Category Archives: 2022

Bandelier-Tyuonyi Overlook Trail Hike – 04/24/2022

May 9, 2022

Our first hike on a 2-night camping trip to Bandelier National Monument. By mid-afternoon we had the RPod in the Juniper campground after the drive from Albuquerque. Then, with enough time remaining until supper, we set out from the campground on the Tyuony Overlook Trail.

The Drive In

Just find your way to the entrance gate to Badelier, if asked tell them you are going to the campground, then take the first right turn .. into the campground.

The Hike

Bandelier-Tyuonyi Overlook Trail.Pat.2022-04-24

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

The trailhead is on the south side of the large parking lot from where the shuttle buses depart when taking visitors into Frijoles Canyon to Visitors Center and the Bandelier ruins. From there it is easy to follow this well used trail. At the fork shortly after getting on the trail, we took the branch to the right. Walking was pleasant over open ground for 2/3rd of a mile. From there the trail proceeds along the rim of Frijoles Canyon for about a 10th of a mile. The views to the left (down canyon) and to the right were impressive – this is quite a canyon, deep and narrow. (There was smoke in the air from a forest fire burning west of Bandelier).

The trail then turned to the left for 300 hundred yards to a junction. Taking our cue from a sign at a junction of trails, we turned right towards Tyuonyi Overlook. A few yards on we encountered a Small Ruin. As a sign told us, “Many small ruins dot the Bandelier Area.” We continued on towards the Overlook. Soon the mesa narrowed, coming to a point with a bird’s eye view of the Tuyonyi Ruins below. We also enjoyed a great view down Frijoles Canyon to the narrow gap through it flows into the Rio Grande.

From the Overlook, we turned back towards the campground, taking the more direct route (as indcated by the aforementioned sign). It made a great afternoon walk, leaving us looking forward to tomorrow’s hike.

Statistics

Total Distance: 3.05 miles
Elevation: start 6,690 ft, maximum 6,699 ft, minimum 6,528 ft
Gross gain: 171 ft. Aggregate ascending 417 ft, descending 414 ft
Maximum slope: 55% ascending, 47% descending, 5.5% average
Duration: 1:45

Bandelier-Tyuonyi Overlook Trail.Pat.2022-04-24 (KML)	164 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Bandelier-Tyuonyi Overlook Trail.Pat.2022-04-24 (GPX)	54 Downloads

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.

Hikes in Bandelier National Monument

References and Resources

NPS Bandelier: Tyuonyi Overlook Trail
AllTrails: Tyuonyi Overlook Trail
gjhikes: Tyuonyi Overlook – a Very Good Review, w/ photos and map of other trails in the area

Pat & George's Photos w/ Captions: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

CDT North Trailhead Trail Hike – 04/21/2022

May 1, 2022

Our destination for this trip was to check out Quemado Lake with the idea it would make a good destination for camping. After visiting the Lake, we went looking for a place for a hike. Checking maps closely we identified a trailhead on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) – let’s see if we can get there.

The Driveabout and Quemado Lake

We drove west on I-40, then south on NM 117 through the Narrows and onward, turning left on NM 36. After a short jog to the west in the village of Quemado, we continued south on NM 32 for 14 miles, then left (east) on NM 103 for 4 miles. The lake, damning Largo Creek, is a nice size for fishing – typical of others we’ve seen in New Mexico. The main campgrounds near the lake were closed (Cove, Juniper, and Pinon). El Caso campground up a side canyon was open for us to look at. It is somewhat primitive campground – no organized campsites and a couple of pit toilets. Quemado Lake doesn’t appeal to us: we aren’t interested in activities centered around the lake, we’ve found limited information for hiking trails, and it’s a long ways from Albuquerque.

From Quemado Lake, we went looking for adventure – see the sections below. After the adventure, we headed for Pie Town, looking forward to stopping there for a piece of their famous pies.

Example of BAe Airtanker that we watched drop its retardant.

Sadly we arrived too late – Pioneer and the nearby cave were both closed. So we continued east towards Socorro. But about half way there we encountered a road block – a small prairie/forest fire was within a half mile of the highway. After a half hour wait, during which we watched a “Fire Bomber drop it’s load of retardant on the fire.

The Drive In

So from Quemado Lake, we retraced our route back to Quemado, then drove east on US 60 through for 7 miles, then turned right onto Catron County Rd A095. From here all navigation was based on indications on the US Topo map of “roads” – parallel dotted lines (see the note below) and a note on GAIA’s map “Quemado North End (CDNST) Trailhead”.

About 4.2 miles down A095 we looked a two-track that went west towards our destination. It didn’t appear to have been used recently, so we continued on hoping to find another road or two-track in better condition. At 5.9 miles from US 60, turned right onto two-track that appeared to get some use. Tho’ the tracks were deep (requiring high-clearance vehicle) it was “serviceable” for us. Continuing to take cues from the topo map, we continued over sometimes rough and rocky tracks for 1.1 miles, then left for half a mile, again left for another half mile (these are ranch roads – no identifications). And there — we found signs for the CDT

(A note here: Published topo maps don’t reflect the -current conditions- for may “roads” in these parts. Some of them are seldom used two-tracks, which I classify as Class 6. We avoided these, but came upon more recently used Class 5 two-tracks which did lead us to our destination. GAIA’s maps portrays Class 4 and Class 5 “roads” with a solid line, which doesn’t permit distinguishing between the difference.)

