Burnt Mesa Virtual Tour

Burnt Mesa trail is relatively level, 2.5 miles one way, and known for views, flowers, and wildlife.

photo by Sally King

 

Duration:

18 seconds

Long view in all directions. Wide open with a few stands of trees.

 

Duration:

28 seconds

Soaring turkey vultures is not an uncommon sight above Burnt Mesa in Spring, Summer, and Fall.

 

Lewis's Woodpecker is one of many birds that might be seen along the trail.

photo by Sally King

 

Duration:

22 seconds

360 views at Burnt Mesa

 

Duration:

26 seconds

The Jemez to the west, the Sangre de Cristo to the east, the Sandias to the South, and the San Miguels on the western boundary of Bandelier are all visible from this trail.

 

Duration:

24 seconds

This area has been affected by many fires including the 1977 La Mesa Fire and the 2011 Las Conchas Fire. These burns have left open savannas with sparse clumps of trees.

 

Easter daisies are one of the earliest wildflowers on Burnt Mesa.  They can be very prolific and dot the landscape in areas with the right soil.

photo by Sally King

 

Duration:

32 seconds

You can see almost forever. On a warm day be aware there is very minimal shade on this trail.

 

Duration:

21 seconds

Burnt Mesa Trail ends in an overlook to a side canyon of Frijoles Canyon. Time to head back but the view will be different heading this way.

 

A side canyon as you reach the end of Burnt Mesa.

photo by Sally King

 

View from the end of Burnt Mesa Trail

photo by Sally King

 

Duration:

16 seconds

More spectacular views in all directions.

 

Duration:

23 seconds

This is why you do this hike. Endless views.

 

Don't hurry.  Watch for the little things.  Out here the pace of life can be slow.

photo by Sally King

 

Duration:

14 seconds

Watch the ants. Is their pace harried or leisurely? These are harvester ants. They collect stones of the same size from far and wide to make their homes. Someone has stuck a stick in this ant hill. Watch the ants repair the damage.

 

Duration:

18 seconds

This area burned heavily in 1977 and more lightly in 2011. The vegetation response is slow but thorough.

 

At this time of the year there isn't a lot of variety in the flowers but there are a lot of Easter daisies.

photo by Sally King

 

Northern Flickers and Western Bluebirds are two birds commonly seen at Burnt Mesa.

photo by Sally King

 

Duration:

19 seconds

Almost back to the car and the drive home. Take one last look at the distant beauty of this place.

 

Coyotes, mule deer, and rock squirrels are mammals that might be seen at Burnt Mesa.

photo by Sally King

 

Duration:

33 seconds

A couple weeks later green is beginning to show on Burnt Mesa trail as plants respond to the warmer weather.

 

Cassin's Kingbird is a summer Bandelier resident that can be seen on Burnt Mesa trail.

photo by Sally King

 

A male broad-tailed hummingbird at purple penstemon on Burnt Mesa.

photo by Sally King

 

Duration:

30 seconds

With each passing day the landscape gets greener and greener as spring turns to summer.