About a week after I got home from riding at Canyon de Chelley, my friend Paula asked if we could ride at one of my favorite places, as she’d never been before and wanted me to show her the trails. She is riding her ‘foster’ mule, Jasper because her mule has a wither injury. Jasper is owned by another lady, but he is very young and needs more miles and experience for her to feel safe on him, so she offered him to Paula on free lease in return for lots of riding, training and experience.
I was eager to ride at Golden Open Space before summer arrived and it got to unbearably hot to ride there.
A happy smiling Paula ready to ride the Golden Open Space trails.
Considering that just a week earlier Apache carried me 45 miles in 2 days, she was still feeling a bit sluggish and even a little gimpy. But I chose to take her to Golden OS because it’s pretty mellow as far as our local mountain trails go, and only has one steep, but short section. Plus we were just out to mosy and sightsee.
The views are 360 degree and are gorgeous in every direction.
The Sandia Mountains behind us, viewed from the northeast.
Paula and Jasper up above the Red Canyon.
I love how creative the trail builders were when designing and building the trails.
After a mile or so we drop down into the canyon….
Riding along the edge……….
I love the different colors of rock and sand, from white to yellow to orange to pink to red.
When we first started in the canyon we discovered that Jasper had concerns with large boulders. By the end of our ride, his concerns were over and he mostly ignored all of the boulders we encountered on the trail.
Apache and I just moseyed down into the canyon….
The designers and builders of the Golden OS trail system are mostly bicyclists and hikers, so they created a fun network of narrow, twisting, cliff hugging trails.
Paula taking a picture of me while I take a picture of her.
At many points along the trail, the trail zigs and zags in between arroyos and you get to see your riding partner directly across from you.
I just love these Golden OS trails!
Apache and I riding on the other side of an arroyo.
Lots of beautiful red cliffs to enjoy with juniper and pinon trees to wind around and between.
Looking across another arroyo while traveling between two hills.
After a couple hours we decided to take a rest and enjoy some lunch. Equines got to enjoy a rest, too.
Turkey wraps, broccoli salad, gingersnaps, and margaritas. Mmmm!
These little margaritas were so refreshing, delicious and cold. The perfect trail drink for a picnic.
After lunch we mounted back up and continued to ride deeper into the canyon.
Soon we dropped down into the lower canyon.
There is no trail, but you can’t get lost because the canyon is lined with tall red rock walls on both sides.
Such a beautiful place to ride and explore.
There was even a bit of grass growing in the canyon.
I think Paula really enjoyed riding at Golden Open Space.
Paula and I decided to ride a little deeper into the canyon and farther than I’ve ridden on past rides. It required hopping up a few natural rock steps.
I just love the red rock!
One section crosses slabs of rock.
Lots of rock to ride over, but Apache is always barefoot and never has any trouble.
Such fun to explore these gorgeous canyons!
I imagine that this canyon becomes a raging river during our summer monsoons.
It also will become beastly hot as the canyon is protected from any wind by those tall rock walls. It was pretty warm on this day, too, and it was only early May when we rode there.
I find rocks fascinating. All those layers….all that geologic history.
Paula’s camera batteries died about now and she asked if she could borrow mine for a while to take some photos.
But first I took a sweet photo of Jasper and Apache sharing a moment.
And then we headed on down through the canyon.
Picking our way through rocks in the arroyo.
Following the twisting and turning canyon.
Apache and I pose for a photo in the lower canyon.
Some people hug trees. I pet rocks.
Enjoying the beauty and peacefulness of the canyon.
Leading the way through the lower canyon.
Another photo moment thanks to Paula.
Just check out all those layers and striations!
A little welcome shade beside the red rock wall.
And soon we are traveling up and out of the lower canyon.
A tiny narrow trail winds it’s way out of the lower canyon.
You are greeted by beautiful views of the mountains as you climb up and into the upper canyon.
And then back into the juniper and pinon tree lined winding trails.
And down into another arroyo.
And up along the red rock cliffs.
A shadow selfie of me and my girl.
And up we climb out of the canyon.
Almost out of the canyon and we are rewarded with layers of red, orange, yellow and white rock cliffs as the trail winds around the sides of hills.
Surveying the beautiful Golden Open Space Canyon. (Look closely…..do you see a face down in that mini-canyon?)
How about now?
Beautiful wispy clouds above us as we leave behind the wonders of the canyon.
Still another mile or two to ride to reach the trail head. We enjoy the peacefulness as the shadows stretch across the trail.
Life is Good!!
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