Dona Ana County/Las Cruces Area
Most of the trails in Dona Ana County and the Las Cruces are located on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management – Las Cruces District. Many are also within the Organ Mountatins – Desert Peaks and Prehistoric Trackways National Monuments. Click here for a georeferenced PDF map of the National Monuments.
*click links for location in Google Maps
TORTUGAS “A” MOUNTAIN
Tortugas mountain has a small network of trails managed by the BLM and New Mexico State University. These are the closet single track trails to Las Cruces and are very popular week day location for all types of trail users.
Sunset trailhead (west side): From I-25 Exit 1 (University Avenue) in Las Cruces, head northeast on University (which eventually turns into Dripping Springs Road) for 2 miles. At the intersection/traffic light with Sonoma Ranch Road, turn right (south) onto a gravel road. Follow this road up to the parking area and pavilion.
Monte Vista trailhead (east side): From I-25 Exit 1 (University Avenue) in Las Cruces, head northeast on University (which eventually turns into Dripping Springs Road) for 3.4 miles, past the Sonoma Rach Road intersection. Look for a sign, gravel lot, and pavilion on the east side of the mountain. This parking area gets less traffic and is a good choice to avoid congestion.
ORGAN MOUNTAINS
SIERRA VISTA TRAIL – NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL
Sierra Norte Trailhead (Dripping Springs Road): From I-25 Exit 1 (University Avenue) in Las Cruces, head northeast on University (which eventually turns into Dripping Springs Road) for 5.9 miles. Look for the Sierra Vista Trail sign on the right (south side of road) and head south on the dirt road for ¼ mi to the parking area.
Talavera Trailhead (Soledad Canyon Road): From I-25 Exit 1 (University Avenue) in Las Cruces, head northeast on University (which eventually turns into Dripping Springs Road). At 4.8 miles, turn right on Soledad Canyon Road and head south. At 5.5 miles, turn left at fire station and head east (still on Soledad Canyon Road). The trailhead will be on the right (south side of Soledad Canyon road).
Pena Blanca Trailhead (Mesquite exit): From I-25S/I-10E, Exit 151 (Mesquite). From exit, head east onto Country road B059. This road turns into gravel. Follow CR B059 for approximately 5.6 miles, through a hard left and then hard right turn, past a quarry and liquid waste facility. Cross the powerline road, the gravel road will narrow into a two track, gravel road. Follow this until reaching the trailhead on the left (north) side of the road.
Vado Trailhead (Vado exit): From I-25S/I-10E, Exit 155 (Vado). From exit, head east onto Country road B19 for approximately 2.4 miles. Pass the Cemex plant and over a cattle guard. Follow CR B19 until reaching the trailhead on the left (north) side of the road. Veer left onto a gravel road to reach the trailhead. The trail is further east on this dirt road or CR B19.
Highway 404/Anthony Gap: From I-10E, Exit 162 (Hwy 404/Ohara Rd). From exit, head east NM Highway 404 for approximately 4.2 miles. There is a trailhead on each side of the road. Go through a gate to reach either one. The trailhead on the north side requires one to follow a gravel road past pipelines and fences to follow the trail north. From the trailhead on the south side, one can continue south into the Franklin Mountains State Park and trails.
SOLEDAD CANYON RECREATION AREA
Trails: Bar Canyon
From I-25 Exit 1 (University Avenue) in Las Cruces, head northeast on University (which eventually turns into Dripping Springs Road). At 4.8 miles, turn right on Soledad Canyon Road and head south. At 5.5 miles, turn left at fire station and head east (still on Soledad Canyon Road). At 10 miles, turn right into the parking area at the end of the road.
Trails: Dripping Springs National Recreation Trail, Crawford, Filmore Canyon, Arroyo, and La Cueva trails
From I-25 Exit 1 (University Avenue) in Las Cruces, head northeast on University (which eventually turns into Dripping Springs Road). Continue straight for 9.8 mi to parking lot at Dripping Springs Natural Area Visitor Center. For La Cueva, watch for turnoff to La Cueva Picnic area on left before the Visitor Center. Fees: $5 per vehicle to park at Dripping Springs or La Cueva Picnic Area.
From I-25 Exit 1 (University Avenue) in Las Cruces, Head northeast on University (which eventually turns into Dripping Springs Road). At 4.8 miles, turn right on Soledad Canyon Road and head south. At 5.5 miles, turn left at fire station and head east (still on Soledad Canyon Road). At 9 miles, turn right on Ladera Canyon Road and head south. At 9.6 miles, turn left on an unmarked primitive road and head east. Note: this road is a bit rough and may require a high clearance vehicle. At 9.8 miles, turn right into an open area next to road and park. Note: This trailhead is actually on private property.
