Talpa Traverse (from El Nogal)

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Not Allowed

One of only a couple of trails that can actually be ridden from downtown. Head east from the Town Plaza on Hwy 64 for just a few miles to the El Nogal parking lot on the right, just inside the NFS boundary. The trailhead is at the west end of the parking lot, just over the footbridge. Ride this as an out-and-back (future plans will have this continue on to connect to FR 437!).

The beginning of this ride is the end of the popular South Boundary Trail #164 (in reverse). At 0.8 miles in, this ride peels off to the west, and down, to the Ojitos Trail #166. Turn left up Ojitos, cross (I think) 11 tank traps (rollers) and watch for the singletrack leaving on the right. From here the trail basically contours to the SW along the foothills, but it is always going up or down. Lots of downs through arroyos! Lots of steep little climbs! Lots of shifting!

Resist any paths that drop off to your right (downhill to town). They will simply exit you to the municipal roads below. Around 5 miles from where you started you'll arrive at an old road that goes up to the left, and down to the right. This is where we typically turn around. The ride is just as challenging on the way back. Someday we hope to continue to contour along to FR 437, and connect with the trails in that area!

The route shown here has a little add-on at the end that we call the Hobo Trail. As you descend back to the parking lot, watch for a right hand option that will traverse further along to the east before dropping down to the creek. Make the hard-left turn at the creek, and ride west back to the parking lot. This is a great little wind-down, and has some tight trees to negotiate back to the foot bridge. Enjoy!