Out here in the West, we have a thing about trails, a love of winding passages and natural destinations. Whether via Route 66, El Camino Real, or the Santa Fe Trail, many of the people from Albuquerque’s past and present made their way here on some sort of trail or another.
So it’s no wonder that citizens of this town have woven the well-trodden tale of trails into their lives; this is particularly true of Albuquerqueans’ restless, western recreational lives.
The city offers trails aplenty for walking, jogging, and biking, through urban and rural environments. All of these trails offer experiences that can transform daily activities into wondrous experiences with the varying and engaging environments that shape the physical form that a growing city takes as one moves through it.
These abundant choices for both exercise and affiliation are rooted in city and county governments that are actively working to provide awesome and transformational experiences to anyone interested in discovering the beauty and purpose of what lies beneath the buildings and freeways that have come to dominate our shared landscape.
In order to make such paths clearer and more accessible to our inherently active and curious readership, Albuquerque Lifestyle Magazine has developed the following guide to our city’s awesome trails.
So, take a look at what the city and the surrounding county have to offer. And remember, whichever trail you choose to follow, stay hydrated (bring water, fresh fruit for sure, and a small meal or snack if possible) because we do live in a desert. As the summer advances, temperatures will rise, and the sun can be relentless in these parts; a good hat can prove a wondrous invention while on these roads.
Paseo del Bosque Trail
Paseo del Bosque Trail is the city's premier multi-use, paved trail. It spans 16 miles from Alameda Boulevard in the north to Rio Bravo Boulevard in the South Valley. This trail is ideal for cycling, jogging, and inline skating. Its location, paralleling the river and adjacent to its main acequias, makes for a very pleasing natural experience that is uninterrupted by road crossings (but be prepared to cross under highway bridges at Rio Bravo Blvd., Dolores Huerta Blvd., Central Ave., and Montano Blvd.). This trail passes through Rio Grande State Park, so be on the lookout for wildlife, such as box turtles and coyotes, water birds, and the occasional raccoon or skunk, along the way.
This trail also passes through or is adjacent to many other interesting and captivating city attractions, including the Rio Grande Nature Center, the Albuquerque BioPark, and the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
Alameda Drain Trail
If you live in the North Valley and are just getting into this “trail thing’, the Alameda Drain Trail is a great place to begin exploring the city. At only two miles long and designed for newly geared-up riders and joggers, this is a great paved trail for walking, jogging, and biking that runs along the north side of the city, offering scenic views of the Sandia Mountains as one passes through one of Albuquerque’s friendliest and most accessible areas.
The urban designers at Parametrix were enlisted by the city, county, and several state agencies to create this urban trail. Parametrix embraced the following mission in completing this attractive city-based project: creating a shared-use path that works in conjunction with the drain and providing a cohesive and aesthetic corridor; enhancing aesthetics and native/desired vegetation; creating community gathering places; and promoting healthy lifestyles and increasing physical activity.
Bear Canyon Arroyo Trail
Winding through the Northeast Heights, from the Arroyo del Oso Golf Course through the far Northeast Heights and past Juan Tabo Blvd, and into the actual Bear Canyon Arroyo and its associated Open Space, this arroyo/nature trail provides a mix of paved walking paths and unpaved desert terrain.
At its outset, the trail is paved and part of the wide-open space that defines one of the city’s most challenging and aesthetically pleasing golf ranges. The paved portion passes through tony neighborhoods with abundant landscaping. That sort of scenery gives way to the sprawling desert and foothills that mark the edge of our town as the trail carves a path into the forested Sandia Mountains. This trail is notable for rapid changes in elevation and environment. Those changes can be an exhilarating experience for walkers, runners, and bikers. Be aware of the bright sun and the mounds rising up in front of you; this trail is best taken in the early morning or late afternoon.
Albuquerque Rail Trail
This premier urban trail project is still in development after federal funding for the project was discontinued in September 2025. Ultimately, this trail will be a highly accessible 7-mile urban trail system linking downtown Albuquerque, nearby neighborhoods, and the historic Rail Yards. Currently, an initial ¼-mile stretch of the project is open; it features historic railroad buildings and tracks, LED lights, and benches.
The U.S. Department of Transportation canceled $11.5 million in federal grant funding for a specific section of the trail, though the City remains committed to finishing the full project using state, local, and remaining federal funds.
The Rail Trail is still big news in this town, and despite ongoing funding difficulties, construction on a new 1/2-mile trail phase linking Old Town to the ABQ BioPark is set to begin this summer. Urban designer Jeff Ciabotti, one of the folks tasked with making the Rail Trail an Albuquerque reality, put the mission of the project into focus when he recently wrote, “We’re not just building a trail in the community; we’re building the community into the trail”.
Out here in the West, we have a thing about trails, a love of winding passages and natural destinations.