The Hike

CDT North Trailhead Trail HIke.Pat.2022-04-21

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

Despite the fact that this trail is in the middle of nowhere, with no features of interest in the vicinity, it is well used. That would be a testament to the many hikers who take on the CDT, whether through hiking or doing sections at a time. The trail passes through open grassland and in places piñon and juniper forest. The surface is loose soil with a few sections with a rocky surface. In our 3.7 mile hike slope was gentle with crossings of a couple of gentle arroyos; elevation gain was a bit over 400 ft. Along the way we encountered a few CDT blazes on juniper or piñon tree trunks or on stand-alone posts.

Highlight

I suppose the highlight for me was to be hiking on the CDT, even if only part of a section. And to think that No-No may have traversed this section (“No-No” is a young woman that we met on our Mount Taylor hike last year, who we enjoyed very much following her via her BLOG on YouTube, Jennifer Journeys, as she made her through hike on the CDT.)

Statistics

Total Distance: 3.70 miles
Elevation: start 7,533 ft, maximum 7,934 ft, minimum 7,517 ft
Gross gain: 417 ft. Aggregate ascending 483 ft, descending 498 ft
Maximum slope: 18% ascending, 19% descending, 4.6% average
Duration: Approx 2.5 hrs

CDT North Trailhead Trail HIke.Pat.2022-04-21 (KML)	82 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
CDT North Trailhead Trail HIke.Pat.2022-04-21 (GPX)	74 Downloads
US 60 to North Trailhead (CDT).Pat.2022-04-21 (KML)	88 Downloads
US 60 to North Trailhead (CDT).Pat.2022-04-21 (GPX)	75 Downloads

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.

References and Resources

Wings: BAe 146/AVRO RJ Airtankers Keep Putting out the Flames

George's Photos w/ Captions: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

Hawk Watch Loop – 04/07/2022, 04/17/2022

April 17, 2022

The trails in Tijeras Canyon, like Hawk Watch, are favorites – close to home, just challenging enough to keep our physical condition, and nice scenery too. Because it is so close to the city (but not -in- the city), I’m placing this and others in Tijeras Canyon in the Category ‘Suburban’ hikes.

Today, as I will sometimes do, I did this hike solo. On other occasions, Pat & I will take a morning and do a -suburban- hike to stretch our legs (and whole body) as is the case for the 2nd hike in this BLOG post. Thru these we get more exercise than we get for our -urban’ hikes, like our walks in the Bosque.

The Drive In

The reach the trailhead, go east on NM 333 from Tramway Blvd for about 3.25 miles, then turn left onto Monticello Drive. Proceed uphill .5 miles, turn left onto Alegre Dr (there has been a sign pointing to the trailhead), then take the 2nd street to the right (another sign) onto Tres Pistolas Trail; continue to the parking lot for the Tres Pistolas Trailhead. Hike up the Tres Postolas Trail (also labeled Three Gun Springs Trail, No. 194) for about .5 miles; a few feet beyond the gate into the Sandia Mountain Wilderness, turn right and downhill onto the Hawk Watch Trail (No. 215). Enjoy this downhill stretch – from here Hawk Watch goes -uphill-.

The Hikes

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

The 1st hike, solo: I went out to hike Hawk Watch, but at the trailhead chose to explore other routes. Rather than proceeding up the main trail, from the parking area I angled off to the right (east) on what appeared to be a trail. I soon found myself in a wash, following tracks that gave me the idea it was a trail. And so it was; about 1/3 mile on, I turned onto a trail to the right anticipating that it would ultimately take me up to the Hawk Trail. So it did; the trail proceeded up hill (200′ in half a mile) and intersected with Hawk Watch. I continued from there 1.3 miles until the slope of the trail became very steep (and slippery on a sand/gravel surface) where I became uncomfortable and decided I had come far enough.

On the way down, I began looking for an alternate trail on which I might return to parking. From a higher vantage point, I had seen trails on ridges south of Hawk Watch that held promise for such an alternate route. Returning 8/10th of a mile I came across a trail to the left, so I took it. Along the way I maintained my bearings, choosing trails at a couple of intersections that seemed promising, and they did lead me right back to the Tacoma.

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

The 2nd hike, with Pat: This hike was appealing to us for one of our daily “walks”, or hikes. It offers a nice distance (that is, time spent on the hike) and some elevation gain which we need in preparation for hikes later this year, like Mount Taylor in May. So, it served our purposes nicely, and as a bonus provides great views of the Three Gun Springs canyon, the side of South Sandia Mountain, and even out across the plains to the southwest. A great “suburban” hike.

Statistics

The 1st Hike (solo):
Total Distance: 3.55 miles
Elevation: start 6,321 ft, maximum 7,699 ft, minimum 6,321 ft
Gross gain: 1,378 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,464 ft, descending 1,464 ft
Maximum slope: 45% ascending, 44% descending, 14% average
Duration: 3:18

The 2nd Hike (w/ Pat):
Total Distance: 1.8 miles
Elevation: start 6,321 ft, maximum 6,844 ft, minimum 6,321 ft
Gross gain: 514 ft. Aggregate ascending 560 ft, descending 571 ft
Maximum slope: 35% ascending, 32% descending, 11% average
Duration: 1:07

Hawk Watch Loop.Solo.2022-04-07 (KML)	75 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Hawk Watch Loop.Solo.2022-04-07 (GPX)	267 Downloads
Hawk Watch Loop Hike.Pat.2022-04-17(KML)	174 Downloads
Hawk Watch Loop Hike.Pat.2022-04-17(GPX)	160 Downloads

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.

