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Camping Food Tips & Reviews The Outdoors – Videos

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camping food and gear reviews
Camping Food and Gear Reviews

Camping food, and gear is used to make the food enjoyable and can be a difficult task for some people. People who don’t go on these adventure trips often could benefit from others who have experience. In this article, we are going to show simple gear like mini-stoves used for cooking food or hot water for the use of dehydrated food. I’m going to cover several brands of dehydrated food, and some other gear I find useful. These simple-to-use products will help to keep your camping or hiking costs down, and we will give you some pros and cons for the products. We focus on the common sense use of products and the use of low-cost solutions.

I tested these meals and gear at the Bandelier National Monument while using the nearby campground. I think having real-world environments makes for better reviews, and I do enjoy making detailed content for you the reader. Moving forward I will do more reviews of dehydrated camping food by several vendors, and just post my honest opinions on the flavor, taste, spicy levels, and more. Please consider using the table of contents to jump to the area of interest. I have a video for each subject or meal I tested on this trip.

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Some Frequently Asked Questions

What brand of dehydrated meals do I like the most?

That is a difficult answer and it depends on my mood. If I want basic American food then Mountain House is good. If I want to change things up I lean to Backpackers Pantry, and I want a more exotic meal I like Nomad Nutrition.

How easy is it to set this mini stove up?

Easy and in the video I was cooking water in under five minutes.

Is there a downside to using this stove?

It can be difficult to light when it’s windy. But once started it seems to just run.

Can I use different brands other than STERNO to heat the food in this stove?

Yes and I have used a few brands, and they seem to work equally as well.

Camping Mini Stove Setup

This simple stove from Sterno is very low cost and can be set up quickly. The Sterno cans ignite fast, and other brands can be used to reduce costs further. I have also used hand gel that contains alcohol within, and that does work in a pinch. What you decide to use for the boiling of water can be an old canteen cup or if you want several items from places like Sportmans, Cabellas, and even Walmart’s lower-cost options. Keep in mind you just need a flat bottomed metal surface to bol water. The dehydrated meals range in costs from $5 – $12 per package. This can be reduced if you become a distributor of a particular brand and order in bulk.

Camping Food Setup Using Mini Stove

Using And Packing Camping Food Mini Stove

Camping food has several brands these days, and I cover Mountain House, Backpackers Pantry, Nomad Nutrition. These three will make up the bulk of the reviews with others later on in the article. With the video and the additional information we provide you you should be able to develop a great list of camping food ideas.

Chili-Mac For A Quick And Easy Camping Food

Some of the best camping food has a traditional feel to them and used to be made the old fashion way. Today we can get these in a dehydrated form that is light and easy to bring along on your hiking or camping trips. Chili-Mac is one of those old-time favorites and I review this easy camping food from Mountain House in the video above. I personally did like it but need to do a dual-brand comparison to determine the spicy level of the entre.

Mango Sticky Rice For A Delicious Easy Camping Food

Another great dehydrated meal comes from Backpackers pantry, and it’s called mango sticky rice. It has a coconut flavor along with a mango-sweetened rice dish. This could be used for dessert or just a great breakfast before a long hike. See the video above for my review. We found the flavor to be unique with a great Thai flavor, and it was surprising how good it was for dehydrated camping food. You can taste the coconut, mango, cream, with standard white rice.

Dehydrated Ice Cream

Sometimes a light lower-calorie dessert does well for something quick. I recently did a taste test of the Mountain House ice cream bars. They carry vanilla, and mint and they are both pretty good.

Pad Thai With Chicken

This particular meal is very different and does help to break up the monotony with on on a longer hike or camping deeper in the great outdoors.

MRE As Camping Food

MRE’s are traditionally considered a military food, but they also can provide a continuous source of hot food that can sustain you on a hike, hunt, or camping.

A review on the taste and flavor of the Alpine Aire dehydrated Creamy Beef & Noodles With Mushrooms meal for lunch, dinner, or whatever part of the day you feel like trying something new.

Some Additional Camping Food Ideas

Don’t forget simple classics like hotdogs, and smores that can be cooked over an open fire. These days it’s not acceptable to use tree branches so make sure to pick up and simply extending the fork. They work well and can be low-cost if you look around. Walmart normally has the cheapest brand.

A Camping Food List For You to Consider

On some of our latest trips to White Sands National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Bandelier National Monument, and the Petroglyph National Monument we used this stove and these particular meals. The videos were literally taken on the trips during the resting period of time, and before going to sleep for the night.

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Albuquerque’s Petroglyph National Monument Exploration & Adventure

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Front Gate To Petroglyph National Monument Visitor Center

The Petroglyphs National Monument presents a unique environment where one can explore the past of the Pueblo peoples and enjoy a great hike in the process. The sites are broken into three separate trails. Each of them shows different petroglyphs and varies in size and type. Some can be seen up close and others require a keen eye. These glyphs are the product of people from thousands to hundreds of years ago understanding that removing the thin top layer of volcanic rock will leave a white presence against a black distinct background.