BAYLOR PASS TRAIL – WEST
Baylor Canyon Road Trailhead: From I-25 Exit 1 (University Avenue) in Las Cruces, head northeast on University (which eventually turns into Dripping Springs Road) for 7.7 miles. Turn left onto Baylor Canyon Rd and head north. The Trailhead is 4.8 miles down the road on the right (east) side.
Trails: Pine Tree, Baylor Pass (East), Indian Hollow
From the Las Cruces/ US 70 exit #6 on Interstate 25, head northeast on US 70. Travel 14.5 miles and turn right at the Aguirre Springs Campground Sign. Head southeast for 5.8 mi. Stop at the self-service station and pay the $5 entry fee. Keep going for 0.1 mile and pull into the parking area on the left. The Baylor Pass trailhead is on the right before the self-service station. The Pine Tree trailhead is on the right side of the road, past the station. The Indian Hollow trail is unmarked and accessed from the group site.
DESERT PEAKS MOUNTAIN RANGES
DOÑA ANA MOUNTAINS – Desert Wind Way
Trails: The “DAs” is the most extensive trail network around Las Cruces. The trail system is comprised of single track trails, two track and gravel roads. It is very popular with mountain bikers, including the long standing Tuesday night ride and the Horny Toad Hustle mountain bike race in September.
From the Doña Ana exit #9 on I-25, turn right and travel east for 0.2 mi. At the stop sign, turn left onto Del Rey Blvd, then turn right onto Calle de Las Lomas. After ½ mile, turn left onto La Reina Rd, then take a right onto Desert Wind Way. Follow Desert Wind way as it passes through a gate and turns to dirt. The trailhead and parking lot are ¼ mile down on the left side of the road.
ROBLEDO MOUNTAINS/PREHISTORIC TRACKWAYS NATIONAL MONUMENT
Trails: Ridgeline, Discovery, SST, and OHV trail network. All of the established trails in the Robledo mountain lie within the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument. These include the Ridgeline and Discovery trails leading to fossil sites; the very technical SST trail, popular among mountain bikers; and an extensive OHV trail network of 4×4 gravel roads, two track, and stream beds. The system of gravel roads provide a means to connect to the trails at Picacho Mountain and further out into the Cornudas area and Las Uvas mountains.
From Main Street in Las Cruces, take Picacho Ave west for 1 mi. Turn right onto NM 185/N Valley Drive and travel north for 5.6 miles. Turn left onto Shalem Colony Trail and travel 1.2 miles. Turn right onto Rocky Acres Trail and take a slight left onto Permian Tracks Road. The trailhead for the Ridgeline and Discovery trails is the first, small parking area on the right. Further up the road is a large lot on the left. One can park here or even further up the gravel road (high clearance required) and follow the gravel road to the SST trail.
PICACHO PEAK RECREATION AREA
Trails: Picacho Peak Recreation Area has an extensive system of non-motorized and hiking only trails. The system is made up of single track, double track and gravel roads. The system of gravel roads provide a means to connect to the trails at the Robledo Mountains and further out into the Cornudas area and Las Uvas mountains.
Picacho Hills trailhead: From Picacho Ave and Main St in Las Cruces, head west on Picacho Ave for 4.3 miles. Turn right onto Picacho Hills Drive and after 1 mile, keep left onto Barcelona Ridge Road. Turn right onto Anthem Road (there is a sign to the left for Picacho Mountain) then turn right onto Picacho Mountain Loop. The paved road ends, and the next mile of dirt road is poorly maintained but sometimes passable by passenger cars. After 0.9 mile, turn to the right, cross a cattle guard and a BLM sign. About ½ mile further down is the parking area and trailhead, with a picnic area and a shelter. This route requires passing through a residential neighborhood and private land. Please be respectful or access could be jeopardized in the future.
Box Canyon trailhead: From Picacho Ave/Hwy 70 and Main St in Las Cruces, head west on Picacho Ave for approximately 6.3 miles. When Picacho Ave. ends at I-10 W, take a right onto the frontage road. Turn right (north) onto Box Canyon Dr. This is a gravel road and can be rough at times. Follow this road past the airport (on your left) for approximately 3.5 miles. Park in one of the pull offs just before dropping down into Box Canyon. Trails to the west (from the small parking area on the left), below in Box Canyon, and to the east towards Picacho mountain.