Hawk Watch Trail Hike – 10/27/2019
Hawk Watch Hike – 03/16/2014
Hawk Watch Hike – 04/27/2013
Hawk Watch Hike – 02/15/2011
All Tijeras Canyon and Vicinity Hikes

References and Resources

HawkWatch International: Manzano Mountains, NM
ASCHG: Hawk Watch Hike
SummitPost: Hawk Watch Trail
City of Albuquerque: Foothills Trail Map – Copper (.pdf)
And check other Related Posts

Pat's Photos: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

George's Photos: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

El Malpais-Narrows Rim Trail Hike – 04/14/2022

April 17, 2022

We’ve looked forward to hiking the Narrows Rim Trail a the Malpais for some time – and doing it this time of year (spring or fall)! The trail begins at the south end of the Rim in El Malpais National Conservati0n Area. The Rim is a sheer cliff 300-500 feet above the road along the eastern border of the lava flow. The hike runs along the edge of this cliff with a great view across El Malpais National Monument (the area of the lava flow) and beyond to the Zuni Mountains.

This Rim Trail is one of the more accessible and easy trails we’ve found. ‘Tho an hour and half from home, the trip is easy and relatively quick – I-40 for 60 miles, then 20 miles on a state highway with interesting scenery along the way. The trailhead is just off of the highway, in the past a campground so there is plenty of parking and a pit toilet.

The Drive In

From Albuquerque, drive west on I-40 for 60 miles, turn left onto NM 117, continue for 21 miles. At about 18 miles the road enters The Narrows, a 3 mile narrow corridor between the lava and a 500 foot sandstone mesa. At about 17 miles you will pass La Ventana, a very large arch in the wall of the canyon. Then into The Narrows – not much notable about the view to the right (lots of lava), but the view to the left is amazing – the various layers of sediment exposed in the cliffside and the huge rocks that have detached and fallen down the face of the cliff.

The Hike

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

The trail begins with a short climb up a rock face (maybe 15′ with footholds).

Once past this one steep place the views south, west, and north arrested our attention – wow.

From there the trail presents a steady, shallow climb on a surface sometimes sand, or gravel/rocks, or in many places flat rock outcroppings (when among the latter, there are rock cairns that help one stay on the trail).

The view to the northwest and down the face of the Rim’s edge to the lava below. One can make out lava tubes down there on El Malpais.

For perspective, looking down at the highway from atop the Rim.

Typical rock/sand trail surface, and one of the many rock cairns that mark the trail.

Highlight

Prior to moving here from Virginia, we were once asked by a local there: “Why are you moving to New Mexico?”. It wasn’t long after our move and while exploring New Mexico’s wonderful open spaces that we started asking the rhetorical question “Why?!”. As we enjoyed another “special” place in this Land of Enchantment, I realized that we might be beyond “Why?”. As we hiked among ponderosa, piñon, and juniper trees, among fascinating rock formations, under a -clear blue- sky, and with amazing views near and far all around, a more appropriate exclamation might be “Because!”

Statistics

Total Distance: 4.87 miles
Elevation: start 7,078 ft, maximum 7,412 ft, 7,077 minimum ft
Gross gain: 335 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,318 ft, descending 1,319 ft
Maximum slope: 37% ascending, 37% descending, 8.0% average
Duration: 4:51

Narrows Rim Trail Hike.Pat.2022-04-14 (KML)	58 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Narrows Rim Trail Hike.Pat.2022-04-14 (GPX)	0 Downloads

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.

References and Resources

Pat’s Photos w/ Captions: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show

George’s Photos w/ Captions: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show

Tapia Canyon & Tower Ceremonial Site Hike – 03/28/2022

April 16, 2022

Went to the Rio Puerco to hike with Jay and Nancy, her first visit to Tapia Canyon. From the large number of visits t0 my previous posts for Tapia Canyon, this is a popular destination.

The Drive In

Not much to add this trip to the description on my most recent visit to Tapia Canyon, Tapia Canyon Hike – 04/06/2020. See the Photo Galleries below for photos and comments on our drive in this trip.

The Hike

Tapia Canyon & Tower Ruins Hike.JayNancy.2022-03-28

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

Descriptions from our previous hikes tell much the same story as for this hike. Tapia Canyon Hike – 04/06/2020 provides a good description overall, including the .gps track. And an earlier hike with Jay, Tapia Canyon & Tower Ruins Hike – 11/19/2016 (with .gpss track) describes the climb out of the canyon to see the Tower Ruins. (Note: Now I prefer to refer to “Ruins” as the “Tower Ceremonial Site”. The area is closed to the public for 2 weeks 4 times per year for “.. sacred native American traditional activities”. And there is little evidence typical of ruins at other sites that I’ve visited.)

An update, tho’, about the climb out: during this hike I had forgotten about the steps Jay and I found back in 2016. Jay had a clear memory of them, but not where they were located. As we hiked down-canyon we scrutinized the right-hand wall looking for something we recognized. Almost to the point of giving up, we checked one more suspicious break in the wall, and behind a couple of juniper trees were those footsteps (or footholds). Adding to our previous visit: this time we noticed some amazing petroglyphs on the wall at the bottom of the steps and more at the top.

