Dry Canyon Trail - Lower, NM

The Forest Service's official Dry Canyon trail begins about a half mile above this section, and fails to include this lower area, which is unfortunate given that this canyon cut is the nicer portion of the drainage. The area in between the two trails is a much used parking lot... with horse back riders parking their trailer rigs, ATV owners staging their mini-adventures, and lots and lots of folks parking along the wash for the sole purpose of shooting their guns. Yes, this is the areas most popular shooting range! Fortunately, the lower canyon has a nice eight foot tall waterfall pourover right at it's upper beginning; the horses, ATV's and most everyone else head the opposite direction up the canyon.


Park anywhere along the Forest Road and simply walk over and down into the wash... downclimb the small falls, and begin to enjoy a very nice sandy stroll through the occasional steep cut sidewalls. There are a variety of small drops to work your way down, but none really challenging. In fact, this section can make a great sand run workout if you are in the mood.Most people will simply enjoy this defile getaway for a down and back up hike... but it also provides a potential looping option down and around to the mouth of Beeman Canyon. Simply take it down to the first dirt road crossing and follow that to your left back around the base of the mountains. That allows you to do the Beeman Canyon hike all the way to Winter Peak without having to work your way back down and through the Jumble.

One minor distraction: the wash runs along and below the main hiway up the mountain to Cloudcroft. This is not a big deal given that this is not really a getaway hike, but a fun meander down among some interesting rock formations.

It is worth the time to stop off and enjoy this little bit of canyon adventure...

2010-02-25 imike