Golden Open Space – Bike Trails & Arroyos Hike
In Golden Region

Map File Source: Garmin BaseCamp

Hike Key: H10674
Last Updated: 11/12/2025 7:54pm
Last Updated By: Marilyn Warrant
Hike Class: C (Challenging)
Hike Distance: 5.6 mi
Minimum Elevation: 6040 ft
Elevation Change: 335 ft
Total Uphill: 770 ft
Total Downhill: 770 ft
Avg. Grade: 4 %
Route Type: Figure8
On Trail: No
Paved or Gravel Roads: No
GPS Advised: Yes
Drive Distance Round Trip: 70 mi
Drive Time One-Way: 1:00
Hiking Seasons: Spring and Fall
New Mexico Game Unit: 8
Hike Status: Waiting Editor
Access Description: Golden Open Space Access
Attractions: Arroyos, Badlands, Rock Formations, and Views

Highlights

A variation that includes (1) all of the Los Duendes Trail, (2) all of the main arroyo, and (3) half of the side Arroyo Seco. Colorful rocks and great views.

Cautions

Hiking off-trail in the arroyos with some walking on rocks. Bring your hiking poles.

Trailhead Directions

From Albuquerque, take I-40 to North 14. In Cedar Crest just after the school on the left, turn left onto LA MADERA Road (the road to East Mountain High School). Stay on the windy but paved road until it turns to dirt at a cattleguard in about 7.5 miles. It is about 2 miles from this point to PARK (0.0 mi). Even though the road has curves, most of it is paved.

Actual Hike

After going into the Golden Open Space, take a right to follow the Los Duendes Trail to LOS DUENDES-1 (0.3 mi) and then LOS DUENDES-2 (0.6 mi). Hikers have created a foot trail starting about here. Following this trail, Leave the Los Duendes Trail, bend to your left, and continue to VIEW-1 (0.8 mi) then CAIRN (0.9 mi) to get into the first arroyo. You’ll intersect another bike trail at ARRCNYN-1 (1.3 mi). Go down this arroyo past the DEEP hole (2.2 mi) to its intersection with Arroyo Seco at ARROYOS JOIN (2.3 mi), admiring the colorful cliffs. Head up this arroyo, passing ARRBIKE (2.6 mi) (a bike trail that returns from the hill to your left). Locate WAY UP (3.1 mi), make your way up a series of white limestone ledges, and go off-trail to ARRCNYN-2 (3.5 mi) where you may join the bike trail or continue off-trail a short distance to the main arroyo at INT-MAIN (3.6 mi). In either case, make a left turn and continue until you return to ARRCNYN-1 (4.0 mi). Follow the trail up to your right until you reach the MESA (4.7 mi). Take a very short left then JOIN (4.8 mi) the Los Duendes Trail and go right to return to PARK.

Waypoints

Access
LA MADERA (TURN LEFT): N35 10.421, W106 20.225
Hike
PARK: N35 16.289, W106 19.695
LOS DUENDES-1: N35 16.030, W106 19.659
LOS DUENDES-2: N35 15.905, W106 19.850
VIEW-1: N35 15.855 W106 20.021
CAIRN: N35 15.763, W106 19.965
ARRCNYN-1: N35 15.740, W106 19.673
DEEP: N35 15.815, W106 18.885
ARROYOS JOIN: N35 15.820, W106 18.764
ARRBIKE: N35 15.630, W106 18.944
WAY UP N35 15.446 W106 19.220
ARRCNYN-2: N35 15.671, W106 19.224
INT-MAIN: N35 15.735, W106 19.238
MESA: N35 15.863, W106 19.343
JOIN: N35 15.895, W106 19.371

Map Filename: Golden-BikeArrMap3_MW.jpg
Hike GPS File Name: GoldenBkArrWayTrack3_MW.gpx
Hike GPS File: Click link to download hike waytrack file

Text Author: Marilyn Warrant
Map Author: Marilyn Warrant
Waypoints Author: Marilyn Warrant
Track Author: Marilyn Warrant
Maintainer: Marilyn Warrant
Editor: Dawn McIntyre