So up onto the mesa we went, looked at the block building and kiva circles of rocks, then continued on to an easy descent back into the canyon.

Jay here: Funny (or not) how the memory is either crystal clear or hazy. In the case of the foothold path up to the mesa and the Tower, I remembered very specific details about the route but not how far back up the canyon it was from the arch. Only that it was on the right side of the canyon and that it was obscured somewhat by vegetation. Once you got close to the canyon wall, the route was obvious. Perseverance paid off and the path looked exactly as I remembered.

Statistics

Total Distance: 5.65 miles
Elevation: start 5,959 ft, maximum 6,168 ft, minimum 5,929 ft
Gross gain: 239 ft. Aggregate ascending 753 ft, descending 753 ft
Maximum slope: 29% ascending, 25% descending, 3.6% average
Duration: 4:10

Tapia Canyon and Tower Ruins Hike.JayNancy.2022-03-28 (KML)	56 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Tapia Canyon and Tower Ruins Hike.JayNancy.2022-03-28 (GPX)	66 Downloads

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.

Tapia Canyon Hike – 04/06/2020
Tapia Canyon & Tower Ruins Hike – 11/19/2016

References and Resources

See the other Related Posts.

Jay's Photos w/ Captions: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

George's Photos w/ Captions: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

The next gallery are a few of the photos of petroglyph panels that I took during this visit. Check to other posts for other photos of these and other panels.

Petroglyph Photos w/ Captions: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

Silver Peak Trail Hike – 03/13/2022

April 10, 2022

This is the 2nd half of our first camping trip of the year, returning to Cave Creek Canyon in the Chiracahua Mountains. After a day of hiking and a day visiting Douglas, AZ and Agua Prieta, MX (see the post for the first half of our camping trip), we set out to hike the Silver Peak trail. The next day we drove across the middle of the Chiracahuas to the Chiracahua National Monument, then back to Agua Prieta to eat at the restaurant we discovered and attended a cross-border Binational Play.

The Drive In

For the hike, from Stewart Campground drive back towards Portal for half a mile; park at the trailhead on the left (north side of Cave Creek Road/Forest Rd 42).

The Hike

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

This hike proved to be one of the most challenging that we’ve done. The trail is well used; for the 1st mile/800 feet it is a constant slope on fairly flat terrain, but the surface is broken/flat rocks all the way – tough walking. As we climbed, the views out across San Simon Valley and beyond are what we came for.

After that 1st mile, trail changes to a traverse along a very steep slope as it continues gaining elevation. The trail becomes quite narrow, in places -very- narrow, generally with a gravel surface. This required constant attention and great care because any slip would likely lead to a tumble down the steep slope, encountering yucca and prickly pear along the way.

‘Tho the trail continues on another 2 miles and 1,400 elevation gain to the peak itself, our 2.6 miles and 1,600 feet was enough for us. We found a nice place to sit and have lunch, then headed back to the trailhead.

Epilogue

After the Silver Peak hike, we skipped more hiking in favor of investigating the drive through the heart of the Chiracahuas, over to the National Monument. FR 42 and Pinery Roads are examples of well maintained Forest Service roads – graded gravel surface and generally wide enough for cars to pass. Having said that, for us most of the route was daunting – like the Silver Peak trail carved out of -very- steep mountainsides. And for emphasis, for much of the distance in the heart of the mountains it was 1,000 feet (seemed like more) from the road to the bottom of the canyon. And the road has many turns; no fast driving.

Our visit to the Chiracahua National Monument was brief – we had visited it years ago, even hiked the Echo Canyon Trail. The rock formations are most interesting, quite different from Cathedral Rock and the other formations above Cave Creek Canyon.

To return to Cave Creek, one has a choice – go north to I-10 to circle around the north end of the Chiracahuas, or go south to Douglas – each is about 110 miles. We opted to return to Douglas and cross into Agua Prieta to eat at the cafe we discovered on our earlier trip, the Bizio Cafe – a very nice lunch.

Along the way we learned of an event being held that evening. There is ongoing effort to build connections between the communities across the border. One example is an event in which people on each side of the border present a multidisciplinary play about the history and conditions at the border (see the link below). The event began at dusk with participants on both sides presenting a story or dance about life along the border. In some cases participants on each side would make their presentation in turn. At other times the story was interrelated, as though the participants were on a single stage and not separated by the steel slat fence.

So, it appeared that the two communities were sharing the same space comfortably. We saw a constant flow of people across the border; families from Agua Prieta returning home with groceries from the nearby Walmart, cars with Arizona license plates returning from activities in Agua Prieta, and a few like us – visitors exploring.

Statistics

Total Distance: 5.18 miles
Elevation: start 4,973 ft, maximum 6,587 ft, minimum 4,973 ft
Gross gain: 1,614 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,960 ft, descending 1,957 ft
Maximum slope: 34% ascending, 36% descending, 12.6% average
Duration: 5:11

Silver Peak Trail Hike.Pat.2022-03-13 (KML)	109 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Silver Peak Trail Hike.Pat.2022-03-13 (GPX)	62 Downloads
FR 42 Through the Chiracahuas.Pat.2022-03-14 (KML)	93 Downloads
FR 42 Through the Chiracahuas.Pat.2022-03-14 (GPX)	107 Downloads

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.

