This is one of the first forays back to hiking on forest trails. After a year-long layoff for medical reasons and a month walking mostly on the Bosque Trails along the Rio Grande, the body is coming back. And the progress has been to gradually take longer walks and now get back on trails. I look forward to continuing hikes, with Pat and with Jay, like we did in the past.
The Drive In
The drive to the trailhead: from downtown Santa Fe, head out on Hyde Park Road (NM 475), 9 miles from the Santa Fe Plaza (by way of Washington Ave/Bishops Lodge Road, right/east on Artist Road, then continue onto Hyde Park Road). The trailhead will be on the left just beyond Hyde National State Park.
The Hike
Borrrego Trail Hike.Jay.2025-06-30
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
This is a downhill-uphill-downhill (and reverse returning) out-and-back hike. The trail is wide and smooth (some areas of exposed roots and rocks) … easy ambulating. It proceeds through mature forest (many pine trees and aspen too). It is truly like the proverbial park, the New Mexico kind of parks. We chose to turn back where it crosses Teseque Creek (at first we thought crossing the creek would require rock/log hopping, but .. there is a bridge that was just out of sight from where we decided to stop).
Highlight
For me … to be back on a forest trail. And to be hiking again with Jay.
Statistics
Total Distance: 3.4 miles
Elevation: start 8,880 ft, maximum 8,892 ft, minimum 8,490 ft
Gross gain: 402 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,054 ft, descending 1,056 ft
Maximum slope: 40% ascending, 36% descending, 10% average
Duration: 2:26, Average Speed: 1.4 mph
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
Having attended the Open House and Fly-In at the Los Alamos airport (KLAM), I took advantage of continuing west on NM 4 for a bit of a walkabout near Valles Caldera. We’ve hiked to the top of Cerro Grande, so I was familiar with the first half mile – an easy trail as I work towards getting back in hiking shape after nearly a year of “limited duty”.
The Drive In
To get there, from either direction on NM 4:
East 5 miles from the entrance to Valles Caldera
West 5 miles from the intersection of NM 4 and NM 501 (the road through Los Alamos)
Parking is on the north side of NM 4.
The walkabout
Cerro Grande Trails Walk.Solo.2025-06-28
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
The plan was to hike as far as the slope of the trail remained gradual, knowing from experience (and checking past hikes), that at a point it would take a significant turn -up-. And I was not ready for any significant climbing. So … at half a mile, encountering an abrupt change in slow, and then a rocky surface, I turned around.
One of the great enjoyments of hiking in these mountains during the summer – flowers. I counted 14 different flowering plants during this ~mile walk; pictures of a few are above.
Wanting more, and being curious, I chose to explore a “trail” that is marked on GAIA (and on other maps). A few hundred yards from the trailhead approcimately where the map indicated, I found no sign of any trail. Curious enough, I proceeded to follow the track as it went northeast towards a canyon that goes up to a crest just north of Cerro Grande. The terrain is easy – generally flat, a few areas of small rocks, covered in tufts of calf-high grass. I continued on to the entrance to the small canyon where I found the first sign of a “trail” – evidence typical of an access road put in place decades ago. It might be worth exploring further some day.
Statistics
Total Distance: 2.18 miles
Elevation: start 8,959 ft, maximum 9,157 ft, 8,958 minimum ft
Gross gain: 199 ft. Aggregate ascending 336 ft, descending 335 ft
Maximum slope: 25% ascending, 25% descending, 05.2% average
Duration: 2:11, Average Speed: 1.0 mph
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
It is great to get back on the trail after many months dealing with medical issues. Oak Flats is a perfect area – well used smooth trails, generally smooth and with easy and minimal elevation changes. Plus, it isn’t far from home, it is an open forest of oak and ponderosa pine trees, and we can have breakfast or brunch at one of our favorite places, Roots Farm Cafe in Tijeras.
The Drive In
From Albuquerque eastbound on I-40 exit at Tijeras onto NM 337 southbound (folks who have been in these parts for many years know it as South 14). From Roots Farm Cafe (1/3 mile from the stoplights), proceed uphill for 8.5 miles, then turn left (east) onto Oak Flat Road. A mile on turn left into the Oak Flats Group Campground complex,then turn to the left to follow the road around to the parking area and the Trailhead.
