
Sierra Club started with outings!
Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter outings are free and open to the public. Outings are listed in the quarterly Rio Grande Sierran, on our event calendar and also as a quarterly text listing. The Northern Group outings are generally listed on the Santa Fe Group Meetup site, and Chapter outings may also be listed on the Rio Grande Chapter Meetup site.
We offer hikes at all levels of difficulty, and the difficulty level is listed in each outing, along with trip and leader details. Below are general Sierra Club protocols for all outings.
- Participants must sign a standard Participation Agreement, required when registering for each outing.
- Backcountry outings – participants must fill out a short medical form and provide it to the leader for backcountry outings or where a medical facility is more than one hour away. Forms will be destroyed or returned to the participant immediately following the outing.
- Minors – the participation agreement must be completed and signed by parent or legal guardian (accompanied or unaccompanied).
- Leaders may alter the destination or cancel a trip due to weather, unfavorable conditions, or insufficient number of participants. The trip leader will contact you via the information you provided during registration.
- Leaders reserve the right to turn away anyone whose experience or equipment appears unsuitable.
- Dogs are permitted only if specifically noted in the trip details.
- Bring water, lunch, sturdy hiking boots or shoes and clothing suitable for the weather.
- All mileages are round-trip.
Interested in being a trip leader? Contact Outings Chair Terry Owen.
- Select the appropriate month by using the left and right arrow buttons
- Locate the event or outing for which you’d like to register
- Click on the name of the outing or event and a registration form window will open
- Provide the requested information in the registration form. Upon completion, click on the red “Submit” button at the bottom of the form.
- If a liability waiver (participation agreement) is required to participate in the outing, a subsequent form will appear. Read and acknowledge the waiver (participants under the age of 18 will need a parent or legal guardian to complete the form with them) by checking the appropriate boxes at the bottom of the form. If you wish to submit a paper form instead, please request the form in advance from the Outings Leader listed in the announcement. Otherwise, click on the box labeled “Submit Digital Waiver”.
Please visit the calendar to register for any of these events.
October 2023
Saturday, October 7: Cerros de Amado Ramble. The landscapes will be pleasing in this geologically interesting area. With no forest cover, the rock strata and their contortions are laid bare and we walk up and down through millions of years. This hike is 6 miles long with an elevation gain of 800 feet. Ages 14 and up with parent or legal guardian, no dogs
Friday, October 13: Bosque Walk at Durand Open Space. 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Welcome to the beautiful South Valley! Durand Open Space provides excellent access to forest paths and river views. We’ll do a 2-mile loop and then take a break at the covered picnic area. Let’s meet at the Durand parking lot by 9:55 a.m. No dogs please.
Saturday, October 14: More Fall Birds Along Animas River in Farmington. 8:00 a.m. to approximately 11:00 a.m., three-miles round trip. This and the September 16th trip aim to discover which of the 31 migrants, who headed north last spring, will follow the same route, heading south in the fall. We’ll also look for the 24 residents discovered last spring, hopefully find a few more. Eighteen years-old and up only. No dogs please. Use sunscreen, bring a binocular, water, snacks, and dress for the weather.
Saturday, October 14, Angel Peak Eclipse Peek-a-Boo. 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The annular solar eclipse which will occur at 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 14, 2023, should be a spectacular event. The path of the eclipse will pass directly over the 4 Corners and Angel Peak Scenic Area 15 miles south of Bloomfield, New Mexico. The eclipse will last for approximately three hours. Angel Peak and Kutz Canyon are in a remote area of beautiful, stark badlands unrivaled anywhere in the West.
Saturday, October 21: Sierra de la Cruz Scramble. Looking from Socorro to the east across the Rio Grande, you’ll see a rounded formation 10 miles distant. This hike will take us to the top of this cap of Permian marine limestone, a scramble of 4.6 miles and 600 feet of elevation gain, with panoramic views of the Rio Grande valley and the broken and uplifted country on its east side. Ages 14 and up with parent or legal guardian, no dogs.
Sunday, October 22: Hike Palomas Peak Via Faulty Trail. This trail is approximately 7.5 miles long with 1,860 elevation gain and is rated by all trails as moderate to strenuous. We will meet at the Sandia man cave parking area. If it is full, there is additional parking about 1 mile past it at a picnic area. We should be done in 5 hours if everyone who signs up has a 1.5 mph pace going uphill. This is a remote trail with some great views. We will stop for water breaks and a snack break along the way.
November 2023
Wednesday, November 8: Zero Waste Tour of the Rio Grande Compost facility. 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the West Mesa. Come and see the process up close on how biosludge from the ABCWUA, is mixed with green waste, stable bedding, and wood chips to make nutrient-rich compost. Tour starts indoors with a brief orientation then moves outdoors and to an open warehouse, so dress accordingly. Must wear long pants and closed-toed shoes. Limited to 10 people, first-come first-served. Participants must be able to stand during the entire tour.
Friday, November 18: Beat the Black Friday Rush Bike Ride to Nob Hill. This eight-mile course includes 225 feet of elevation gain and will pass by city parks and destinations between Uptown and Nob Hill. Previous experience riding in mixed traffic is recommended. This ride is appropriate for children over 16 when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. A road-suitable bike and helmet are required. Tire sealant and bike lock are strongly recommended.
December 2023
Saturday, December 2: Introduction to Backpacking. During this six-hour course we’ll take you from the basics, to the essential things you need to know for an extended thru-hike. We’ll use both classroom and hands-on learning. Class runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a one-hour break for lunch. We’ll cover the following topics: Planning and preparing for a trip, Risk management and safety, Proper pack fit and pack loading, Essential, optional and non-essential gear, Care and uses of gear, Self-care, Leave-no-trace ethics.
Thursday, December 28: Sunset and Full Moon Snowshoe at the Crest. After Christmas Snow Moon Snowshoe Hike. Glistening snow, a chill in the air and the crunch of snow under your feet, this is what you have to look forward to while we celebrate the rising of the full Snow Moon. Snowshoeing under a full moon is simply magical. The leader will cover techniques to help you safely traverse in an alpine environment while exploring the beautiful Sandia Mountains. Rated as moderate and is approximately 3.5 miles round trip with 500 feet of elevation gain.
Quick links
Outings news
Day Hikes in the Santa Fe Area, 9th Edition
October 2023 hike with Santa Fe Youth Shelters

September 2023 hike with Big Brothers/Sisters

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