References and Resources

USDA Forest Service: Silver Peak Trail #280
Chiracahua Mountains Hiking Trails: Silver Peak Trail #280
AllTrails: Silver Peak Trail
Hike Arizona: Silver Peak Trail #280, AZ
STAV is LOST: Hike Silver Peak

The DriveAcross and Douglas/Agua Prieta
USDA Forest Service: Pinery Canyon #42 Scenic Drive
Arizona Republic: Youth-led binational play at the border wall …

George's Photos w/ Captions: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

Snowshed Trail Hike – 03/11/2022

April 10, 2022

This was our first camping trip of the year, returning to the Cave Creek Canyon in the Chiracahua Mountains. ‘Tis a long drive so we left Albuquerque on the 9th, so we spent a night Deming which left us with a short trip to Cave Creek Canyon. On the 10th we left reasonably early so we could arrive at the first-come-first-serve campgrounds by midday which would give us a better chance to get a campsite.

The Drive In

From Albuquerque, we drove south on I-25 to Caballo, then west on NM 152 to Hillsboro, south in NM 27 to Nutt, continuing southwest on NM 26 to Demming – 233 miles. After a good nights rest at the Wagon Wheel RV Park, we continued west on I-10 to the turnoff on NM 146 south to Hachita, then west on NM 9 to NM 80, south to Rodeo and west into Cave Creek Canyon (this route was much more scenic than continuing west on I-10 to NM 80/Road Fork, and with the R-Pod we can’t make interstate speeds anyhow).

Across from the Chiracahua Desert Museum, we turned right on NM 533, soon we crossed State Line Road and into Arizona, and in 7 miles through the village of Portal, AZ. Continuing on we entered Coronado National Forest, passed the Idlewilde CG (closed), the Stewart CG, and on to the Sunny Flat CG where we hoped to find a campsite – all were full. We returned to Stewart and quickly occupied the one campsite available, #6, the last one around the loop, next to Cave Creek (which had some water running in it). It was a tight fit for our R-Pod, but served us well.

Prologue

Cave Creek Overlook Trail Walkabout.Pat.2022-03-10

The trail to Cave Creek Overlook as it leaves from near the entrance to Stewart Campground.

Having arrived around noon on the 10th, and not requiring much time to get the R-Pod set up, we had ample time to stretch our legs after a day and a half of driving. We had noticed a sign pointing to a Cave Creek Overlook up the road a half mile from Stewart. Not knowing otherwise, we walked up the road to the “trailhead” and up to the Overlook. It affords a great view ‘upstream’ on Cave Creek and its South Fork. (The GoogleEarth screen shot above gives one an idea of what Cave Creek Canyon is like, looking from above the entrance to the Canyon. ‘Tis a beautiful, amazing place.)

The climb up from the road is only about 200 feet and a couple of hundred yards. On the Overlook, we noticed what appeared to be a trail heading through the woods back towards the campground – we took it. It proved to be a much more pleasant walk than the road, an easy trail – to follow and to walk on. And we ended up at a trailhead at the entrance end of the Stewart Campground.

The Hike

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

After another good night’s rest in the R-Pod and a nice breakfast, we set off for our first hike of this trip, to the Snowshed Trail. There are many choices in this vicinity, including a loop around to Herb Martyr Campground, or continuing up to Snowshed Peak (8+ miles), with other trails branching off from there (for the backpackers); check it out on GAIA. We chose to go up Snowshed a distance that was comfortable for us.

To get to the trailhead, drive further into Cave Creek Canyon on South Fork Road, turning right at Sunny Flat Campground (don’t continue straight ahead onto South Fork Road). Almost 2 miles up Cave Creek Road you will come to the Southwestern Research Station; turn left, proceed for half a mile and park on the left for the Trailhead.

Trailhead to Snowshed Trail #246, just off of Cave Creek Road.

The trail begins with a crossing of Cave Creek. There was some water (from snowmelt high up in the Chiricahuas), but well placed rocks that allowed us to cross with dry feet. Signs confirmed the trailhead as well as directing attention towards other trails leaving from there. Snowshed Trail was well used, easy to hike on, fairly level for the 1st 3/4 mile – an easy grade. The trail then began ascending up onto a ridge, continuing a nice path ‘tho now with more rocks than earlier. The views across the canyon to the walls of the canyons east and south were beautiful.

The trail along steep slopes – wide enough but requiring caution.

Reaching the apex of the ridge, the trail continued to ascend but then on the side of a steep slope, up and down. We continued another half mile, then decided it was far enough, and time for lunch. Seeking a vantage point with great views, we scrambled up onto the top of the ridge to find views of the amazing mountain cliffs all around, including a view down-canyon between canyon walls and out into the San Simon Valley.

From there it was back to the trailhead, including a crossing of Cave Creek.

Highlights

Cave Creek Canyon is simply a beautiful place to visit, to camp, and to hike. Stewart Campground is small and sites are located among trees with reasonable privacy. Sunny Flat is larger and in the open with few trees. Cellphone/Internet service is nil. We drove back to Portal where we would have a beer and use WiFi at the Portal Store Cafe & Lodge – quite satisfactory.