The Hike
Oak Flats “Easy Pickin” Loop Hike.Pat.2025-06-20
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
We’ve done many hikes or walkabouts in Oak Flats over the years. I can’t add much to what I wrote for previous posts, so please check out this one in particular: Oak Flats Trails Walkabout – 08/04/2023
Statistics
Total Distance: 1.69 miles
Elevation: start 7,694 ft, maximum 7,706 ft, minimum 7,644 ft
Gross gain: 12 ft. Aggregate ascending 57 ft, descending 52 ft
Maximum slope: 18% ascending, 15% descending, 4.3% average
Duration: 1:11, Average Speed: 1.4 mph
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
Another “back on the trail” hike, this day with my long time hiking buddy. For some weeks, he’s invited me to join him on a new trail near Santa Fe. We hit the trail a bit early, hoping it would be a bit cooler even at the higher elevation. And afterwards, as has been our habit we stopped for breakfast, this day at Pantry Dos (the best smothered breakfast burrito that I’ve eaten).
The Drive In
Getting to the Spur Trailhead is a bit convoluted. I won’t try to describe it, but use this link to GoogleMaps.
The Hike
Spur Trail Hike.Jay.2025-06-17
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
The Spur Trail is a well groomed out-and-back trail through open juniper forest (if one can call it a “forest”); we hiked the eastern portion of the trail, from Falcon Way to the Santa Fe Rail Trail and back. The trail presents a few ups-and-downs with easy slopes and only a little elevation gain overall. At the highest point one can see the mountains in every direction (except southeast): Ortiz, San Pedro, and Sandias to the southwest, Jemez to the northwest, and the Sangre de Cristo to the northeast. Oh, and some nice person has placed 4″ painted rocks marking 1 mile outbound and 2 mile return-bound – a nice touch – thanks.
Highlight
Simply being back on a hiking trail, again.
Statistics
Total Distance: 3.03 miles
Elevation: start 6,652 ft, maximum 6,847 ft, minimum 6,741 ft
Gross gain: 106 ft. Aggregate ascending 307 ft, descending 307 ft
Maximum slope: 13% ascending, 13% descending, 03% average
Duration: 1:31, Average Speed: 2.9 mph
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
After nearly a year off-trail, this is our first return to hiking – a short one but a step in rehabilitation from back issues that severely limited my mobility. It was a good choice – a seldom used two-track (even surface) and with little elevation gain (‘tho with some ups-and-downs for the walking stride to get re-accustomed to sloped terrain). So I post this “sub-hike” more to document it as to share with others. If it peaked your curiosity, check out the Related Posts below for other forays into Rio Cebolla and references to it on other hikes in the vicinity.
The Drive In
To get to the trailhead drive west on NM 126 up over the high terrain and down to Fenton Lake. At the entrance to the lake turn to the right to remain on NM 126 and continue for about 3 miles. Then turn right on NM 314 towards the Seven Springs Fish Hatchery. Past the fish ponds the road becomes a bit rough, not so rough as previous posts described; medium clearance vehicle is recommended. ‘Tis about 1.5 miles to the Seven Springs Picnic Site (formerly Campground – camping not allowed now). There is a pit toilet and some picnic tables, plus plenty of parking.
The Hike
FR 314-Cebolla Canyon Hike.Pat.2025-06-13
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
The Rio Cebolla is in a -beautiful canyon-. The trail follows a two-track used regularly by officers tending this “Red Chile Water”, a designation given by the NM Department of Game and Fish for streams receiving special attention. Their goal is the return of native fish, particularly Rio Grand Cutthroat trout, to New Mexico waters.
We hiked in 1.2 miles where the two-track cross to the east side of the Rio Cebolla. For this day, that was as much as I wished to go. During the hike, I recalled some great hikes in Cebolla Canyon and in the canyons that come down from the ridge to the east – Oat, Hay, and Pony.
Statistics
Total Distance: 2.29 miles
Elevation: start 8,073 ft, maximum 8,165 ft, minimum 8,073 ft
Gross gain: 92 ft. Aggregate ascending 546 ft, descending 550 ft
Maximum slope: 27% ascending, 34% descending, 6% average
Duration: 1:37
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
It’s been many months since we have been able to get out and about – we needed to begin a recovery from “cabin fever”. Friday evening, with a weekend of nice weather in the offing, spontaneously (no advance planning) we embarked Saturday on a Driveabout, choosing to explore a part of New Mexico that has long been on our bucket list: Valle Vidal.
