Last month my friend Loeta and I decided to ride at Cerrillos Hills State Park about 30 minutes from my house. I had hiked these trails many times with my kids, but had hoped someday to ride there. Broken Saddle Riding Company is located just outside the park and offers trail rides on their gaited horses inside the park and on private land surrounding the park. But I wanted to ride my Apache mare at Cerrillos Hills State Park......and so I did.
Loeta and her Paso Fino gelding, Profe.
All along the trails and hills are old abandoned mines. Different minerals, rocks and gems were mined, including turquoise and silver. Many of the mines have info plaques and allow you to get up close and look down inside.
When we first began our ride, we shared the trail with a small group from the Broken Saddle Riding Company, and later on these two guys passed us down the trail. Other than them, we saw no one else on the trail all day.
Expansive views could be found at the top of every hill. Apache and I enjoyed stopping to take it all in.
The views were amazing at the tops of the hills, but it did get a little breezy up there. Once we dropped down below the hilltops, the wind ceased and it was actually wonderfully warm.
There were a lot of ups and downs as we rode the hills. I enjoy such varying terrain. Flat trails bore me to tears.
Apache and I led most of the day, and I am loving how willing and eager she is to lead the more often we do it. I also enjoy riding out in front, too. The views are better!
Loeta and I both seem to enjoy laid back, leisurely trail rides. We sometimes do some trotting, but we mostly just mosy down the trail, enjoying the scenery.
After about 2 hours of riding, we stopped for lunch and tied up our ponies so they could enjoy a rest.
I packed lunches for both Loeta and I...and I also packed wine!
This is how cowgirls do a trail lunch!
A silly friend selfie!
Time to get mounted up and back on the trail!
We almost rode right on past this mine, but Apache wanted to go check it out. She literally steered us right over to it and I let her be the guide. I am happy to reward her for her curiosity :)
The info sign beside the mine.
Apache wanted to stretch her neck over the mine and peer down inside.
Heading downhill.....
There was still shade beneath trees and on the north sides of hills.
Soon we arrived at the place where mineral springs bubbled up from the ground and flowed alongside the trail.
We checked out the info sign beside the mineral springs.
And then we crossed a dirt road and headed back up hill.
Along some sections of trail, there were benches to sit, rest and enjoy the views and beauty of the area.
Every time we passed a bench, Apache would try to steer us over to it, as if she thought I should dismount so we both could enjoy a rest. haha!
Apache says: This looks like a nice bench for you to rest.....
Up...up...up....
The trails were marked well with easy to read signs.
And all of the trails were easy to follow.
I enjoyed stopping to check out some of the info plaques. Apache seemed curious, too.
This sign was at the top of Mirador Hill and had outstanding views of a few mountain ranges and places of interest.
Apache and I loved stopping to take in the views.
The next mine was pretty interesting with a footbridge...not for horses, though. But Apache really thought it would be a fun bridge to cross, so I had to reel her in, and gave her a cookie to placate her.
But the next mine we were able to explore up close.
The info sign beside that mine.
Soon after, we entered into a less-traveled, more remote area of the state park, and we rode down into a beautiful little canyon.
There were switchbacks as we rode lower into the canyon.
Hey down there! Apache is wondering if we can take a short-cut.
There were also several steep sided arroyos to ride down into, and then back up.
Apache and I were at the bottom of the arroyo looking up at Loeta and Profe.
We continued to ride deeper into the canyon.
Still enjoying the beautiful views every chance we got.
The trail got rockier as we rode deeper into the canyon.
And we saw more patches of snow as the trail traveled along the north sides of hills.
It was fun to explore this area of the park as I had never been hiking here before with my kids, since it is more remote from the more populated and developed areas.
We had to navigate over several boulder steps.
And then the trail dropped down into a lower canyon, which we were both eager to explore.
The trail became narrower and rockier. And Loeta was confronted by a steep boulder step and asked if we should turn around. I said, no worries. Our horses could handle it.
And they did.
I am grateful to have a sure-footed, barefoot horse on trails like these. Apache took it all in stride, willingly and safely navigating our way through the canyon.
After exiting the canyon, we came upon a set of railroad tie stairs about 100 feet long and ending at a trailhead. Such a fun way to end a trail ride!
We still had to ride about a 1/2 mile alongside a dirt road and through an arroyo to get back to the horse trailer, but the route was relaxing and was still beautiful, surrounded by cliffs of red, orange and yellow rock.
Something else we discovered while exploring Cerrillos Hills was this little western-style photo opportunity, set up by Broken Saddle Riding Company for their dude rides.
Life is Good!
