On the trail: For those wanting to stretch their legs, ABQ offers plenty of hiking options

With the Balloon Fiesta on the horizon, the Duke City will see an increase in out-of-town traffic in the coming weeks.

While Mass Ascensions, Balloon Glows and Special Shapes Rodeos are some of the featured attractions for the event, visitors also need something to occupy their time when they’re not at Balloon Fiesta Park. One potential option is to explore the multitude of walking and hiking trails available in the Albuquerque area.

According to bosque project coordinator Dustin Chavez-Davis, the Albuquerque Open Space trails are popular with both newcomers and residents at this time of year.

“We definitely see an uptick in visitors and tourists. But locals, people who live here year round, it’s a favorite time to get out and enjoy those cooler temperatures,” he said.

“… Every year around this time we definitely see an influx of people. We have extra trash runs trying to keep things clean and accessible for people. We are happy that people are getting out and getting to explore the Open Spaces for sure.”

As an added bonus, an annular solar eclipse will occur in that timeframe. This happens when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth at or near its farthest point, creating a visual where it appears there is a “ring of fire” around the moon. The annular solar eclipse is expected to take place on Saturday, Oct. 14 — right at the end of the Balloon Fiesta.

“I think that’s an exciting opportunity, too. We’re right in the path of that, so I think it’s gonna bring some extra folks into town,” said Chavez-Davis. “So there are opportunities at some of the Open Spaces to view that as well. That’s an extra bonus this year.”

Regardless of one’s motivation to get out, plenty of opportunities exist for walking and hiking enthusiasts. According to the City of Albuquerque website, the Paseo del Bosque is regarded as Albuquerque’s “premiere multi-use trail” with 16 miles of trails and multiple access points throughout the city. But it’s far from the only option.

“There’s also the Rio del Norte, which is kind of accessible right off of Central by the BioPark and Tingley,” Chavez-Davis said. “Tingley gets a lot of visitors, and rightfully so. It’s super accessible right off of Route 66, the heart of the city. There’s the fishing ponds and the RC boat pond, and there’s wetlands inside the Bosque that are managed more for wildlife habitat. People come out to do birding, to look at wildlife and then, of course, walk the trails there too. It’s definitely one of our most successful open space areas, just right there on Central and the river.”

If observing the balloons from a distance is the goal, Chavez-Davis recommends venturing to the west side of the river to locations such as the Boca Negro Arroyo and Calabacillas Arroyo.

“The Petroglyph areas are nice because they’re west of the city, so they’re not like in the heart of the (area) where all the Balloon Fiesta traffic is going,” he said. “It gives you more of a bird’s-eye view from a distance, where you can see balloons going up and down all across the valley.”

With many options available, choosing a trail can be overwhelming. A useful resource in that regard is AllTrails.com, which rates more than 100 Albuquerque walking and hiking trails based upon user reviews and offers details on length, terrain, scenery and other conditions.

No matter what the destination may be, Chavez-Davis has a few tips for visitors and locals alike as they hit the trails this fall.

“We always try to educate folks about the ‘leave no trace’ principle. If you are going on a hike, try to take all your trash. You don’t want to leave behind litter or trash or any evidence that you were there,” he said.

“The other thing is you definitely want to stay hydrated and wear sun protection and bring extra water. Even if it’s fall temperatures, sometimes we still have heat in October. You’ve got to be prepared for all weather events.”