The Drive In
From Albuquerque, Valle Vidal is a long drive:
Via Cimarron –
By way of I-25 to north of Springer, then west on NM 58 – 215 miles, 3 hours
Or by way of Santa Fe (I-25), Española (US 94/285), Taos (NM 68), and Eagle Nest (US 64) – 186 miles, 3.5 hours
Then 7 miles north on US 64, turn west on FR 1950, 43 miles to Valle Vidal on a very well maintained gravel road
Or via Costilla, 2 miles from the border with Colorado –
By way Santa Fe (I-25), Española (US 84/285), and Taos (NM 68) to Costilla (NM 522) – 178 miles, 3.2 hours
Then drive east on FR 1950, ten miles on a paved road followed by for 13 miles on gravel, both not-so-well maintained
And the drive to the Valle is still many miles from the highway.
We weren’t certain that the road through Valle Vidal, FR 1950, would be open for a DriveThru. Passing through Taos, a decision point, we called the Forest Service district office. We did not get a clear answer, ranging from “it is closed” (leaving us to guess if “it” was the road itself) or if there were only restrictions from leaving the road. We decided to go for it, but stay a night in Cimarron, putting the decision about a DriveThru until the next day.
We obtained a reservation for the night at the St James Hotel, a very good choice. We stayed in the Jesse James room, enjoyed a very nice supper in their dining room/bar, and … we weren’t bothered by ghosts (for which the Hotel has quite a reputation).
The next morning we decided to try the DriveThru, risking 1) not able to get into the National Forest at all, or .. 2) finding a gate closed before exiting the other end of FR 1950 dictating that we return to Cimarron. The conclusion – the road was open .. all the way.
The DriveThru
Valle Vidal Drivethru.Pat.2025-03-29
Notes: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line). Press <back> on your browser to return to the post.
From Cimarron we entered from the East, turning off of US 65 onto FR 1950 about 7 miles north of the town. The route starts out in open plains bounded by hills on both sides – a valley passing through a portion of Ted Turner’s Vermijo Ranch. At about 21 miles we entered into the National Forest.We find the openness of this scenery to be a favorite – grass across the valley, juniper and piñon trees on the hills. There are many side canyons that drew our curiosity (but one is not allowed to leave the road’s right-of-way).
Elevation increases gradually for some 25 miles as this valley becomes narrower. And as we drove west, snow capped mountains beyond began to appear, adding greatly to the scenery.The terrain was becoming more varied – taller hills, narrower canyons interspersed with large open areas, each one drawing an exclamation of Wow – open space. About 30 miles in the road began a serious climb from 8,000 feet to Windy Pass (10,000 feet elevation), with a couple of sections with sharp switchbacks. Along the way we checked out the two campgrounds: McCrystal and Cimarron (both closed until May).
Descending from Windy Pass, we entered into the north end of Valle Vidal. We didn’t have the time (or energy) to explore roads going south into the Valle itself. But looking over our shoulder … we would like to come back; given the distances, to make the most of the visit it would best be done as part of a camping trip.
Continuing the drive west was all downhill, through the narrow canyon of the Rio Costilla. Meandering from one side of the Rio to the other, we passed under some amazing rock formations, tall cliffs 100′ to 200′ above the road. And the rocks were in many colors, patterns, shapes – not a vista but interesting scenery themselves. (This got us thinking of getting a GoPro to better document these Driveabouts, and to share some of the scenery.)
Hindsight
So the DriveThru is 67 miles. Although the road is good (for a gravel road) it makes for a very long day. Especially true as we were constantly being ‘bombarded’ by new views of the scenery – grass valleys, hills, glimpses of snow-capped mountains, and amazing rock formations (particularly on the way out from Valle Vidal itself). We also came upon a pair of Elk and a .. turkey.
After that long day of driving, we opted to stay a second night on the road, booking a night at the Hacienda del Sol in Taos. This is a quite nice BnB with much history, the buildings dating back to 1804. In the 20th century, it was the home of Mabel Dodge Luhan and her husband who entertained many notable guests such as Georgia O’Keefe, Ansel Adams, and others. Our room was most comfortable, and … guests enjoy a quite nice breakfast.