Epilogue

The next day we did some sightseeing – we drove down to Douglas, AZ. ‘Tis an hour drive across -empty- desert terrain. Douglas is a pleasant small town on the border with Mexico, across from Agua Prieta, Sonora. We explored the downtown district and visited the historic Gadsden Hotel. Built in 1907, it has been restored to the grandeur of that era.

We decided to explore further and cross into Mexico. Going through customs was easy in both directions; we needed to have only TSA approved identification to return to the U.S. (our New Mexico drivers license with the star in the upper left corner was sufficient). We wandered around Agua Prieta, purchased drinks at a small coffee shop (paid in dollars, received change in pesos), and came across an interesting patio and restaurant; might return for a meal some day.

Statistics

Cave Creek Overlook Trail (one way):
      Total Distance:   .5 miles
      Elevation: start 5,029 ft, maximum   5,121 ft, minimum 5,029 ft
      Gross gain: 92 ft. Aggregate ascending 57 ft, descending 189 ft
      Maximum slope: 18% ascending, 36% descending, 8% average
      Duration: 0:16
Snowshed Trail:
      Total Distance: 3.96 miles
      Elevation: start 5,489 ft, maximum 6,485 ft, minimum 5,489 ft
      Gross gain: 996 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,252 ft, descending 1,252 ft
      Maximum slope: 43% ascending, 42% descending, 10.4% average
      Duration: 4:50

Cave Creek Overlook Trail Walkabout.Pat.2022-03-10 (KML)	47 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Cave Creek Overlook Trail Walkabout.Pat.2022-03-10 (GPX)	60 Downloads
Snowshed Trail Hike.Pat.2022-03-11 (KML)	143 Downloads
Snowshed Trail Hike.Pat.2022-03-11 (GPX)	88 Downloads

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.

Over the Ridge to Paradise Hike – 03/22/2021
Basin Trail #247 Hike – 03/23/2021
Cave Creek Nature Trail Walk – 03/21/2021
Echo Canyon Loop Hike – 11/20/2018

References and Resources

USDA Forest Service:
   Snowshed Trail #246
      Map of Snowshed Trail #246 (.pdf download, great resource)
Chiracahua Mountains Hiking Trails:
   Snowshed Trail #246
Showshed Basin Trail
AllTrails: Snowshed Trail #246
Douglas & Agua Prieta:
      The Historic Gadsden Hotel
      Bizio Cafe
Portal, AZ
      Portal Peak Lodge, Store, and Cafe
      Wander Wisdom: Visiting .. Portal, AZ ..

George's Photos w/ Captions: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

George's Photos, Agua Prieta, w/ Captions: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

White Mesa Bike Trails East – 02/21/2022

March 6, 2022

With this hike we explore more of the White Mesa Bike Trails, also known as the Dragon’s Back area.

The Drive In

This trailhead is at the parking lot as one enters BLM’s Ojito Wilderness. From the Bernalillo exit off of I-25, proceed west on US 550 for 32 miles. Turn left on Cabezon Road (bear left a short distance off of US 550) and continue for 4 miles. Park on the left just beyond gate/cattle guard.

The Hike

White Mesa Bike Trails East.PatJayNancy.2022-02-21

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

Our guide for this hike was GAIA’s map of the area, showing with dotted lines what we took to be trails. We planned to make a clockwise loop, first down the steepest slope into the canyon, then return to the trailhead along the east side of the loop. So we began by heading north from the trailhead parking lot, on a 2-track that followed a fence that defines the boundary between BLM land and Zia Pueblo land.

Less than 1/4 mile on, the 2-track angled off the the northwest then petered out at the bottom of a small ravine (or canyon?). It seemed logical to head up this ravine – ‘tho it was narrow the going was mostly easy (a few small rock climbs) as it wound its way toward the top of the ridge. Along the way we passed through some of the many colors that are characteristic of this area of the Ojito Wilderness. [At some point, we noticed that GAIA’s dotted line was to our right. But we were going in the right direction – up and northerly. Later we learned more about GAIA’s ‘trail’ – see below.]

Once atop the ridge, we had marvelous views, east to the Sandia Mountains and west across Dragon’s Back itself to Cabezon beyond. From reconnoitering on GoogleEarth, we planned to take the loop clockwise so as to -descend- on the steepest section of the trail.

Thus we turned left (west) atop this mesa, then to descend on what a sign identified as the “Spine”. We shortly encountered a steep descent through a cleft in rocks. Then we continued on to the spine. And a spine it was, a narrow ridge (<20′ wide), descending gradually at first.

The last few yards to the canyon floor were -very steep-, made treacherous by sections of mud left over from melting snow. The soil is such that when wet, it becomes very slippery. To make the descent safe, we squatted, braced ourselves on the edges of the “trail”, and duck-walked down. With the weight of my pack, I was comfortable only by sitting down and working my way down a foot or two at a time.

Once we were down into the canyon, the trail was smooth and level – for 300 yards or so. We then began a climb up on the ridge that splits the middle of the canyon. Up on the ridge we had a great view of the length of Dragon’s Back, with Cabezon on the horizon beyond. Along the way we came upon one of the many springs that dot this area, surrounded by a mound of gypsum that continued downhill, from years (decades?) of evaporation of the spring water. I was curious, thinking maybe the water was warm – nope, it was cool.

We continued north on this ridge until our planned turn-around point. Before heading back towards the trailhead, we went a bit further to show Nancy & Jay the big hole Pat & I had discovered on our earlier hike (Dragon’s Back Canyon Hike – 1/21/2022). We also took a break for lunch here.

