If you drive on NM Hwy 4 - over the mountain toward Jemez Springs (bring your ID in case you are checked at the guard station) you can come to one of my favorite hikes to take my kids on - Las Conchas Trail. Drive past the Valle Caldera - past the Las Conchas campground and park where a million people are rock climbing. Seriously - you pass a cliff face on your right and without fail, there will be 10 to 20 people climbing. Park, walk through the gate and go down a small hill and you come to an easy trail that follows a stream, has lots of fun bridges and is super easy. We have never walked to a destination, the entire hike is a destination - just until my kids are tired and want to go home. We bring a picnic lunch and eat on the grassy bank of the stream and then my little kids take off their shoes and play. We are not a rock climbing family - but maybe we should become one since we love this hike so much and it almost looks fun. The scenery is breathtaking. I can't describe it - so these pictres will have to do.