The Forest Service restricts access to much of the Valle during various times of the year, particularly during the rutting season for Elk. There are also limitations on camping outside of the Campgrounds. Be advised to check their web site or call ahead for guidance
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
It has been many months since I was last able to get out on a trail. Today we went only a short distance on the trail so I’m labeling this a Walk. But … it was .. a trail .., with a name – Monte Largo Trail. On the way, we went wandering about Tierra Grande, a very large, totally open, nearly absolutely flat expanse west of the Manzano Mountains and south of Albuquerque. A developer years ago laid out roads and plots of land for habitation – a few sites have houses, in most case miles from the next one.
The DriveAbout
Tierra Grande Driveabout and Monte Largo Trail Walk.Pat.2025-03-07
Our DriveAbout began about 14 miles southeast from Belen on NM 47. There we turned northeast onto Tierra Grande Loop, then left onto Military Highway, both well maintained sand-and-gravel roads.We used GAIA maps as a guide to explore this vast open expanse of …. almost nothing. The roads were mostly well maintained – graded sand/small gravel and many with ditches. Wishing to explore closer to the Manzanos, we turned right on Stable Drive, then left on Tango Road. We ignored a Dead End sign, but …. we had to turn around when we encountered a deep ravine across the road – not for the Tacoma.
Backtracking to Military Highway, we headed north setting our sights on the Monte Largo Trailhead. A turn right on Commerce Blvd, then a right onto Celaya Blvd took us to the trailhead, a large gravel parking lot with a break in the fence for the Monte Largo Trail.
The route out was to take Celaya around to a turn right onto Commerce Blvd, then left onto Progress Blvd. About a mile on, we turned right on an unnamed road, continued to Commerce Blvd, where we turned left to Military Highway. Then it was a right turn onto Military Hwy. About .6 mile from Commerce Blvd we encountered the largest drifts of tumbleweed ever seen; they blocked the road dictating that we skirt them to the right of the roadway – amazing. Than a bit further along Military Hwy ended, but on the left was a cattle guard that allowed us to get onto Trigo Springs Road. From there we turned left at the next intersection onto N Navajo Loop and a straight shot to Belen, arriving in time to have lunch at the Whistle Stop Cafe in the Belen Harvey House Museum (a great lunch and interesting museum).
Now that route is in some places quite convoluted. One could find more direct routes, with some better planning than we did, or with better mapping on-the-go. But we were exploring/wandering. And we’ll do some more in coming weeks.
The Walk
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
Having not hiked for 10 months, this for me was an exploratory excursion. For a month I’ve been walking up to 3 miles on the level, smooth Bosque Trails along the Rio Grande. But to be on a real trail with uneven surfaces, rocks, even ups-and-downs, would be “breaking new ground” and testing my endurance.
For the distance we walked, the trail was well used and easy to follow. The first quarter mile was a gentle slope among junipers above the bottom of the canyon on the south side. The trail then descended into the bottom and continued, again with gentle slope. We chose to stop this day at .6 mile; at that point the trail joined a two-track that shows on the GAIA map. So only 1.85 miles, but I felt quite comfortable being back on the trail, and looking forward to more hikes and miles in coming weeks/months; I plan to return here to go further on the Monte Largo Trail.
Highlight
We’ve seen nowhere else the variety of rocks in this canyon. It must be a special place for student geologists. Some had the appearance of lava, others petrified wood (‘tho not). There would be changes in colors – within one rock. We found small pieces of quartz, and a couple of -large- pieces. Some had swirls like they were kneaded during their formation, other striations. All another work of Mother Nature’s art.
Statistics
Total Distance: 1.85 miles
Elevation: start 6,251 ft, maximum 6,402 ft, minimum 6,251 ft
Gross gain: 151 ft. Aggregate ascending 246 ft, descending 246 ft
Maximum slope: 19% ascending, % 22descending, 7.1% average
Duration: , Average Speed: mph
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
Cumbres Pass and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) are a favorite destination and hike. You will find other posts of our visits there, one solo, another with Pat, and still another with Jay and Nancy. For this trip, we reserved Campsite 13 at the Heron Lake “Willow Creek” campground. Many of the sites in this campground are quite nice; Site 13 offered a through-drive with room for 2 vehicles, and 2 or 3 spots suitable for tent camping (since Pat didn’t make this trip, I brought a tent to sleep in).
