Sidewinder

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Aligned east of the Rio Grande, the Caballo Mountains are breached by a series of canyons which form jagged gaps in the range. This trail goes up along one of the smaller, unnamed gaps but it is still a striking landscape especially with a low sun angle.

To reach the trailhead, head east from the traffic light (there is only one) in Truth or Consequences on NM51, hang a right just after the Rio Grande bridge, and go back along the river on Turtleback Ave.

The trail starts up the canyon, then hangs a sharp right and swings up along a deeply eroded old mining road. Most of the trail is in fact old road, but it is heavy eroded and nearly singletrack.

Heading up the flank of the ridge, hikers and others have built an extremely tight series of switchbacks: real singletrack.

The trail slips through the gap and descends to the dry watercourse: go straight across the arroyo. The trail then turns south into the back valley. Passing a old mining area, the trail joins the arroyo and becomes mostly hike-a-bike. I ran out of daylight but apparently it does connect to rideable trail further to the south.

Note there are good camping spots along the Rio Grande south of Williamsburg, between NM187 and the river.