Four Hills, San Pedro Creek, Gutierrez Open Space

Day 15 Four Hills (Manzano Open Space). Although the Albuquerque Foothills get all the attention, across Interstate 40, the Four Hills area has a pretty big slice of open space, extending to Carnuel to the North and to the Kirtland AFB to the South. It is a little disconcerting to know that nukes are stored in the AFB bunkers, but the terrain here is surprisingly pretty:

Day 14 Exploring the Arroyo - San Pedro Creek from Golden Open Space

There are some rideable trails that extend from the Golden Open Space into San Pedro Creek. This area is State and BLM land. Some trails have clearly been used on occasion by mountain bikes and
horses and hikers.

Perhaps the arroyo is not the safest place to be on a rainy day - it rained on my way out - but it makes for rare conditions allowing easy travel on the sandy soil. I saw evidence of mule deer, coyote, and maybe elk. No people. 

Exploring Gutierrez Canyon - Day 12 and Day 13

Gutierrez Canyon Open Space is a gem that offers two loops. None of the individual trails area named, and the bigger loop goes outside the open space through a Cedar Crest neighborhood.

Here is the view of Cedar Crest with the sun coming over the Sandias near sunset: