Benson Canyon Spur Trail 2 #T5005B, NM

LINCOLN NATIONAL FOREST

The Sacramento Mountains district of the Lincoln National Forest is located in the Southeast section of New Mexico between the Tularosa Basin to the west and the Pecos River Basin to the East. Cloudcroft is the largest town along Highway 82 at the crest of the mountains. Up between 8 and 9000 feet, this is a perfect summer getaway or an excellent area for winter sports. The forests are composed of Douglas Fir, Ponderosa pine, Aspen, and Oak. There is a wide range of wildlife, including Deer, Elk, and Bear. Cloudcroft is a popular recreational site for many kinds of activities, including camping and hiking. There are over 100 miles of hiking trails within 30 miles of Cloudcroft, many of which are along old logging roads, railroad grades, and existing old trails. Views from the ridges of the Sacramento Mountains over the Tularosa Basin are superb, assuming the weather conditions permit.


BENSON CANYON SPUR TRAIL 2 #T5005BOverview
The Benson Canyon Spur Trail #T5005B, also known as the Benson Canyon South Trail, connects the Benson Canyon Trail #T5005 to FR5597B, Bluff Springs East Road. This 1.6 miles fairly level trail makes a good connector trail for longer loop hikes. The trail is through a thick forest of Douglas-fir and Ponderosa Pine with a few Oaks sprinkled around. This is not a trail with great views since it is mainly through the forest, but the scenery all along the trail is great. There is no vehicle access to this trail, but from Bluff Springs along the Rio Penasco Road C17, it is 1 mile via FR5597A and B to the southern end of this trail.

Description
The Benson Canyon Spur Trail #T5005B has its northern terminus along the Benson Canyon Trail #T5005 at around its midpoint. The trail junction is signed. This trail, like many of the trails around Cloudcroft, follows a jeep/logging road. The trail stays relatively level as it heads east, paralleling Benson Creek about midway up between the creek and the ridge to the south. Occasionally there will be some views across Benson Canyon of Benson ridge to the north, but aside from that not much to see in the distance because of the trees. At about 1.2 miles in, the trail starts to head to the south as it goes around the eastern edge of the ridge that separates Benson Creek from the Rio Penasco. In the last 0.6 miles, the trail drops about 200 feet and ends at FR5597B Bluff Springs East Road. There is a sign at the end of the trail indicating Bluff Springs is 1 mile along FR5597. At 0.7 miles along the FR5597B is the junction with the Benson Ridge/Bluff Spring Trail #T5006.

There is nothing spectacular about this trail other than a pleasant walk through a forest, but it is helpful as a connecting trail for longer loop hikes. The wildflowers along this trail are outstanding in the summer after the monsoon rains arrive; the downside is the trail is muddy and slick after the rains.

Extra Credit
For those looking for a little bit of off-trail and route-finding, there is an old trail shown on the Forest Service Topo that heads up to the ridge from the junction of the Benson Spur Trail #T5005B and FR5597. This trail follows the remnants of an old logging road from the above-mentioned junction, climbs up to the ridge, and follows the ridge to the Benson Ridge/Bluff Spring Trail #T5006. I have followed the old road up to the ridge to the far eastern saddle, then lost the road and picked it up again on the western end of the ridge. If this guide convinces someone to try this route and the route gets posted, I will see where I missed the trail. This route could be worked into a couple of good loop hikes using The Benson Canyon Spur Trail #T5005B as part of the loop.

2021-07-24 markthurman53