The Chimney Rock trail is a great option for a shorter day on the trail or a hike with kids. It includes stunning views of the Piedra Lumbre basin and gives you a perfect taste of the unique landscape of this part of northern New Mexico.
Start your adventure by checking in at the Ghost Ranch Visitor Center, then find the trailhead just behind the building. You'll quickly drop down through an arroyo and then walk through a gate. The trail begins to climb briefly then flattens out with beautiful views across to Pedernal and the Piedra Lumbre basin, the heart of Georgia O'Keefe country.
Continue to climb gradually up the ridge with your first sight of Chimney Rock's profile up close. Towards the end, the trail gets a little rockier and steepens before finishing on top of the mesa. Head out towards Chimney Rock and take in the incredible views before heading back the way you came!