Here’s a glimpse of my hikes through May 1, 2021. Thanks for following along. I’m sharing brief, less wordy summaries and more photos. To me, it’s all about the experience and the photos capture it better than my words can in this format. Happy hiking!
Hike 6 - Lincoln National Forest (no specific location)
Found a small canyon on the side of the road
Explored about a mile in the canyon, walking through a dry creek bed
Discovered plenty of desert plants and fun rocks
Enjoyed a break from the extreme wind in the area (thanks canyon)
Hike 7 - Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Hiked through McKittrick Canyon to Pratt Cabin
The trail is well marked and visible; it’s mostly gravel
Pratt Cabin has shady pines and good views
Take plenty of water and wear a hat!
There are many trail options, but this particular hike is perfect for someone looking for a pretty, quick, and easy day hike
Hike 8 - Oliver Lee State Park
This was less of a formal hike and more of a little romp with the dogs along the creek
The park has a big trial that goes much higher, we just weren’t quite feeling it
Camping and hiking with great views of vastness in New Mexico
Hike 9 - Lincoln National Forest (Zinker Canyon)
This canyon is a sunny, tree-lined path up in elevation (it’s gradual)
I went in the evening, and the golden sun just made it feel like magic
So many big trees along the way
Definitely elk territory; we ran up on some and turned back
Multi-use trails - so be courteous to one another
Dog friendly and kind of secluded, hardly anyone out in that area
Hike 10 - Lincoln National Forest (Osha Trail)
Easy to get to, just west of Cloudcroft, NM
The trail is rocky, but not too bad and good for dogs
There is shade and some open spots with great views of White Sands
A great day hike if you’re headed to Cloudcroft and want to get a little exercise
Hike 11 - Lincoln National Forest (Upper Karr Canyon)
This hike was more of a stroll through a snowy forest than following a trail
We had a few inches of fresh snow, blue skies, and sunshine
The trees were tall and plentiful, as were the moments of enjoyment
There may have been a trail, but I’m not sure, and don’t care (I know there are marked trails in the area)
Can’t beat a cool, crisp day in the forest
This would be a great place to escape the desert heat below in the summer time and is dog friendly