Hiked the Narrows Rims Trail today in
El Malapias near Grants, New Mexico with some great friends and boy was it amazing!
Located almost 23 miles south of exit 89 of I-40, a non-conspicuous trailhead in a simple picnic area is the gateway to a 8 mile round-trip hike to an awesome view of La Ventana Arch (the second largest natural bridge in New Mexico) and sweeping vistas of the lava flows which make the area famous.
The trail starts as gradual sandstone steps take you to the top of a mesa which ends up being 500 ft. above the lava flows.
As you follow the rim of the mesa overlooking the expanses of the area, if you pay attention you can see a couple of petroglyphs.
Our day ended up being more than beautiful but we found ourselves hiking in snow under the bluest of skies.
The reward at the end of the 4 mile hike in is a commanding view of La Ventana Arch.
In the distance you can easily see
Mt. Taylor and where the lava flows stopped just before reaching the sandstone bluffs.
There was still a bit of time to explore some caves, and scramble around boulders as we reached the end of our hike. Our bodies will certainly feel our ambitions tomorrow but it was still a great day!
