stroling with the wildflowers

I am headed from Angel Fire’s Coyote Greenbelt Trail onto the Bear Trail — an open meadow with a meandering creek with myriad wildflowers and views of Angel Fire ski slopes and, again, I am grateful.

Who knew one could park off NM Highway 434 and find such beauty?

Angel Fire Resort “greenbelt” spaces have become favorite hikes for residents and visitors. Benches and picnic tables offer greenbelt trekkers a welcome place to take in the scenery or picnic. First-time users can find great info on interpretive kiosks at greenbelt trail entrances. The Resort also features a guide on its website’s hiking page that neatly groups trails into Easy (Green), Intermediate (Blue) and Advanced (Black), along with maps.

Looking for a relatively short gentle stroll with your fur baby? You can’t go wrong

with the Deer, Elk, Bear, or the popular Lady Slipper Trail. For a more challenging loop, Deer, Elk, Bear are all linked by the Coyote Trail, which also connects to the scenic, switch-backed Sage Trail.

The “blue” Oeste Vista Trail, across from the entrance to the Country Club, features gorgeous views of the Moreno Valley, Wheeler Peak and Monte Verde Lake.

For a day-long outing, visitors can opt to ride Angel Fire’s Chile Express to access the Overlook Loop at the Summit, followed by — if they’re up for it — a strenuous descent down the Enlightenment Trail. Ambitious? Do it in reverse! But be warned: Enlightenment climbs over 2,000 vertical feet in 4.55 miles.

— EllenMiller-Goins

The Enchanted Circle has too many options to list here, but consider the nearby Elliot Barker Trail, Touch-Me-Not Peak outside Eagle Nest, Tolby Meadows or Clear Creek in Cimarron Canyon, South Boundary Trail in Taos Canyon, and Wheeler Peak – at 13,161feet, the highest point in New Mexico.