The weather has been feeling quite mild recently and for many New Mexicans, that means now is the perfect reason to get out of the house for a hike. The sun is shining, the weather feels pleasantly warm, and the air smells fresh with pine trees.

How does a short hike through a forested canyon sound to you?
Ilze Botha/Google
One trail that will take you along a lightly-trekked pathway into a remote part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains: Deer Creek Canyon Trail.
Sometimes called Grasshopper Canyon Trail, the trailhead sits just over 16 miles southeast of Santa Fe via Interstate 25.
Nick Harper/AllTrails
The trail begins just beyond the parking area for a three-mile roundtrip trek along a stream.
The trail slowly winds 1.5 miles into the mountains following the stream, ending with a small swimming hole.
Josafat Varela/AllTrails
The trail is small but well-worn and is an easy trek for just about everyone in the family.
Stewart Carnes/AllTrails
You will need to hop across the stream several times in order to reach the end before turning to head back to the trailhead.

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Along the way, you'll see some lovely sights, like the rock sides covered in handprints...
Stewart Carnes/AllTrails
...and several pools for a quick dip.
Nick Dahlke/AllTrails
The pools are formed by narrow canyon walls and even freeze over in winter. It makes for a great little trail on a spring morning.
Stewart Carnes/AllTrails
The Deer Creek Canyon Trailhead is located approximately 30 minutes southeast of Santa Fe via Interstate 25.
Google Maps

From the highway, turn onto exit 297 and make a u-turn to drive westbound for 1.5 miles. A small dirt parking area sits just off the highway. The trailhead starts on the east side of the parking area just beyond a wooden sign.

Location: Google Maps
Trail Details: AllTrails (as Grasshopper Canyon)

If you can’t get enough of hiking through New Mexico’s forests, you’ll want to hike through Paliza Canyon in the Jemez Mountains. Read more in Paliza Canyon Is An Otherworldly Destination Hidden In New Mexico’s Jemez Mountains.

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