Nature Center North Bosque and Ditch Bank Hike
In Albuquerque Region
Map File Source: Garmin BaseCamp
Hike Key: H10576Last Updated: 12/15/2020 12:00am
Last Updated By: Marilyn Warrant
Hike Class: C (Challenging)
Hike Distance: 7.8 mi
Minimum Elevation: 4960 ft
Elevation Change: 58 ft
Total Uphill: 20 ft
Total Downhill: 20 ft
Avg. Grade: 0 %
Route Type: CW Loop
On Trail: Yes
Paved or Gravel Roads: Yes
GPS Advised: No
Drive Distance Round Trip: 10 mi
Drive Time One-Way: 0:15
Hiking Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
New Mexico Game Unit: 9
Hike Status: Published
Highlights
Some of the hike is in the bosque and most is behind multi-million dollar estates. A good all year hike with much wildlife.
CautionsNone.
Trailhead Directions
Take Candelaria west until it dead ends. Turn right into the Rio Grande Nature Center and PARK (0.0). There is a $3 parking fee for private vehicles.
Actual Hike
From parking, head west into the Bosque and take a right turn at RT TN (0.3 mi.) and continue on the Aldo Leopold trail. RV (0.5) is one of several turns to the river to view birds. Further down the trail, turn right again at RT TN 2 (1.3 mi) to take you to the ditch bridge crossing at DT (1.6 mi). After crossing the ditch, make an immediate left turn to go north on the east ditch bank. Continue north under Montano Bd. until you turn east at RT 3 (3.8 mi) and start hiking south along another ditch bank. Look for the bird habitat on your left. Continue hiking in a southerly direction, go across Rio Grande Bd. and take the bridge pedestrian walkway to cross over Montano Bd. at BG (6.0 mi).
After crossing the bridge over Montano Bd. turn right at RT TN 4 (6.1 mi) going back over Rio Grande Bd. and head west, on the ditch bank south of Montano Bd. Continue along the ditch bank until you arrive at the ditch (DT). Turn left here (or go over the bridge and back into the Bosque) and head south on the east side of this ditch to another ditch bridge crossing at BG 2 (7.4 mi). After crossing the bridge, continue south and then east back to the parking area (7.8 mi).
Comments
A portion of this hike is the same as the Rio Grande Nature Center North hike.
Hike data were determined using a Garmin GPSMap 60CSx and Garmin BaseCamp’s DEM for TOPO US 24K Southwest.
WaypointsPARK: N35 07.764, W106 40.945
RT: N35 07.921 W106 41.154
RV: N35 08.076, W106 41.156
RT TN 2: N35 08.532 W106 40.714
DT: N35 08.666, W106 40.486
RT 3: N35 10.086, W106 39.291
BG: N35 08.626, W106 39.977
RT TN 4: N35 08.548, W106 40.009
BG 2: N35 08.047, W106 40.886
Hike GPS File Name: NatureCenterNBosqueDitchBankWayTrack_FE.gpx
Hike GPS File: Click link to download hike waytrack file
Text Author: Frank Ernst
Map Author: Marilyn Warrant
Waypoints Author: Frank Ernst
Track Author: Frank Ernst
Maintainer: Frank Ernst
Editor: Howard Carr