MTB Project Logo

Pleasant silty singletrack meandering through badlands.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

1.3

Miles

2.1

KM

Singletrack

5,319' 1,621 m

High

5,185' 1,580 m

Low

139' 42 m

Up

177' 54 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (3°)

10%

Max Grade (6°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Description

(UPDATE 2015: As the Preserve has become more popular with hikers, the trail surfaces have been churned to sandpit consistency. The upper trail sections are less affected, but getting there can be an ordeal. This area may be most appealing after precipitation, with a fat bike, or simply viewed from a long way away. If you don't like sand, run away.)

The best entry point for the El Cerro de Los Lunas Preserve is the parking area on NM6 (see marker). From here follow the signs. You'll ride about 1 mile on gravel and silt roads (not mapped here), to the beginning of this trail.

All trails have abundant goatheads and other spines. Tubeless and topped-up sealant is highly recommended. Take plenty of water and inflation (CO2 and pump). Large tires, for example 29'ers, and full suspension are best for the combination of steep, rough, loose conditions in this area.

El Cerro Bowl is the friendliest and most pleasant of the preserve trails. The trail tread is silt but the moderate grades make this a minimal obstacle. El Cerro North and El Cerro Huning Ranch traverse steep silt sections which are quite challenging and require some hiking.

The trail rolls along with a couple of short rocky and rooty sections which may require walking.

To do a loop on the upper mountain, the best direction is clockwise. Take the Bowl to El Cerro North. Proceed up this 0.4 miles, then take a right onto El Cerro Connector. Hike-a-bike a few hundred feet up to the plateau. Ride to El Cerro South, which will take you around the south peaks area. Finally El Cerro West Escarpment will bring you back to the beginning of Bowl.

Total loop distance is 5.2 miles. This is a tough ride requiring some hiking, but it's a nice challenge with great views for the adventurous.

GEOLOGY

The diverse riding conditions in this area reflect a diverse geologic history. The cerro (hill) is "two or more volcanoes of different ages." This volcanic rock provides the upper trails with steep slopes and abundant baby head rocks. Things have moved around too: "folding, thrusting, normal faulting, and uplift" have chopped up the volcanoes and caused the massive landslide at the north end.

The silty sand at lower elevations comes from eroding volcanics above, Rio Grande river deposits, and eolian (wind-blown) sources far away. (Ref: Love, et al. 1999, geoinfo.nmt.edu/staff%20/lo…)

Contacts

Shared By:

John Geronimo

Trail Ratings

  2.5 from 2 votes

#34389

Overall
  2.5 from 2 votes
5 Star
0%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
50%
2 Star
50%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#915

in New Mexico

#34,389

Overall
1 Views Last Month
1,131 Since Dec 13, 2013
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

0%
0%
50%
50%
0%
0%

Photos

Rolling section typical of the Bowl
Dec 13, 2013 near Los Lunas, NM
Climbing out of the Bowl proper the trail is nicely contoured so grades are moderate
Dec 13, 2013 near Los Lunas, NM
Rolling section approaching the bowl area
Dec 9, 2013 near Los Lunas, NM

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

none

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.