Top hiking trails in Albuquerque

Some of the best Alburquerque hiking trails are within this area of petroglyphs and make up the Petroglyph National Monument and trail system. These trails are short and fairly easy to complete, and the time of year is what will determine how far you can hike, and what you can do in the hotter times of the year. Good examples to consider would be starting early before 10:00 am during the hottest times of the year. In early winter after 10:00 am might be best in order to allow the area to warm up some.

Visitor Center of Petroglyph National Monument

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Desert flowers blooming at the Petroglyph National Monument visitor center.

At certain times of the year, the bushes and cactuses bloom with bright colors of yellow, purple, and other enjoyable colors. The visitor center is a good spot to notice the plants of this area, but in a pristine environment where water is plentiful.

Each trail location is detailed with questions people might ask and the GPS coordinates to each location.

The Petroglyph Trails

Boca Negra Canyon Petroglyphs

GPS Lat: 35.161 GPS Long: -106.719

Some FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) hikers and visitors to this area ask.

Common questions about the trail:

What time does the Boca Negra Canyon trail open?

The trail opens at 08:30 am and closes at 4:30 pm daily.

How many petroglyph can I see on the Boca Negra Canyon trail?

You can see up to 100 petroglyphs.

How long is the Boca Negra canyon trail?

Short walks of about 1/2 mile for a total time of 1 hour in duration.

Boca Negra canyon trail Best Albuquerque hiking trails
Boca Negra canyon trail informational board.

The black mountain is basically a small hill with a large number of petroglyphs around it all the way to the top. This particular trail is well maintained and easy to get to from the main road. There are times when the trail is just large rocks that you must climb over or go around. To complete this trail you follow the signs and make sure to veer right in order to take the longer route that will allow you to see a petroglyph or two up close.

The glyph here seems to represent more of the life of the Pueblo peoples and less of the agriculture aspects that were critical to their survival. Ancestral worship was not uncommon and this image could represent anyone past or present from the time it was completed.

Rinconada Canyon Petroglyphs

Rinconada Canyon Petroglyphs

GPS Lat: 35.127 GPS Long: -106.725

Common questions about the trail:

What are the hours of operation for the Rinconada Canyon trail?

Rinconada Canyon Parking Lot Hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.

Are pets allowed on this trail?

Leashed dogs/pets are not allowed on the petroglyph viewing section of this trail.

Black volcanic rock used to carve petroglyphs.
Petroglyph rocks carved by the Pueblo peoples.

This second trail is within distance and has ease of access, and is within the open desert surrounding a much shorter but wider hill complex. The trail is very sandy, and the conditions are similar to the hot open desert that has preserved these petroglyphs for hundreds and maybe in some cases thousands of years. I found the grazing animals to be the most interesting. This would allude to the pueblo people grazing animals, and having a more sophisticated agriculture lifestyle.

Piedras Marcadas Canyon

Piedras Marcadas Canyon Trail

GPS Lat: 35.1887 GPS Long: -106.6856

Common questions about the trail:

What are the hours of access to Piedras Marcadas Canyon trail?

Open daily sunrise to sunset.

The parking area is well kept and has no gate that closes. So if for some reason you run late your car will hopfully still be there and not locked inside until morning.

Piedras Marcadas Canyon Trail Map

This map shows the simple trail with four different locations where larger groups of petroglyphs are present or ones that are easy to see. I have included a few here to give you an idea of what to expect.

Humanoid Petroglyth Piedras Marcadas Canyon Trail

Here is some petroglyphs along the trail showing what I think are people, and an animal. Keep in mind that some of these can go from hundreds to a few thousand showing animals that no longer exist.

Hands and animals of Petroglyth Piedras Marcadas Canyon Trail

Throughout time we see the hand being used as the universal symbol of “Hi I was here”. We also see what I think might be a horned toad lizard.

City view of Albuquerque, NM Piedras Marcadas Canyon Trail

Petroglyphs National Monument Trail System Feedback

As you can see from all three of these trails that make up the Petroglyph National Monument they are a part of the Albuquerque national parks system that surrounds the area. All of these are day hikes that allow you to go back to your hotel room and rest before being back in the morning for several more hikes. Each petroglyph is a symbol of the people who once lived here, and a form of communication to people of the future. Their ancestors would also be something they would have wanted to exalt in some form, and this chipping away of the top black layer of volcanic rock..

Petroglyph National Monument

Volcanoes Day Use Area

GPS Lat: 35.1306 GPS Long: -106.7803

Petroglyph National Monument-Volcanoes Day Hiking Trails

These trails show the unique geography and geological remnants of these extinct volcanoes. These trails are on the short side and several can be done in a day. Keep the time of day in mind and plan your clothing, hiking gear, and water, food snacks, and sunscreen.

