Horse lovers will find loads of great opportunities for horse-centered vacations in and around Albuquerque, NM! Whether you plan to travel with your own horse, or are just looking for a place to do some riding on horses you rent, you'll find great resources in central New Mexico.

Right in Cedar Crest, just a few minutes east of Albuquerque, you'll find the Cedar Crest Country Cottage and Stables, where you can rent horses beginning at $30 per person, or board your own horse from $20 per night. Trailer hookups are also available, as is an optional continental breakfast. You and your horse can then enjoy the gorgeous mountain trails in the Cibola National Forest, high in the Sandia Mountains. Some of the great riding trails in the Sandias include Cienega Canyon, which can be very steep and rocky, and the heavily wooded Ellis Trail, from which you can ride down to Placitas.

A little further north on Highway 14, in the village of Cerrillos, is the Broken Saddle Riding Company, which offers Missouri Foxtrotters and Tennessee Walking Horses for those who arrive horseless. From there, you can ride through the scenic hills and high desert ranches of a historic NM mining town, or enjoy trips to the Madrid Overlook, La Vajada Overlook, Miner's Trail, Devil's Canyon, and many more great sites. Want to get a feel for the area? Take a Virtual Tour of Madrid, NM! The Cerrillos Hills Historic Park in the area is the foremost tri-cultural mining region in the U.S., and is a great location for a day ride (or, in hot summer weather, a moonlight ride!)

There are a number of excellent riding trail in the Manzano Mountains Wilderness Area, in and around Mountainair, about half an hour south of Tijeras. There are also several horse-friendly campgrounds in this area. Red Canyon offers a horse camp, with the trail beginning right at the horse camp. This campground is located on NM highway 55, about 12 miles west of Chilili. Another great option is the 4th of July Campground in the same general area, which boasts adequate pull-throughs and trailer parking. Horse corrals are located on the hill above the parking area, and you can access the Albuquerque Trailhead from the campground. 4th of July Canyon offers one of the prime fall foliage displays in New Mexico, so autumn is a great time to saddle up and enjoy the colors!

An hour north of Albuquerque, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, you'll find the Santa Fe Horse Park, which is surrounded by miles of BLM land for Northern New Mexico trail riding. Boarding fees run $20 per night, with RV hookups running another $20. The Santa Fe Horse Park also offers two dressage arenas, a jumping arena, a cowboy arena, and a galloping track, in case you equine interests run to things other than trail riding!

Looking for a fall vacation location? Come to central New Mexico, and enjoy the wonderful outdoors and spending lots of time in the saddle! For more information on Albuquerque horses, equine resources, and horse-friendly real estate, just visit my Albuquerque horse properties website!