Embudito Trail
After reviewing the trail maps we picked up at the Albuquerque Open Space Visitor Center, we added hiking in the foothills to our To-Do list, starting with the Embudito Trail.
In early February, with the dogs along, we drove to the Embudito trailhead off Trailhead Rd. NE. in Albuquerque. It was a sunny day, and we met other hikers along the path into the higher elevations.
When the trail started to get slippery and more snow-covered, our older dog, Max began having issues climbing some of the rocks. We met a hiker heading down the trail and asked how much further it was to the end of the trail.
He told us we had several more miles. He also let us know that it would become more difficult. At that point, we turned around and headed back.
I am not sure how far we hiked on the Embudito Trail. Google Maps tracked us at Oso Spring before we turned around, which is only a half-mile from the trailhead. It sure felt like we hiked farther than that!
Below is a gallery of some of the pictures captured on the trail during our two hour hike.
Michael Emery Trail
When we got in the car, we didn’t want to go back to the RV park. We had planned to hike longer and looked for another trail that would be easier for our older dog.
The Michael Emery Trailhead was only three miles away and was described as an easy-to-moderate loop.
In a few short minutes, we pulled into the crowded parking lot at the Michael Emery Trail. We hadn’t been hiking long when we saw a couple of paragliders at the top of a ridge.
Like the Embudito trail, the Michael Emery trail starts on a flat surface. The weather was perfect for hiking and mountain biking, and we saw many people enjoying these activities there.
We were surprised at the amount of snow in the shady areas of the trail. However, the dogs seemed to enjoy trudging through it. There were a few slick areas, however, overall, it was an easier trail, and we walked the entire loop. Here is a gallery of some of the pictures taken on the Michael Emery Trail.
Click on an image to see full size
When we arrived at our car, Max was worn out. She slept quite a bit the next day and walked with a slight limp. This was the last long hike we took with the dogs.
Our next post will feature the Ojito Wilderness. If you plan to hike in the Albuquerque area, this is an amazing place to visit.
Peggy Staver, the author of this blog, is a freelance copywriter specializing in outdoor recreation and hospitality. You can contact her at PSCopywriting.com. The majority of photos are taken by Photography by Andreas.
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