The area of Las Conchas is truly a gem tucked up in the Jemez Mountains. Miraculously untouched by recent fires (though surrounded by the aftermath) AND boasting the lovely Jemez River (though these days more of a meandering stream…), it can feel like a bit of an oasis in this high desert land. Anytime of the year, Las Conchas is a great place to spend the day. At 40 minutes from Los Alamos, it’s a fairly easy drive with the kids and you can access the hike and the river easily from the main road. If you’re prepared for a picnic and have lots of stuff to carry, you’re in luck! Less than a few hundred feet from the parking area, you can lay out your Whatever Blanket right next to the water and read a good book while your kids splash in the shallows. In the spring and summer, the water is usually deep enough for it to feel exciting and fun for kids, but shallow and gentle enough that even a toddler or preschooler could stand easily. Further down the well-trod trail, the stream widens and there is better access along the banks. The main downside, is that there are no outhouses or port-a-potties. Normally I couldn’t care less, but with this being a very popular trail and a somewhat confined area, let’s just say that there are limited options available when you (or a kid) has got to go! Be prepared to hike a ways up a hill or squat behind a rock.
In the winter, people snowshoe or cross-country ski on the trail when it’s snowy. The river often ices over and creates a stillness that invites you to pause, too, and just take it all in.
We love to take the boys here. Las Conchas provides such an easy, natural place for the kids to play and enjoy being outside, while also being a close, stress-free trip for me. There are several other perks to Las Conchas that I’ll let Matt write about, like sport-climbing and the longer hikes. For me, it’s enough that I can let the kids loose, sit in the sunshine, and appreciate a beautiful day.
What to bring:
In the spring/summer, when I know the kids will be playing in the water, I bring towels, toilet paper/baby wipes, extra changes of clothing, our Whatever Blanket, lots of water and snacks, hiking sandals, and a hiking carrier/backpack just in case the littlest tires out.
These wet/dry bags are awesome for any time your kids might get wet. I always throw one of these in my backpack when we head to a river or pool. Having various sizes comes in handy, but these days I only use a large since it will hold wet clothes from all 3 kids.
We’ve used these Teva sandals 
For a hiking/kid-carrying backpack, we LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this one – the Osprey Poco. Seriously, do yourself a favor and buy this one for yourself, your spouse, baby-making friends and family… it’s fantastic. We’ve trekked each of our boys up Colorado 14’ers, down into canyons, on numerous day hikes, through airports, in the sun/rain/snow/sleet/hail… it is worth it’s weight in gold. Definitely one of the best purchases we’ve made for our family and an essential item in our efforts to adventure with our kiddos.
Click here for directions on how to get from Los Alamos to the Las Conchas trail-head.
