Rio Grande Chapter Selected Outings
Explore, enjoy and protect the planet

Bandelier hike led by Cynthia GoodSierra Club hikers in Bandelier last winter.  Webmaster in lower left.
Photo by Cynthia Good.

July Outings

  • Wednesday, July 1- Sunday, July 5: Colorado Adventure! Car camp in Lake City area, climb Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre Peak. Peakbagging is optional. Royal Drews (699-8713 – Northern Group).
  • Saturday, July 4: Santa Fe Baldy hike – 14 miles, 3600' gain. Strenuous. Dogs okay. Dan Rusthoi (505/690-8967 – Northern Group).
  • Sunday, July 5: Cerro Grande hike, highest peak in Bandelier – 4 miles, 1300' gain. Moderate. Optional additional hike on 2-mile Valle Grande Trail. Cynthia Good (505/699-2717 – Northern Group).
    Friday to Sunday, July 10-12: Car Camp and Easy Hikes at Villanueva State Park. Arrive Friday afternoon, day hikes on Saturday and Sunday. Limit of 8, make reservations no later than July 2. Well-behaved dogs OK. John Varner (795-5948 – Northern Group).
    Saturday, July 11: Moderate Hike to La Vega, 7 miles, 1500' gain, dogs ok. Les Drapela (438-3306 – Northern Group ).
    Sunday, July 12: Strenuous Hike to Lobo Peak (near Taos), 10 miles, 3740' gain. Marcia Skillman (699-3008 – Northern Group).
  • Saturday, July 18: Straight Gulch Canyon hike
    in Black Range – 7 miles. Easy/moderate. Gambel
    oak, ponderosas, and cottonwoods; nice rock
    outcroppings. Dogs OK. Mary Katherine Ray
    (575/772-5655 – Southern Group).
  • Saturday, July 18: Moderate/Strenuous Hike to Chicoma Mtn and Santa Clara Canyon Rim, 8-10 miles, 1300' gain, long drive, great views. Michael Di Rosa (505/667-0095 work, 505/663-0648 home – Pajarito group).
  • Sunday, July 19: Strenuous Loop Hike to Gold Hill (near Taos). Up Gavilan Trail, return by Long Canyon. Early start, 12-14 miles, 4400' gain. Dogs ok. Tobin Oruch (505/820-2844 before 8 pm – Northern Group).
  • Friday-Sunday, July 24-26: Gila National Forest
    car camp and day hikes – Camp at Ben Lilly Campground, with day hikes Sat. and Sun. morning exploring Willow Creek, Bead Spring, and the top of the Mogollon’s. Moderate but steep at high elevation. Group size limited due to camping spaces. Could be wet. Sorry, no dogs. Paul Pierce (505/670-7653 – Southern Group).
  • Saturday, July 25: Moderate Hike in woods to foot of Thompson Peak - FR79/up Arroyo Hondo/Watershed fence-line trail - 8.5 miles, 1500' gain, dogs ok. Norma McCallan (505/471-0005 – Northern Group).
  • Saturday, July 25: Strenuous Hike to Lake Katherine, 14.5 miles, 3300' gain, dogs ok. David Wargo (505/216-1870 – Northern Group).
  • Sunday, July 26: Moderate Hike to Hamilton Mesa, 6-7 miles, 1000' gain, vehicles with high clearance needed, dogs ok. Michael Goldey (820-7302 – Northern Group).
  • Sunday, July 26: Strenuous Loop Hike on Penitente, Lake, and Deception Peaks, 11 miles, 3100' gain, dogs ok. Miguel DeLuca (820-0042 – Northern Group).