The Drive In
I will leave it to you to find your way to the Heron Lake campgrounds, and from Heron (if you camp there) to Chama. From Chama, continue north on NM 17 for 12 miles (..uphill.. from 7,900 feet to 10,000 feet at the pass) following the tracks of the Cumbres & Toltec Railroad (a National Historic Landmark). You will leave New Mexico for Colorado about 5 miles below the pass, continue on CO 17. Maybe 200 yards before reaching the summit, use the parking area on your right; there is a sign above the parking lot for CDT Trailhead #813. (The CDT goes both north and south from here – we hiked to the north, across the highway from the sign.)
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
From parking, we crossed the highway and under the C&TRR trestle; the trailhead is just beyond. The first quarter mile is uphill, through an area of open forest. Then across an flat open area before taking on the climb. For the next 1.4 mile or so the trail climbs, traversing a steep slope (as Jay says, FARD – Fall and Roll Downhill).
From there the trail continues on a not-so-steep slope across an open hillside. Twice the trail crosses a tiny “valley”, the 2nd at 2.2 miles which had a bit of water draining from above. We continued until encountering a flowing stream which would require wading to cross; we decided to pause here for lunch, then return to the trailhead. (As I had done on my solo hike, added our names to the logbook.
Jay here: Like finding a missing cufflink, we now have the matching set of CDT hikes: North and South. Very different in character. CDTS was mostly open along the ridge tops and with wide views of the valley below. CDTN was more confined in some ways but still had extended views to the ridges we hiked on CDTS the prior year. The steep portions were not FOAD (Fall Off And Die) but you could roll a long way down before arresting your descent. Bo did a great job for a little Westie, even jumping over logs a few times.
Highlight
The views from the beginning of this section are magnificent. Here’s an excerpt from a hike with Pat back in 2022 that will give you an idea:
Statistics
Total Distance: 5.77 miles Elevation: start 9,976 ft, maximum 10,303 ft, minimum 9,961 ft Gross gain: 342 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,225 ft, descending 1,239 ft Maximum slope: 23% ascending, 23% descending, 6.1% average Duration: 4:26, Average Speed: 1.3 mph
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
Our 3rd visit to the Cuba Badlands in the San Juan Basin, this to the Ceja Pelon the 4th badlands going west from Mesa de Cuba. Like the other recent hikes, this is the time of year to visit these Badlands, before the hot weather of summer arrives. And this is a return to Ceja Pelon, having hiked there back in 2018.
The San Juan Basin covers the northwest quarter of New Mexico and a portion of Colorado along the NM-CO border. There are -many- Badlands including the Ojito (near San Ysido), San Jose (north of Cuba), and going west Lybrook, Bisti/De-Na-Zin, Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah, and several others (see the map at American Southwest).
Plus these five south and west of Cuba: Mesa de Cuba, Mesa Chijuilla, Mesa Penistaja, Ceja Pelon, and Cejita Blanca Mesa.
A closeup map of the first 4 of the 5 Cuba Badlands.
The Drive In
From Albuquerque, take US 550 to Cuba, but -at the entrance- to the town turn left onto NM 197. Continue south along the east of the very large Mesa de Cuba (one of the badlands) – the scenery as one reaches the end of Mesa de Cuba is quite interesting. Continue for 9.2 miles from US 550 to where NM 197 takes a sharp turn to the left. Midway around this turn take the road to the right (known as Valle San Ysidro); it is a well used (and graded) dirt road.
Continue for 7.2 miles from NM 197, then turn right onto another graded dirt road (not as well maintained as Valle San Ysidro, but suitable for “city vehicles”). Continue for 1.3 miles, then turn left onto a two-track. About 200 yards on, you will encounter a wash with a very steep drop from the edge. This probably requires a high clearance vehicle, and best done with four-wheel drive since even when dry that sand can be soft. From there continue on for for three or four hundred yards, tell you come across a large open area that appears to have been a wellhead. We parked there for our hike into Ceja Pelon.
