Make sure you pack your hiking gear and especially good walking boots if you head to Santa Fe, New Mexico – there are several spectacular spots for getting outdoors and enjoying the beautiful scenery here, two in particular are Bandelier and the other is the Coronado State Monument. Both provide deceptively easy looking terrain but the visitor is at real risk here both from the terrain and the extremely hot conditions which also make hydration a life saving necessity. In addition there are several others we will touch on but the watchword for your visit is safety – make sure you have the right gear and follow proper safety procedures!
Coronado State Monument
Coronado State Monument is in the Jemez Mountains formed around one million years ago by a series of volcanic eruptions which have been eroded into a mountain desert landscape. The land is hard and quiet and in fact, the solitude here is something to be really enjoyed when you visit with the city a far cry distant and don’t expect to find the place full of supervising staff and park rangers – they are on hand to help you but the emphasis is on allowing people to quietly enjoy the area.
Though the land may appear peaceful it conceals an extraordinarily violent past. The Tiwa natives settled the area around the 14th century and built intricate and long lasting pueblos and for the most part survived with hunting and rudimentary agriculture which was limited given the local climate and conditions. In 1540 the Spaniards arrived and proceeded to put the locals to the sword after making a very careful and premeditated reconnaissance of this isolated example of communal living.
Though the Tiwa are now long gone you can enjoy the Tiwa Trail which is a quarter mile loop taking in the kiva burial grounds and the reconstructions of the ruins before you slip off the beaten track to enjoy the area through which the Rio Grande meanders.
Bandelier National Monument
North of Coronado is Bandelier National Monument and again the terrain offered appears to be easy and risk free on first sight – do not let appearances deceive you!
The major attraction for Bandelier is the Frijoles Canyon through which you can wander and explore in extremely isolated peace and solitude. Supervision of visitors to the area is practically non existent allowing you to enjoy the monument but also requiring you to exercise responsibility during your trip.
Wandering along the rock passages and carved stairways you can take your courage in hand and climb the wooden ladders bolted onto the rock face; the reward is spectacular views of the surrounding landscape as well as gaining an insight into how the native peoples who inhabited the area actually lived – cavates are the hand carved dwellings hewn out of the rock and which populate the mountain side but be aware – there are no safety nets and the climbs can be dangerous and arduous.
In both instances, you can use Santa Fe as your base for exploring these and the several other monuments and attractions (we haven t mentioned the Petroglyph Monument here but you should be aware of it too). There are hotels and lodgings available throughout the area which will suit tastes and budgets as well as all the convenience and diversions you would expect from a major city but many visitors come here to find peace and quiet which the area provides in abundance allowing you to be as social or solitary as you wish to be whenever you choose.
Author Resource:-
Lawrence Reaves is a writer on many topics. Find Johnson Storage & Moving Company online at http://www.johnsonstorage.com/
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