Matt Dahlseid

Wildlife biologist Francisco “Kiko” Cortez began his career in the U.S. Forest Service as a teenage intern working as a fisheries technician in the Valle Vidal unit of Carson National

In remote pockets of Santa Fe National Forest, a team of young adults worked from early morning to late afternoon for days on end to clear fallen

Wildlife biologist Francisco “Kiko” Cortez began his career in the U.S. Forest Service as a teenage intern working as a fisheries technician in the Valle Vidal unit of Carson National Forest. Thirty-five years later, and just a few years shy of retirement, he still finds himself entranced by the wonders of the “Valley of Life.”

If you enjoy reading the well-known writers who specialize in describing the lands and stories of the Southwest, you’ll eventually come across a line about Everett Ruess.

Sharing our time to take those in our orbit into nature is a way to strengthen connections with one another and with the beautiful lands that surround us.

Matt Dahlseid/The New Mexican

Matt Dahlseid/The New Mexican

Spanning from the Abiquiú area, to the Pecos Wilderness, to the northeastern plains, outdoors writer Matt Dahlseid shares some of his top hikes this year.

From the heights of mountain peaks to the lows of canyon bottoms, 2024 brought with it exciting adventures as I hiked several new-to-me trails in Northern New Mexico that I'll add to my hiking rotation for years to come.

A major benefit of living in Northern New Mexico is the ability to hike year-round, from alpine peaks and lakes in the summer to high desert environments in the winter.