Just before the pandemic hit, our family began hiking together in and around El Paso. It turned out to be one of the very few things that saved us from our cabin fever and burnout during our year of quarantine. Our kids love exploring the outdoors, and I love watching them explore and taking walks as a family.
Here’s a list of our top family hiking spots in and around El Paso to share with you all.
#1 Rio Bosque
This spot is our absolute favorite hiking spot. It has something for everyone and has a smooth walking path that borders the river. I love that we get to walk along the river and experience beautiful scenery throughout.
The kids love looking at the frogs, finding the perfect walking sticks, and just looking into the river to see what they can see swimming by. My husband loves to birdwatch in this area. One of our favorite spots is a burrowing owl refuge created by volunteers to help home owls. Here you can sometimes see adorable baby owls in their natural habitat. This is the spot we visited most during the pandemic and one of our favorite places to visit when we just wanted to get away.
#2 Aztec Cave Trail
This hike is a little difficult once the cave is within site, both on your way up and on your way down. On the way down, we just told the kids to scoot their butts down until they get on the trail. And on the way up, we just told them to stay low and use their hands.
The reward of getting to the cave is well worth the hike. On top of the amazing view, you arrive at a pretty large cave that you get to explore. There are several different hiking trails in this area with different levels of difficulty. This trail is the most picture-perfect spot with amazing views.
#3 Slot Canyon
This hike is located in New Mexico. It’s located about an hour and 15 minutes outside of El Paso. This was such a fun hike for the kids.
There isn’t a direct path to get to the slots so you have to trust your instincts and GPS a bit. You also have to jump a fence to get in but it’s totally fine! The land is owned by the New Mexico State Land Office. The path within the slots consists of a lot of tricky maneuvering and climbing but nothing too dangerous.
When we went, there was a pool of water at the bottom so it was a fun game of the floor is lava for the kids.
#4 Hueco Tanks Kiva Cave
The beautiful scenery and rich history in this spot is hard to beat. The hike up to the top of the boulders is a bit complicated, but the view is worth it! There is a guided path along the way that you could use to help you climb up in certain spots.
Before climbing up, make sure that you take a look at cave paintings inside the boulders that date back about 10,000 years. There are several different paths to choose from and each provides its own unique scenery.
#5 B-36 Crash Hike
This was one of the hardest hikes we have done as a family. After coming off of the Thousand Step Trail, we found we had to climb almost the entire way. Coming down was just as hard. The view once we reached the top was pretty breathtaking though. The kids also saw the remnants of the crash site, but I stayed behind to enjoy the scenery.
#6 Rio Grande Loop
When we went in early March, there was no water in the river. We decided to walk down in the floor of the riverbed to explore. The kids had such a fun time finding snail shells and seashells. They filled their backpack pockets with tons and tons of tiny seashells. This path also goes along the river. You get to enjoy the beautiful scenery and beautiful homes in the area as well.
Safety First When Hiking
We’ve learned to take a couple of things with us on our hikes based on previous experiences. We carry a backpack full of essentials which include the following:
-Swiss Army knife
-First Aid Kit
-Snacks (usually fruit and granola)
-Hand sanitizers and wipes
-Sunscreen and bug spray
-Travel flashlight WITH WORKING BATTERIES (Don’t ask! Just be sure to account for sunsets when hiking and account for the time it takes to get back to your car!)
Also, always be sure to carry more than enough water. We run out of water quickly when we are hiking. We invested in hydration packs a while back but found it was a hassle to clean out. Each of us carries our own water, and mom and dad carry over 64 ounces of water for refills.
Most importantly, be sure to have fun! I find our hikes help us all get in the right head space and brings us a little closer together. Make sure to make amazing memories while out exploring our beautiful desert.
Originally published May 2022.
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of El Paso Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