The Hike
Ceja Pelon Mesa Hike.Pat.2024-05-07
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
We began our hike by going up small canyon and then turned left to go up over a ridge into another slightly larger canyon. From there we followed that canyon for about a third of a mile, then turned to the right and worked our way up to the top of the Mesa. Along the way it was hard to take a step without trading on petrified wood from small shards to pieces maybe three or four inches in size. And occasionally we would see a section of a tree trunk, petrified.
From there we walked along the edge of the Mesa for about 6/10 of a mile. We enjoyed a great view of a field of mounds of black capped with gray materials (later, up close, the materials appeared to be some sort of crumbly clay, with near vertical faces of pockmarked surface in many patterns). We also came across rocks of almost every color, from tan to red, some yellow (some of this moss or lichen) – all very interesting. Along the ridge we did come across two petrified tree trunks, partially buried in the sand.
As on our previous visit to Ceja Pelon, on the return we found some shade under a piñon tree and shelter from the furious winds that followed us on this hike. We returned to the Tacoma by a different route, one that did not have such a steep slope to descend.
Statistics
Total Distance: 2.69 miles Elevation: start 6,945 ft, maximum 7,237 ft, minimum 6,945 ft Gross gain: 292 ft. Aggregate ascending 475 ft, descending 475 ft Maximum slope: 29% ascending, 23% descending, 5.8% average Duration: 4:11, Average Speed: 0.6 mph
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
Weather continued to be perfect for visiting the openness of the San Juan Basin and the Badlands near Cuba, NM.
The San Juan Basin covers the northwest quarter of New Mexico and a portion of Colorado along the NM-CO border. There are -many- Badlands including the Ojito (near San Ysido), San Jose (north of Cuba), and going west Lybrook, Bisti/De-Na-Zin, Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah, and several others (see the map at American Southwest).
Plus these five south and west of Cuba: Mesa de Cuba, Mesa Chijuilla, Mesa Penistaja, Ceja Pelon, and Cejita Blanca Mesa.
A closeup map of the first 4 of the 5 Cuba Badlands.
The Drive In
From Albuquerque: I-25 to Bernallilo and US-550, then US 550 to the south edge of Cuba. At the edge of town turn left onto NM 197. Continue south along the large Mesa de Cuba on your right; NM 197 bends around to the west; at 5.6 miles, just past the top of a rise in the road, turn right onto a dirt road. Go around a depression (muddy after rain or snow), proceed for .6 miles. Approaching a nearly-washed crossing of an arroyo, we turned right onto a 2-track and proceeded .7 miles to our parking place. There are a few spots along this 2-track that suggest a high-clearance vehicle (we drive a Tacoma). But one could stop anywhere along this 2-track and walk from there towards very interesting territory.
The Hike
Mesa de Cuba Southwest Walkabout.Pat.2024-05-02
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
We began our Walkabout by seeking a path up onto a ridge south of were we parked. Alighting from the Tacoma, we immediately came across interesting features – the light and dark gray mounds and rocks on pedestals. After a bit of reconnoitering, we found our way up the steeper slope to the top of the ridge.
From there we enjoyed a good view of the light and dark gray mounds between there and the open plains beyond. We explored this ridge top, considered going down among the mounts but … continued on looking for more interesting features.
Before descending, our view was punctuated by small rock monuments on the end of this ridge.
From there we explored the lower level of this area enjoying the wonderful weather, walking among the scattered juniper trees, and the views of the the mesa around us. We explored a couple of small canyons that penetrated the mesa. And the edges of the dark/light gray mounds have quite an interesting appearance and texture – erosion of the fragile material forming various patterns and shapes.
We came upon more upstanding rocks, sentinels in this fascinating geology.
And we came across a few spherical shaped rocks – what variety Mother Nature produces.
Highlight
Wherever we hike, even in what seems to be the driest setting, we come across more of Mother Nature’s glory – flowers in bloom, the sculpture of skeletons of juniper trees, and sagebrush and a healthy juniper tree forming a backdrop.
Statistics
Total Distance: 2.06 miles
Elevation: start 6,963 ft, maximum 7,021 ft, minimum 6,948 ft
Gross gain: 73 ft. Aggregate ascending 424 ft, descending 424 ft
Maximum slope: 34% ascending, 43% descending, 6.5% average
Duration: 3:53, Average Speed: 0.5 mph
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
