Looking for a touch of summer in the middle of autumn? You can pull it off if you’re near Albuquerque using today’s Guidebook Getaway.
Our featured trip is a 7-mile out-and-back hike with far-ranging views that Stephen Ausherman, author of 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Albuquerque, rates as moderate to strenuous.
The route explores a BLM wilderness study area in the Sierra Ladrones, south of Albuquerque near the town of Bernardo and close to the bird-filled Bernardo Wildlife Area.
Why visit the area in November? Our friends at Menasha Ridge Press, who serve as the guidebook’s publisher, relay this message to us from Ausherman:
“If summer sun or winter ice deterred you from hiking here before, then it's time to reconsider the stark granite uprising of the Ladrones,” Ausherman said.
“As an added bonus in November, tens of thousands of migratory birds flock to nearby Bernardo Wildlife Area. Snow geese, sandhill cranes and bald eagles are among the high-profile aviators that crowd this 1,675-acre watering hole."
Climb as little or as much of Ladron Peak as you choose. (Photo: Steven Ausherman)
Fine views await ambitious hikers, though even those with less determination can enjoy a shorter version of this route, as Ausherman explains in his description:
“Each new mile begins with an incremental challenge. How far you get depends entirely on how hard you want to hike," he writes.
"Elevation enhances the views, of course, but you don’t have to go far for wide-open vistas in all directions.”
Desert terrain in mild autumn weather is a nice treat for inquisitive hikers. If you’re making an autumn visit to the Albuquerque area, keep this sunny trip in mind.
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