The route back started on a two-track which we followed for about 3/4 mile, at which point we took the bike trail to the right. That went well, easy to follow and an easy surface. The views to the west across the canyon were studding, with many variations of red, white, yellow, even some bluish tints in the canyon walls, punctuated by snow in shaded areas. Continuing to follow the GAIA track of the bike trail, once atop the ridge we came to a Y junction; we chose the one to the left that followed the GAIA track.

Some 300 yards on we encountered a -very narrow- section with a steep slope falling off to the right, and a sign that warned that it was a dangerous route – it was too risky for us. And it is hard for us to imagine that people would take that narrow trail on mountain bikes. So we retraced our steps to the Y junction and took the other leg that took us back to the top of the narrow ravine that we climbed through on our way from the trailhead.

We considered descending that ravine, but chose instead to continue west on the bike trail, then pick up the 2-track that would take us to Cabezon Road, then a third of a mile to the trailhead. ‘Twas a good choice to finish what had been a challenging adventure, an easy downhill trek, then head to Bernalillo and a beer at Bosque Brewing.

Jay here: Steep drop-offs my ass! What he means is that on that one descent from the spine into the canyon, some of us spent quite a bit of time on our asses. Amazing variety to this hike. Starts with walking through a confined ravine, then tops out on to a spine, across a canyon, and then back on to limestone spines most of the way back. When you think about people tackling this on mountain bikes, you have to give them a badge for bravery.

Highlight

Statistics

Total Distance: 5.8 miles
Elevation: start 5,749 ft, maximum 6,028 ft, minimum 5,681 ft
Gross gain: 347 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,130 ft, descending 1,130 ft
Maximum slope: 26% ascending, 36% descending, 6.7% average
Duration: 4:28

White Mesa Bike Trails East.PatJayNancy.2022-02-21 (KML)	115 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
White Mesa Bike Trails East.PatJayNancy.2022-02-21 (GPX)	84 Downloads

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.

Dragon’s Back Canyon Hike – 1/21/2022
White Mesa Bike Trails Hike – 03/09/2017
Dragon Back, White Mesa Bike Trail – 02/16/2016
All Ojito Hikes

References and Resources

BLM: White Ridge Bike Trails
           White Ridge Bike Trails (pdf)
ASCHG: White Mesa – East Loop Hike
            White Meas – East Ridge Hike
                White Mesa – West Loop Hike
AllTrails: White Mesa and Dragon’s Back Trail Loop
MTB Project: White Ridge Trail System – Main Loop
Trailforks: White Ridge Trail System

Pat's Photos w/ Captions: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

Jay's Photos w/ Captions: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

San Ysidro Trials Loop Hike – 02/09/2022

February 22, 2022

For years we’ve driven by the San Ysidro Bike Trials Area on our way to places further west. Jay recently came upon reports in AllTrails that brought our attention to this southern end of the Sierra Nacimiento.We hiked Red Mesa a few years back; today we tackled the Bike Trials.

The Drive In

This one is easy – US 550 west from Bernalillo, through San Ysidro, then 1.6 miles on look for the parking area for San Ysidro Bike Trials Area. The trailhead is on the west side of the parking lot.

The Hike

San Ysidro Trials Loop Hike.PatJayNancy.2022-02-09

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

The parking lot for the Bike Trials is quite large, just off of US 550; pass through a V-shaped gate to begin the hike. We could take a 2-track into the Area; we chose a hiking trail that took us away from US 550. The trail was easy – sand and dirt and a few rocky areas – climbing 200 feet in 1.1 miles. At 1.2 miles we entered the ‘central junction’, a large area cleared of vegetation and rocks and appears to be a marshaling point for off-road bikes. (We found bike tracks on trails for much of our hike.)

We had chosen to make a loop from here, heading southeast down a somewhat wide canyon. Like the trail from the parking area, it was easy going until .. some 300 yards on the trail traversed an area of solid rock surface. Beyond this area we found the trail to again be easy to follow. We continued generally east, curving around the south end of one ridge through open area, then a short climb over a narrow ridge, and continuing around another couple of ridges to set a northerly course.

Tracking north, we again found ourselves on solid rock, generally flat but with many benches and other disjunctures and scattered rocks that demanded our attention. Not far up this northbound leg we could look down into a sometimes deep (20′) narrow (15′-20′) “rock arroyo”. ‘Tis amazing what Mother Nature has wrought; here erosion has carved out what could be called a crevasse which we followed for about half a mile. To add to the interest, the surface of this flat rock came with many colors and patterns.

Three miles into the hike we came to a junction of trails; our plan was to track southwest on what proved to be a well used trail back to the ‘central junction’ – easy going. After a break for lunch, we headed back to the parking area, this leg using the 2-track that provided an easy, steady downhill route back to the trailhead.

Jay here: Pleasant surprise. Been passing this way for years and never knew about this great trail. Rock formations come out of nowhere and are amazing looking. Not so much fun in the summer or on a day when the dirt bikes might be out, but it’s perfect for sunny winter Monday.

