San Andreas Canyon Trail #125, NM

The local hiking guide says to never go up this trail, always go down it (suggesting it is better done as a connected loop with one of the other ridge access trails). Their reasoning: the 55% grades at the upper end of the trail. In fact, the overly steep portions near the top are brief, and the soft, sandy soil allows for good footing on even the steepest sections. While it might be more fun to enjoy this hike as a connected loop, it is fine as a very nice up/down or down/up hike. Other than that very steep top portion of the trail, most of the rest of the hike is a nice meander through pine tree canopied, open forest. In the lower reaches of the trail there is a pleasant meadow with a small pond and stream.


As with much of the trails in the Sacramento Mountains, expect a number of downfalls blocking portions of the trail. In a way these are nice additions; they discourage the weekend warriors on their ATV's. I have never encountered another hiker on any of the Seven ridge access trails... and only the very occasional ATV advocate on the weekends... and they more typcially stay to the forest roads instead of the trails.Trail 125 connects to the Rim Trail (T105) New Mexico's first Forest route to be designated a National Recreational Trail. T105 may be used to connect to all Seven of the trails that access the ridge from lower elevations.

Note: it is not uncommon for the mountain trails to be closed to fire danger during the pre-monsoon months of May and June. Check with the Forest Service before planning your trip. Sacramento Ranger District Office: (505) 682-2551

Animal encounters along this trail: Elk, Deer, Black Bear, Turkey

2009-05-01 imike