Category Archives: Cuba

In the vicinity of Cuba, NM.

Rattlesnake Ridge Trail Hike – 11/19/2020

This is the 2nd of 2 short hikes on a day trip to the area once inhabited by the Gallinas culture. The area is north of Cuba some 28 miles on NM 96>NM 112. In years past I’ve read about … Continue reading

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Nogales Cliff House Trail Hike – 11/19/2020

This hike is the first of two short hikes on a day trip to the area once inhabited by the Gallinas culture. The area is north of Cuba some 28 miles on NM 96>NM 112. In years past I’ve read … Continue reading

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San Jose Badlands Hike – 11/09/2018

We’ve so enjoyed visits to other Badlands in the San Juan Basin; we chose this time to visit the San Jose Badlands.  The Drive In From Albuquerque, go west on US 550, 5.5 miles beyond Cuba. Turn right on NM … Continue reading

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Mesa Chijuilla Expedition – 02/20/2015

Vince and I went ‘wandering’ beyond Mesa de Cuba in the San Juan Badlands.  This “expedition” (multiple hikes) began with exploration of the east side of Mesa Chijuilla.  We then checked out another area with interesting features some 3 miles … Continue reading

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Ceja Pelón Mesa Hike – 05/08/2018

This is the next in the string of mesas going west from Mesa de Cuba, after Mesa Chijuilla and Mesa Penistaja.  Various sources have described the area as rife with petrified wood – and we were not disappointed.  Access is … Continue reading

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Mesa Penistaja Hike – 04/22/2018

Headed back to Mesa Penistaja with Pat to take in more of the amazing scenery, geology, and of course the superabundance of petrified wood.  The Drive In Chose to take a two-track off of the northbound road (Penistaja Road?) that … Continue reading

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Mesa Penistaja Hike – 04/07/2018

We returned to Mesa Penistaja, having visited back in 2014.  This is truly an amazing place – badlands (mesas and arroyos), large variety of landforms, and petrified wood everywhere.  And the hoodoos, small and large, create in some places a … Continue reading

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Mesa de Cuba West Hike – 03/25/2018

Back to the Cuba area, to explore a small mesa between Mesa de Cuba and Mesa Chijuilla. As I’ve done for other hikes recently, in the absence of a track someone has published, I began by exploring the area on … Continue reading

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Penistaja Mesa Hike – 11/30/2014

I’m writing this in 2018, preparing to head out to Penistaja Mesa tomorrow. We hiked here back in 2014.  We were introduced to this area around Mesa de Cuba by an article in New Mexico Magazine, Badlands Walkabout.  We visited … Continue reading

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Mesa de Cuba Hike – 03/27/2015

Feb 2018: This is another ‘looking back’ entry in our Hiking Journal. This area has the most fascinating geology – rock formations, soil types, and an occasional piece of petrified wood.  Just wandering around, we found so many interesting feats … Continue reading

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