Solitude and Geology at the Perea Nature Trail in New Mexico

For a short, refreshing hike, consider the BLM-managed Perea Nature Trail, a site known for its views of geologic settings and opportunities for solitude in north-central New Mexico. Here, nature leads the way, taking visitors through a wetland area that is quite appealing to wildlife, including many species of migratory birds.  

To the northwest, a mountain peak dominates the views along the mile-long loop trail, located just outside the village of San Ysidro. The peak is part of the Jemez Mountain Range--the southern start of the Rocky Mountains.  

Visitors to the Perea Nature Trail will also see White Mesa, managed by Zia Pueblo, to the southwest beyond the Rio Salado riverbed. White Mesa, known for its unusual white surface, is often a backdrop in movies and photography. To the north, high rock formations with purple hues highlight the Nacimiento Mountain chain, containing some of the oldest rocks in the area. 

As part of BLM’s commitment to Leave No Trace, the agency encourages visitors to stay on the durable gravel trail to avoid damaging nearby cryptobiotic soils that look like bumpy and spongy crust. The crusts are made up of tiny algae, fungi, moss, and lichens. These organisms help stabilize the desert soils and prevent erosion. And they take decades to restore, if damaged by traffic. 

On a recent visit, pre-dawn clouds loitered on the horizon and edged closer in the late morning. Along the trail, visitors took pictures of birds, lizards, anthills, and plants. Cottonwood trees shielded against gusts of wind. A couple sipped water on a bridge. By the afternoon, storm clouds photobombed White Mesa, suggesting big hair from the 80’s, while the Perea Nature Trail remained sunlit. 

The scene underscored an observation of Native American writer Leslie Marmon Silko, who in her 1996 essay “Interior and Exterior Landscapes: The Pueblo Migration Stories” wrote: 

There is no high mesa or mountain peak where one can stand and not immediately be part of all that surrounds. … The land, the sky, and all that is within them—the landscape—includes human beings. 

A man named Liam, from nearby Rio Rancho, finished a sandwich on the tailgate of his white pickup in the parking lot. Having driven in from a trailhead linking to the BLM-managed Ojito Wilderness to the west, his truck showed signs of driving on a muddy road. Thunder sounded from the 11,000-acre Wilderness area 10 miles away.  

“Got out of there before the rain came so I could eat here in the sun,” Liam said. Getting into the driver’s seat, he paused to look at the dark streaks of approaching rain that appeared to tether the clouds to the Earth’s surface. 

A family of four, walking two by two, entered the parking lot. Quiet and unhurried, they loaded into their car and drove north on U.S. Route 550. 

Clouds closed in and everyone left the Perea Nature Trail. The thirsty bed of the Rio Salado prepared for shade and moisture.