To Top ^

August Outings

  • Saturday, August 1: Strenuous hike along streams and meadows in the Grass Mountain/Rio Mora area of the Pecos Wilderness – About 12 miles, 2500' gain. Michael Di Rosa (505/667-0095 work, 505/663-0648 home – Pajarito group).
  • Saturday, August 1: Sawyer’s Peak to Spring
    Canyon hike – Meet at the Forest Service
    Office parking area in TorC at 7:30 a.m. Margot
    Wilson (575/744-5860 – Southern Group) .
  • Sunday, August 2: Moderate/strenuous hike to East Fork of Jemez – 7+ miles, 900' gain. Some hiking in river; one steep, rocky, off-trail section. Norbert Sperlich (505/474-4354 – Northern Group).
  • Saturday, August 8: Strenuous hike to Stewart
    Lake in the Pecos – 11 miles, 2300' gain. Dogs
    OK. Cynthia Good (505/699-2717 – Northern Group).
    Sunday, August 9: Moderate hike, perhaps to
    the La Vega area or nearby, with mushrooms
    in mind – Under 10 miles, 1500' gain. Art Judd
    (505/982-3212 – Northern Group).
  • Saturday, August 15: Moderate/strenuous hike
    to Nambe Lake – 7 miles, 2100' gain. Short
    and steep, spectacular. Dogs OK. Les Drapela
    (505/438-3306 – Northern Group).
    Saturday, August 15: Strenuous loop hike on Rio
    en Medio/La Junta – 14 miles, 2900' gain. Much
    alongside rivers and waterfalls. Dogs OK. Dan
    Rusthoi (505/690-8967 – Northern Group).
  • Sunday, August 16: Strenuous hike to Lake Peak,
    Penitente, and Puerto Nambe as a loop – 11
    miles, 3100' gain. Great views. Bogdan Mihaila
    (505/795-3316 – Northern Group).
    Sunday, August 16: Strenuous hike to Brazos
    Cabin area – 11 miles, 2500' gain. High meadow
    with a great view of Pecos Baldy. Dogs OK. John
    Varner (505/795-5948 – Northern Group).
  • Wednesday-Sunday, August 19-23: Colorado
    Adventure! – Car camp or motel in Ouray and
    Telluride areas, climb Mt. Sneffels and Wilson
    Peak (14ers). Peakbagging is optional (rescheduled
    from June 17). Royal Drews (505/699-8713).

To Top ^


September

To Top ^



On This Page

About Outings
July Outings
August Outings
September Outings


Advance Notice

  • Upcoming:
  • Wednesday, July 1- Sunday, July 5: Colorado Adventure! Car camp in Lake City area, climb Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre Peak. Peakbagging is optional. Royal Drews (699-8713 – Northern Group).
  • Saturday, July 4: Santa Fe Baldy hike – 14 miles, 3600' gain. Strenuous. Dogs okay. Dan Rusthoi (505/690-8967 – Northern Group).
  • Sunday, July 5: Cerro Grande hike, highest peak in Bandelier – 4 miles, 1300' gain. Moderate. Optional additional hike on 2-mile Valle Grande Trail. Cynthia Good (505/699-2717 – Northern Group).
  • Friday-Sunday, July 24-26: Gila National Forest car camp and day hikes – Camp at Ben Lilly Campground, with day hikes Sat. and Sun. morning exploring Willow Creek, Bead Spring, and the top of the Mogollon’s. Moderate but steep at high elevation. Group size limited due to camping spaces. Could be wet. Sorry, no dogs. Paul Pierce (505/670-7653 – Southern Group).
  • Wednesday-Sunday, August 19-23: Colorado Adventure! – Car camp or motel in Ouray and Telluride areas, climb Mt. Sneffels and Wilson Peak (14ers). Peakbagging is optional (rescheduled from June 17). Royal Drews (505/699-8713 – Northern Group).

To Top ^

About Outings

Outings are organized mainly by the chapter's groups. This page lists outings selected from the groups' schedules that may be of interest chapter-wide.

Always contact the leader a few days in advance, and much earlier in the case of multiday hikes. Outings may be cancelled or changed, and the listing may not give you enough information.

All outings are open to both Sierrans or non-Sierrans. You will be required to sign a liability waiver.

Many hikes involve car-pooling from the assembly point to the trail head. So come prepared either to drive or to share travel costs with your driver.

Be prepared. Miles listed are round-trip. Bring a lunch, water, sturdy hiking boots or shoes, and clothing suitable for the weather. Leaders reserve the right to turn away anyone whose equipment or experience appears to be inadequate for the trip.

Listings of all outings offered by each group can be found at:

  • Central NM Group outings.
  • El Paso Group outings not updated on web as of this time.
  • Northern NM Group outings.
  • Pajarito Group outings.
  • Southern NM Group outings.

Page updated for June 29, 2009
Page contacts: Ilse Bleck and
Norma McCallan

To Top ^