Off-Grid Eco-Friendly Cabin Rental near Tijeras, New Mexico

The area around Tijeras itself offers plenty to see and do. The Ponderosa Family Restaurant and Grill, the Roots Farm Cafe, the Old Tyme Shop and Ice Cream Parlor and Trail Rider Pizza offer delicious food and south western charm. Travertine Falls Trailhead is a family-friendly hike which takes in caves and a waterfall. The trail is wide and well-marked but sturdy shoes are recommended! Cibola National Forest Park is on a grander scale and provides opportunities for picnicking, backpacking, camping, skiing, hiking, star-gazing, horseback riding, hunting, and mountain biking. The forest is also home to an amazing array of wildlife including black bears, cougars, prairie dogs, mule deer and many varieties of bird life such as golden eagles, various species of hawks and roadrunners. The park encompasses the Sandia Mountain Wilderness, which has around 117 miles worth of trails maintained by the Forest Service. A great way to see this region is via the Sandia Peak Tramway. This aerial tramway stretches from the northeast edge of Albuquerque to the tops of the Sandia Mountains. It is the longest aerial tram in the US and the third longest in the world and the trip up the mountain takes fifteen minutes to ascend 3,819 ft. At the top, the adventurous glamper can take advantage of the 26-mile Crest Trail that runs along the mountain ridge at an average elevation of 10,000 feet. For the inquisitive glamper who wants to learn some history in a hands-on environment, the Tijeras Archaeological Site, located near Sandia Ranger Station, is the perfect place. The site includes both a museum and a quarter-mile interpretive trail to let the visitor experience the history of the pre-European civilization that made this area their home. The museum explains the clothing, food, architecture, pottery and stone tools of the Ancestral Pueblo people. Explore a life-sized reproduction of an excavated Pueblo room, identify animal bones, grind corn using a metate and mano, and handle ancient potsherds. Other hikes of note in the area include Tunel Canyon and the Turquoise Trail. For a hike with a refreshing dip at the end head to Carlito Springs. This gem of a trail offers natural spring pools to let the hiker cool off while taking in the spectacular views. Picnic tables at the top of the trail are the perfect place to rest and recharge. The Jemez Valley is famous for its abundance of hot springs and is just over an hour from Albuquerque. Public springs include Soda Dam, McCauley Warm Springs, and the Spence Hot Springs. The area also hosts private spring resorts with added luxuries. For glampers looking for a day of browsing and perusing the area has some delightful shopping destinations. At the Tijeras Open-Air Arts Market, glampers can find arts and crafts events with live music in a lovely shady location. Every nostalgia-loving glamper is bound to find something to delight them in the Vintage Dead collectibles store whether they are a fan of the Grateful Dead or not. This store is a mecca for Dead Heads from around the world. Then stock up on hand-made incense at Fred Soll's Incense Store, discover unique and beautiful pieces at Wren Hayden Jewelry and peruse the hardbacks and softbacks at Asmussen's Athenaeum bookstore or explore the many other art and craft stores in the area. And of course, all the entertainment, culture and nightlife of Albuquerque, the most populous New Mexico city, is close by and the state capital Santa Fe is also within driving distance.