.

Some wildflowers seen on the trails.

 

Hiking guide.

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Plaza Blanca

Plaza Blanca, also called the White Place, is an other-worldly place of dramatic white rock formations sculpted by wind and water; cliffs, hoodoos, windows and a slot canyon, which has been painted by Georgia O'Keeffe and used as a backdrop in many movies. It is owned by the Dar al Islam Mosque who graciously allow the public to visit. Pre-registration on their website is required to get the gate access code. The trail follows the arroyo to a slot canyon. This trail, though short, has more varieties of wildflowers than many others.

As early as mid-March New Mexico False Carrot and Fendler's Springparsley are in bloom. In April Newberry's Milkvetch, Stinking Milkvetch, Shadscale, Wallflower, Red Bluet, Straight Bladderpod, Woolly Plantain, Greasewood, Scarlet Globe Mallow, Ives' Four-nerved Daisy, Bulbous Spring Parsley, Mountain Spring Parsley and Navajo Yucca can be seen in bloom. May brings Largeflower Onion, White Wild Onion, Freckled Milkvetch, Turkeypeas, Orange Paintbrush, Thicksepal Cryptantha, Navajo Fleabane, Basin Fleabane, Apache Plume, Dwarf Ipomopsis, Flatspine Stickseed, Tufted Evening Primrose, Cleftleaf Wildheliotrope and  Purpus' Tumblemustard. In June Plains Dozedaisy, Missouri Milkvetch, Flaxflowered Gilia, Mesa Pepperwort, Bristly Nama, Gordon's Bladderpod, Threadleaf Ragwort, Little Twistflower, Tamarisk, Navajo Tea and Annual Townsend Daisy can be found. Pingue Rubberweed blooms in July. In August Fourwing Saltbush, Vasey's Rabbitbrush, Plains Fleabane, Nodding Buckwheat, Broom Snakeweed, Manyflowered Gilia, Western Peppergrass, Flat-top Broomrape, Pink Windmills and Wright's Thelypody bloom. As summer ends in September Carruth's Wormwood, White Sagebrush, California Brickellbush, Littleleaf Brickellbush, Rubber Rabbitbrush and Adonis Blazingstar bloom.

Some wildflowers seen on the trail.

 

Hiking guide.

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Ghost Ranch

The Ghost Ranch Education and Retreat Center boasts the views that inspired Georgia O’Keeffe, Anthropology and Paleontology museums, lodging and many tours and programs. There are several hiking trails at the Ranch. Hikers are asked to check in at the Welcome Center and to pay a $10 fee if not a Rio Arriba County resident. Trail maps are available. The most popular hikes are to Chimney Rock, Box Canyon and the more challenging Kitchen Mesa. The trailhead for Chimney Rock is located at the arroyo behind the Museums and past the corrals. Cross the arroyo and follow the trail up the ridge. This hike has wonderful views as the trail climbs from 6,400 to 7,100 feet, round trip ~3 miles. To hike Box Canyon follow the road to Long House and park. Continue past the Kitchen Mesa trailhead, the hogans and an irrigation pond. Follow trail signs up the canyon. At a small pool, cross the arroyo where the trail continues on the right bank and takes you over large rocks to the box of the canyon. For a shorter hike, turn back at the small pool. This hike follows a gently uphill grade from 6,400 to 6,900 feet, round trip ~4 miles. The more difficult Kitchen Mesa hike includes a 15-foot chimney through a cleft in the cliff and climbs from 6,500 to 7,100 feet, round trip ~5 miles.

In April Newberry's Milkvetch, Annual Townsend Daisy can be found. In May Snowball Sand Verbena, Flexile Milkvetch, Stinking Milkvetch, Nuttall's Mariposa Lily, Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus, Fendler's Ragwort, Lobeleaf Groundsel, Straight Bladderpod and Purpus' Tumbleweed are blooming. In June Crescent Milkvetch and Showy Four o'Clock are standouts. In August Torrey's Jointfir, Slenderleaf Buckwheat, Chama Blazing Star, Paper Flower and Ives' Four-nerved Daisy can be seen. September brings Ragleaf Bahia, Wyoming Paintbrush, Greene's Rabbitbrush, Hoary Tansyaster, Crispleaf Buckwheat, Spreading Buckwheat and Tufted Evening Primrose.

Some wildflowers seen at the Ranch.

 

Hiking guide.

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