You can hike or bike right from Casa Bear apartment, no need to drive anywhere!

Three kids playgrounds, soccer field and tennis courts are only 0.2 miles away.

Here are a few tips what to do in walking distance from our vacation home.

Deer Trap Mesa

Deer Trap Mesa trailhead is at the dead end of the main Barranca Road only 0.3 miles from Casa Bear.

Just a few steps further on the trail, you can enjoy this Barrancas Canyon view - rocky mesas on both sides and snowy peaks of Sangre de Cristo mountains in distance.

Deer Trap Mesa trailhead actually offers panoramic views. Just turn around and admire Jemez Mountains.

Hike another mile to the end of rock mesa and enjoy a little different view.

From here, you can climb down and up again on those rocky hills or turn into Rendija Canyon or make a tour around Deer Trap mesa. There are miles and miles of hikes. Possibilities are endless.

Bayo Canyon

Bayo Canyon is the one you see from the windows of Casa Bear vacation home. You can hike into the canyon from the trailhead across Barranca Elementary School which is 0.25 miles from Casa Bear.

After 0.5 miles hiking in this beautiful canyon, you can reach the mesa on the opposite side and admire this gorgeous view. It is especially pretty after snow storm.

Alternatively, you can drive to this overlook. Park your car at the dead end of Camino Encantado and walk 200 feet on the narrow pathway in between the residential houses.

Hike to the end of this rock mesa. Return back to Casa Bear by making a loop through Bayo Bench Trail.

You can reach this overlook also on a bike, but I would recommend to start your ride on roundabout near golf course. From there, you can enjoy relatively flat terrain, mostly wider trail but still above deep canyon with amazing views.

Playgrounds, soccer, tennis

Kids can play at 3 playgrounds close to Barranca Mesa Elementary School, which is across our cul-de-sac, approx. 0.2 miles away. Each playground is for different age group (3 to 10 years old). Visit these playgrounds anytime except when elementary school kids are present during their recess.

There is a soccer field and tennis courts at the same location.