Turkey Springs Road

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

This route is not accessible for 2WD passenger vehicles, 4WD is recommended and high clearance is necessary to reach the Public Land boundary.

The Taos Cow is a legendary coffee and ice cream shop in Arroyo Seco. Next door is Abe's Cantina y Cocina which is a great place to grab a post-ride beer and one of the best green chile cheeseburgers in Taos!

Turkey Springs Road traverses the Sangre de Cristo Mountain foothills between the villages of Valdez and San Cristobal. The first quarter mile of the road crosses lands which were part of the Arroyo Hondo Land Grant, much of which is currently private. This route is mapped from the Carson National Forest boundary and ends at a gate where the road enters the D.H. Lawrence Ranch which is owned by UNM.

The access route begins in the small valley village of Valdez north of Arroyo Seco. Head west on Gallina Canyon Road. When you reach the junction with Deer Mesa Rd. (look for a mirror as a landmark) stay right and continue up Gallina Canyon. After about 1.9 miles, continue straight onto Turkey Springs Road.

From here, the road gradually climbs to the Forest Service boundary. After passing several private drives there is an old fence running west and east on either side of the road and a Carson National Forest sign on the left. A few hundred feet further is the best place to park, look for a drainage cut crossing the road where trees have been cleared, there is enough space for a few mid-size vehicles to park.

Ride north along the road as it climbs to a high point, drop down into Turkey Springs Meadow, and enjoy the views and abundant wildflowers during summer. Cross the seasonally-flowing stream, then climb through the forest until you reach the gate at the D.H. Lawrence Ranch.

This ride links to other trails and old roads which are historic access routes into the Carson National Forest, many are unmapped and there is no signage. Although finding this area requires motivation and commitment as well as keen route-finding skills, and the trails are rocky and rough, it is a seldom traveled area that can be fun to explore. It is often used as part of a long day road and dirt ride beginning in Arroyo Seco.