Statistics

Total Distance: 5.16 miles
Elevation: start 5,495 ft, maximum 5,737 ft, minimum 5,491 ft
Gross gain: 245 ft. Aggregate ascending 607 ft, descending 607 ft
Maximum slope: 16% ascending, 19% descending, 4.6% average
Duration: 3:22

San Ysidro Trials Loop Hike.PatJayNancy.2022-02-09 (KML)	65 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
San Ysidro Triails Loop Hike.PatJayNancy.2022-02-09 (GPX)	175 Downloads

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.

References and Resources

BLM: San Ysidro Trials Area
AllTrails:
      San Ysidro Trail Loop
      Red Mesa Loop San Ysidro
SummitPost:
   San Ysidro Trials Area Canyon (East)
      San Ysidro Trials Area Canyon (West)
SingleTracks: San Ysidro Mountain Bike Trails
ASCHG:
    San Ysidro Trials East Hike
      San Ysidro Trials Long Loop Hike
   Red Mesa East Loop Hike

Jay's Photos w/ Captions: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

George's Photos w/ Captions: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

Dragon’s Back Canyon Hike – 01/21/2022

January 27, 2022

This is our first venture in the new year, returning to the Ojito Wilderness, one of our favorite areas. At the top of our list has been to explore the canyon below Dragon’s Back ridge. Looking down into the canyon from atop Dragon’s Back, there are many interesting feature, colors, and formations. So we went exploring.

The Drive In

Plan A: Our first plan was to enter through a gate just off of US 550 northwest of the north end of the canyon. The gate is on the left 4.9 miles from San Ysidro (the intersection of US 550 and NM 14). The gate hasn’t been locked and is an entrance to BLM land.

Parking not far inside the gate (disregarding the 2-track that continues) we had anticipated that we would need to hike a half mile or so to reach the north end of Dragon’s Back from where we would enter into the canyon. However, this plan was foiled by the Rio Salado. There was some water flowing in it and we did not see a place where we could cross the water, and with the water present the wide creek bottom was very ‘mushy’. So we abandoned this plan.

Plan B: On a previous visit to the Ojito we had driven some distance on a 2-track paralleling the west side of Dragon’s Back; we hoped to be able to drive far enough to be close to that northern end of the ridge, then hike around into the canyon.

The red line is the DriveIn route from US 550 and Cabezon Road to the White Ridge Bike Trails and up the 2-track to where we began our hike (in yellow).

Note: Click on image to see full screen; [Back] on your browser to return to this page.

We returned to US 550, went back through San Ysidro, then turned right onto Cabezon Road (2.3 miles from the junction of US 550 and NM 4 in San Ysidro). Not far from 550 there is a Y in the road – take the leg to the left (the other one goes up to the mine atop White Mesa).
Then continued on Cabezon Road; a quarter mile beyond parking for the White Mesa Bike Trails, we turned right again, onto the 2-track towards the north end of Dragon’s Back. We parked before going round the Back, next to a shack returning to earth.

This plan worked; the 2-track is well used, easy enough for the Tacoma (‘tho a couple of spots might be difficult without the Tacoma’s high clearance).

The Hike

Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).

From our parking spot just off of the 2-track (near a dilapidated building) and close to the northwest corner of Dragon’s Back, we continued afoot on the 2-track to round the north end of the ridge. Along the way we looked down upon the Rio Salado – we still were unable to see a place where we could have crossed per Plan A.

Shortly beyond where the view into the Canyon opened up, we left the 2-track and followed a well used bike trail, one of the nicest trail surfaces one can find. We followed the bike trail for close to a mile. Uncertain where the trail went from there, and wishing to stay in the Canyon below Dragon’s Ridge, we went off-trail remaining to the west of the central ridge in the Canyon. Tho off trail, it was hardly bushwhacking – rocky, gravel, in some places dirt; a few ups-and-downs across drainage coming down off of the ridge, but not difficult at all.

Along the way we passed a few ‘seeps’, identified as ‘springs’ on the topo maps but little to no water flowed from them. Each such seep, whether active or dry, was marked by a large area of gypsum deposited as the water flowed downhill. In some cases, the spring was marked by a mound of gypsum deposited over time. About 1.4 miles along, we started to gain elevation up towards and ultimately to the top of this mid-canyon ridge. Nearing the top we found ourselves crossing a large dome of gypsum with a spring near the peak. A bit further on we discovered a large pit in the northern reach of the mound. Some 20′ across and 15′-20′ deep with a pool of water in the bottom; a strange discovery.

From there we continued another 200 yards to the peak of this ridge. From this higher elevation we had great views further up the Canyon, to the north of Red Mesa and the Nacimiento Mountains, and to the west Dragon’s Back and beyond Cabezon on the horizon. We then headed back towards the truck, downhill on the east side of this ridge where we found -the- 2-track that we had left early on, which made an easy hike back to the truck.

Statistics

Total Distance: 3.83 miles
Elevation: start 5,567 ft, maximum 5,923 ft, minimum ft 5,636
Gross gain: 287 ft. Aggregate ascending 580 ft, descending 581 ft
Maximum slope: 29% ascending, 23% descending, 4.9% average
Duration: 3:30

Dragon's Back Canyon Hike.Pat.2022-01-21 (KML)	112 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Dragon's Back Canyon Hike.Pat.2022-01-21 (GPX)	52 Downloads
Dragon's Back Canyon Expedition.Pat.2022-01-21 (KML)	77 Downloads
Dragon's Back Canyon Expedition.Pat.2022-01-21 (GPX)	306 Downloads