West Side Rd... Forest Road 90, NM

Forest Road 90, known in the area as Westside road, bisects the Sacramento Mountains along the 7,000' elevation range, giving access to both the upper trails intersecting with the Rim Trail up above 9,000', and the assortment of offshoot trails dropping down to the bottom of the mountains in the Alamogordo area. Additionally, it provides a great mountain bike outing in of itself.


Heading out of High Rolls off hiway 82, it heads south winding around the drainages, up and down, offering some great views of the Tularosa Basin and the White Sands National Monument.

The major trail head intersections include:

T119 "A" Trail... providing access to Hershberger Peak, Ortega Peak, Dry Canyon, and access to Alamogordo
T103 Caballero Canyon Trail... access down to Alamo Canyon
T104 Alamo Canyon Trail... access down to Alamogordo
T199 Alamo Peak Trail... access to Alamo Peak and to T110 and T111 both climbing up to Atkinson Meadows
T235 Heart Attack Canyon Trail... nasty steep access to the Rim trail
FR 90A Long Ridge, access to the Steamboat formation
T125 San Andreas Canyon Trail... access to the Rim Trail
T234 Road Canyon trail... access to the Sunspot Observatory
T234A Road Canyon spur... alternate access to Sunspot Observatory
T236 Gobbler Knob trail... access to the cliffs and highpoints overlooking the canyons to the west
T106 Dog Canyon Trail... access down to Oliver Lee State Park

The road winds around offering a variety of offshoot forest roads with ample camping areas, frequented heavily by weekend ATV riders. The 30 miles of road, eventually connecting on the far south end with county routes looping back and up to connect with the Sunspot hiway provide a great potential outing, be it camping, hiking, bike riding or just a great day drive to see the sites. Check the local maps to connect with the noted trailheads and other potential highpoints.

Being high enough elevation to support a winter long snow and ice pack, be aware that it may not always provide easy access. It is not maintained in the winter season. Year round can find it mud rutted and blocked by downed trees. Plan accordingly.

A great car camp site is at the junction of the T104/T119 trails, at the old house site... great old shade trees in a flat meadow area... check it out.

Higher clearance vehicles make the most sense, though for most of the year, any car could traverse the road.

Check out the Triplogs.

Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.

2010-10-02 imike