Cascades Canyon, NM

Just north of the official Forest Service Trailhead for Alamo Canyon lies a number of interesting canyon cuts, all oriented such that the mouth of the canyons are on private land.


The first, PockRock Canyon, is easy to access; the landowners house is situated over next to Alamo Canyon Road.RockaChucky Wash, the canyon further to the north, is hiked more commonly in its upper sections, above Prominent Point. The lower reaches are blocked by a number of substantial Dryfalls. The bottom of this canyon flows right through the landowner's backyard!

That is also the case for Cascades Canyon.

It is best to enter this cut by walking well to the east of the private residence, dropping over and down into the canyon without making the owner feel like you are invading their home.

This is a smaller drainage. It begins a touch on the dull side, but soon you will find yourself climbing the series of cascading bedrock dryfalls. As these get ever steeper you may decide to exit to a side ridge for easier ascending. In short order you will find yourself above the falls and on the mid level bench.

At this point you can continue to move on up to the upper cliffs and top out on the lower reaches of The Mesa... or... walk over to the north and check out the impressive Dryfalls in the lower reaches of RockaChucky Wash.

You may also head south to drop down into the lower reaches of PockRock Canyon... or move up the adjoining ridge to check out the odd intrusion formation on the north side of that canyon. This Pyramid shaped bit of sculpture houses a cave like detail along its lower edges.

Of the three canyons blocked off by private property, Cascades Canyon is the least appealing... but, still worth at least one visit!

2014-02-04 imike