Otero Canyon

Otero Canyon is a really fun and easy trail in the Manzanita Mountain Trail System by Albuquerque, New Mexico. This one is scenic, fast, and flowy, with a few rocky sections. It starts from the north at the Otero Trailhead, which is a big pull-off on Highway 337 with space for lots of vehicles. You may see hikers or mountain bikers here on the Otero and Tunnel Trails. The trail goes south through the bottom of a gulch the whole way. It's either elevated above the ravine, at the bottom of the ravine, or crossing through the ravine. It's mostly flowy and smooth in between tall ponderosa pine trees. There are a few stone walls built up for water maintenance in the ravine that you can either go up or go around. The trail only has a couple of spots with rocky climbs with boulders and small ledges, but these sections are wider, so you can pick a good line through them that isn't too difficult. You can avoid most of the rock on this trail which makes it a fast one.