MORE
Most of the Desert Peaks region does not have established trails. However, the network of gravel and 4×4 roads create a vast network to explore via bicycle and to access more remote areas where one can continue on foot or horse back. Below are directions to some of the more popular sites within the more remote and wild Potrillo Mountains and Sierra De Las Uvas. The book Day Hikes and Nature Walks in Las Cruces and El Paso Area by Greg Magee has more detailed description about these and other hikes.
POTRILLO MOUNTAINS
Kilbourne Hole: From the Vado/Berino exit #155 on I-10 between El Paso and Las Cruces, take NM highway 227 west. After 1.8 mi, turn left and follow Hwy 478 south for 0.2 mi. Turn right and follow NM 189 west for 1.2 mi, then turn left onto NM 28 south. After 2 mi, turn right and follow W. Afton Road (CR B8) west for 11.5 mi. Turn left and follow Douglas Monroe (CR B4) south. After 4.4 mi, veer to the right at a ranch house and continue on CR B4 west. After 2.2 miles, turn left, following the railroad tracks to the southeast for 0.3 mi, turn right and cross the railroad tracks, then turn left and follow CR A17 to the southeast along the railroad tracks for 7.4 mi. Then turn right and follow CR A11 west for 8.3 mi. Park to the side of the road just past the junction of CR A11 and CR A13 and the southeastern edge of Kilbourne Hole. Be careful not to get stuck in the soft sand.
Aden Crater: From the Vado/Berino exit #155 on I-10 between El Paso and Las Cruces, take NM highway 227 west. After 1.8 mi, turn left and follow Hwy 478 south for 0.2 mi. Turn right and follow NM 189 west for 1.2 mi, then turn left onto NM 28 south. After 2 mi, turn right and follow W. Afton Road (CR B8) west for 11.5 mi. Turn left and follow CR B4 south. After 4.4 mi, veer to the right at a ranch house and continue on CR B4 west for 2.2 mi. Turn right, following the railroad tracks to the northwest for 5.1 mi. Turn left and cross the railroad tracks, then turn right and follow CR B2 (not signed) to the northwest along railroad tracks for 2.7 mi. Turn left onto an unmarked road and drive to the southwest; you should be able to see the crater at this point. After 4.2 miles, park at the intersection of another unmarked road that heads to the southeast toward the crater.
SIERRA DE LAS UVAS
Broad Canyon: From Radium Springs exit #19 on I-25 north of Las Cruces, head west on NM 157/Ft. Selden Rd for 1.6 mi. Turn right on NM 185 and head northwest. Pass the border patrol checkpoint, and turn left onto CR E6, heading west. Note: high clearance vehicle required. After 7.4 miles, turn left on an unmarked road, pass through a gate and head south for 0.1 mi. Turn left on CR E-6A and head southeast. Pass by an unmarked road on the right at 1.1 mi and pass through a gate 0.4 mi later. 1.8 miles after the gate, turn right at a road junction and head south for 0.3 mi. Park off to side of the road at the junction of an abandoned, overgrown route on the left.
Valles Canyon: From the Airport exit #132 on I-10 just west of Las Cruces, turn left onto the frontage road and head west. After 3.5 miles, turn right onto Corralitos Ranch Road (CR C9) and head northwest. After 3.1 miles, turn right onto CR C7 at Corralitos Ranch and head northeast. After 3.7 miles, veer left onto CR D12 and head northwest. At 3.8 miles, veer right at the fork and continue on CR D12 to the northwest for 10.9 miles. Turn right onto a jeep trail and park off to the side of the road.
CITY OF LAS CRUCES
Las Cruces a lot of parks, multi-use trails, and bicycle facilities throughout the city. There is also an unofficial network of dirt trails that run along the irrigation canals through the city and further out into Dona Ana County. The “Ditches” as locals call them, provide vital connectors for city to trail adventures along with fun, urban, guerrilla outings. Local organizations, including SNMTA, have been working on making the ditches official, city trails. The City is also developing an Active Transportation Plan that will improve bicycle and pedestrian transportation. Check out the trails and parks in Las Cruces here.
DONA ANA COUNTY
Like the city of Las Cruces, Dona Ana County manages some parks and trails as well. They do not have nearly as many as the city or BLM but we are working to make that change. As mentioned above, the irrigation canals weave throughout the county all the way from Hatch to El Paso, creating hundreds of miles of unofficial trails. The locals love these and SNMTA is working to making these official as well. Check out the county’s parks and trails here.
MORE TRAILS IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO!
REGIONAL TRAILS
- Continental Divide Trail
- Grand Enchantment Trail
- Arizona Trail
- Southern Tier Bicycle Touring Route
- Rio Grande Trail
- Guadalupe Ridge Trail