New Mexico Places

Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway.  East of Albuquerque, this road traverses the east side of the Sandias north to Santa Fe.  It is a beautiful drive, with several great photography spots along the route. I don’t have a lot of experience here, but I have visited Golden (and took some great sunset pics of San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church), Madrid (a great lunch spot, and filming location for the Wild Hogs movie that has not aged well), Los Cerrillos (often referred to as a ghost town, but still populated), and Cerrillos Hills State Park (great spot for hikes, though it has not been a good photo spot for me).  ADVICE: Do you research and take your time.  Most of these places are best at sunrise and sunset, though I suspect Cerrillos Hills could be OK midday if you get the right cloud conditions.  In the summer, be prepared for crowds in Madrid.

Middle Rio Puerco Valley.  I created a full page about this marvelous valley here.  It includes ghost towns, ancestral pueblo ruins, national trails, volcanic craters and hills, fossils, cattle ranges, windmills, cliffs and bluffs, mesas, canyons, arroyos and stunning views straight out of western movies.  ADVICE:  These roads are not paved, but most of them can be driven by two-wheel cars.  Be prepared for lots of dust.  Do not visit this valley after rain or snow, since the roads become dangerously slick when wet.  While there are a few national trails here, the best pictures come from bushwacking.  Most of the land is BLM, but some is private.  Don’t climb over any fences.  For extra color, come in October when the scattered cotton trees are yellow, creating a nice contrast to the brown desert.

Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer.  I have never toured this observatory, but the drive from Socorro is lovely.  When you get to the top, you can walk around and photograph the observatory.  I have never been at night, but I am guessing it would be a great site to photograph the night sky.  The road up through the mountains is not paved, but easily accessible.  If drop-offs make you uncomfortable, this might not be a good road for you.  ADVICE: Go early morning or late afternoon, but drive slowly and carefully in the dark.

Santa Fe National Forest, NM 475.  This is a VERY popular drive for fall colors in October.  We have visited this region several times.  There are many trails to explore in the spring, summer and fall.  I would imagine it’s a fun winter region as well, though I have not visited there in that season.  ADVICE:  Give yourself time to explore.  A few days would be perfect.  Check out the various trails, campgrounds, creeks and bridges for beautiful mountain photos.  In the fall, be prepared for traffic and packed parking lots.

Sandia Crest, Albuquerque.  Personally, I don’t find the Sandias to be particularly photogenic.  There are good hiking trails here, but the mountains are just not distinctive.  The views from Sandia Crest, however, are quite spectacular, especially at sunrise and sunset.  I also enjoy photographing the Kiwanis Cabin, accessed along a short trail from the Sandia Crest parking lot.  ADVICE:  If heights are not your thing, avoid the trail along the cliffs at the top of Sandia Crest.  The drive to the crest is twisty, so if you get car sick easily, you may want to reconsider.

Springer to Mills to Roy to Solano to Wagon Mound.  I grew up in Kansas, so big flat empty grasslands hold a special appeal to me.  But for some people, this area might be boring.  This drive is mostly a loop, though you could take spurs in several other directions.  I would not recommend going south of Solano, since the scenery fades to seriously flat the further south you go.  I love photographing old abandoned buildings, lone trees in the tall grass, dusty roads that go forever, windmills against cloudy skies, and the occasional antelope herd.  If you have patience and an appreciation for grasslands, you can get some great pictures here.  I would also like to explore Mills Canyon and the Kiowa National Grasslands.  ADVICE:  The main loop is paved, but if you get off onto the side roads, be prepared for dusty conditions.  Mills, Solano and Roy are fascinating towns, spread out across the countryside, with nice, abandoned buildings.  As usual, do not climb over any fences.