Three Sisters Volcanoes Petroglyph National Monument.

Map of the Volcano Trails

Volcano Day Use Area Trail System Map – Courtesy of the NPS & Petroglyph National Monument Website.

Common questions about the trails:

Map of the trails at the Volcanoes Day Use Area.

What are the hours of access?

Parking lot hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

Can I enter the park after hours?

Yes before or after-hours access is permitted by parking outside of gated parking lot.

Can we bring pets into the par?

Leashed pets/dogs are allowed. A maximum leash length of 6 feet is strictly enforced. Owners must pick up all dog waste and carry it out to a trash can.

Volcanoes Trail Petroglyph National Monument

Volcanoes Trail

How far is the Volcanoes trail?

Distance: About 3 1/2 miles round trip loop from the parking lot to the JA Volcano and around the Vulcan Volcano back to the parking lot.
Difficulty: easy to moderate

Resting area along the Volcanoes Trail Petroglyph National Monument

The entire trail starts at the parking lot and goes past the JA Volcano to the scenic overlook, up to the Vulcan Volcano, and back to the parking lot, with sweeping views of Albuquerque and the Rio Grande Valley throughout.


JA Volcano and the Albuquerque Overlook

Albuquerque Overlook along the Volcanoes Trail Petroglyph National Monument
How far is the JA Volcano and Albuquerque Overlook trail?

Distance: 1 mile round trip from the parking lot to scenic overlook and back.
Difficulty: easy

This sub-section of the trail departs from the parking lot and heads east to a scenic view of the Rio Grande Valley, Albuquerque, and the Sandia Mountains. You will have to turn around the way you came back to the parking lot to complete it. This trail has two shaded rest areas with benches.


Vulcan Volcano Loop

Vulcan Volcano Loop Trail
How long is the Vulcan Volcano Loop hike?

Distance: 2 miles from north side of parking lot around Vulcan Volcano and back.
Difficulty: moderate

The entire trail starts at the parking lot and goes past the JA Volcano to the scenic overlook, up to the Vulcan Volcano and back to the parking lot, with sweeping views of Albuquerque and the Rio Grande Valley throughout.

JA Volcano and the Albuquerque Overlook

How long is the JA Volcano and the Albuquerque Overlook hike?

Distance: 1 mile round trip from the parking lot to scenic overlook and back.
Difficulty: easy

This sub-section of the trail departs from the parking lot and heads east to a scenic view of the Rio Grande Valley, Albuquerque, and the Sandia Mountains. You will have to turn around the way you came back to the parking lot to complete it. This trail has two shaded rest areas with benches.

Vulcan Volcano Petroglyph National Monument

This sub-section of the the trail can be found by going to the northside of the main parking lot near the gate. The trail along the eastern base of Vulcan is difficult to find but do not give up. A gradual incline up the east side of Vulcan leads to a level, mini-volcanic valley on Vulcan’s north side. Continue on trail and go left (south) when you approach the ‘Y’ on the northwest side of Vulcan. At next ‘Y’ go left again for an up-close look at this well preserved cinder cone. Follow trail down, continuing south on old road which leads back to the parking lot.

Conclusion

If you would like to learn more about this great national monument and what the National Park Service is doing to study and maintain the sites consider visiting their website here. National Park Service Website The Albuquerque area is home to many areas the adventure travel enthusiast would enjoy no matter what the time of year. Next, you are in this area of New Mexico United States consider these day hikes and some of the suggestions for the area below.

Are you interested in other areas surrounding Albuquerque New Mexico, and having a continuous hiking adventure. If so then please continue to read the FAQs below and visit some of our other New Mexico trips.

White Sands National Monument

16 Top Travel Places in New Mexico to Plan a Backpacking Trip

The Treasures Of Southern New Mexico

Uncovering The History Of Lincoln: A Look At Some Popular Spots

Where can I hike around Albuquerque?

There are several places and the Petroglyph National Monument has several short day hikes. The Elena Gallegos Picnic Area offers great trails that connect to the National forest. See video here https://youtu.be/85vbdy9CQ_M

Is Albuquerque good for hiking?

Yes and depending on the time of year you can hike in the mornings or during the day when others are snowed in.

What’s the name of the mountains in Albuquerque?

The Sandia Mountains.

Are there mountains in Albuquerque?

The Sandia Mountains provide great hiking and photography opportunities.

How many hikes are in Albuquerque?

We have been on ten separate hikes around the Albuquerque area. From mountains to the desert viewing petroglyphs. See some of these hikes here ExploreTraveler.com

Can you drive to the top of Sandia Peak?

No, but you can get very close hiking by starting in The Elena Gallegos Picnic Area offers great trails that connect to the National forest. See the video here https://youtu.be/85vbdy9CQ_M Also consider taking the tram to the top of the ski area where you can also get very close.

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