Last time I camped in Cabristo canyon we saw frost on our bikes every morning , early august 08
and right around a hundred miles from Raton or arm pit of New Mexico
and right around a hundred miles from Raton or arm pit of New Mexico
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Cloudcroft vs. Colorado
- Thread starter DFW_Warrior
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You aren't wrong about that! LOL
You guys have obviously never been to Truth or Consequences.
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Who's camped in Cloudcroft?
Is the south side of town better for access to trails?
Which campsites have showers?
Can you primitive camp anywhere in the National Forest?
Is the south side of town better for access to trails?
Which campsites have showers?
Can you primitive camp anywhere in the National Forest?
I've ridden Cloudcroft and can tell you it's a really great place for single & double track off-road riding. The ridge trail is challenging and would not venture in too far unless you are a confident rider. The forest ranger station has maps and the trails are well marked throughout the riding areas. The park ranger very much welcomed two wheeled adventurers, trails are cut intentionally not to allow 4 wheeled vehicles. We found some unbelievable places to ride with no one else around. Most trails are beginner friendly and if it gets too challenging just turn around. We found some rocky areas and should adjust your tire pressure accordingly, but most areas are perfect dirt. The town has some adequate bars and restaurants. We rented a VRBO house about 6-8 miles outside of town and it was great. Highly recommend and I will going back soon.
Simmons1
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Lot of driving for 2 days of riding. There is a lot out there to ride.
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If you pass thru Mayhill stop there at the cafe for chicken fried steak.
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If you end going to CO, be sure to download the COTREX app. It shows all of the roads and trails in CO. It will let you sort for the type (ie hiking, motorcyle, bicycle, ect) of trails your looking for, You can easily make your own routes and/or search for other routes publicly posted.
We usually primitive camp off of Benson Ridge (Rd233) - south of town off the sunspot highway.
It's central and you can head over to the rim trail via Karr canyon road in one direction and Lucas Canyon, Willie White, etc. in the other.
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Perfect. Thank you.We usually primitive camp off of Benson Ridge (Rd233) - south of town off the sunspot highway.
It's central and you can head over to the rim trail via Karr canyon road in one direction and Lucas Canyon, Willie White, etc. in the other.
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I’m late to get here and just skimmed through.
I saw mention of Monsoon season here in CO. We’ve actually had a great year for rain, which is good. Fresh rain makes most of our trail 10000x better. We normally just ride in the rain. No dust and the dirt is magic with traction.
I saw mention of Monsoon season here in CO. We’ve actually had a great year for rain, which is good. Fresh rain makes most of our trail 10000x better. We normally just ride in the rain. No dust and the dirt is magic with traction.
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I wound out Monarch in the very easy category. it has some exposure, but the trail it’s self is smooth and flowy. A lot of the trails around it are more technical and difficult.
Rainbow is another one I wound put in the easier side of the page. There are some rocky sections, but if we’re looking for challenging trails , rainbow os never in that discussion. I’d call it mostly flowy.
If you’re in the sargents area (other side of monarch pass from Salida), horseshoe is one of the more difficult trails out there. Some guys call it “the real 5 miles of hells”
Here’s my recent ride on monarch Crest.
_RG_
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I like staying here. Watching herds of elk come down into the valley every evening is a nice way to cap off a great day.
www.aspendale.org
Aspendale Mountain Retreat in Cloudcroft New Mexico
Aspendale Mountain Retreat is nestled in the beautiful sacramento mountains at 9,000 ft. Our 123 acre camp has the capacity for single and family retreats as well as groups up to 250 people. Our valley is full of beauty for a peaceful and quiet retreat as well as activities for all including, a high
www.aspendale.org
That does look nice. They are ok with a group of guys on D/S bikes?I like staying here. Watching herds of elk come down into the valley every evening is a nice way to cap off a great day.
Aspendale Mountain Retreat in Cloudcroft New Mexico
Aspendale Mountain Retreat is nestled in the beautiful sacramento mountains at 9,000 ft. Our 123 acre camp has the capacity for single and family retreats as well as groups up to 250 people. Our valley is full of beauty for a peaceful and quiet retreat as well as activities for all including, a high
Thanks for the video! When you get to the end of the Monarch trail what then?I wound out Monarch in the very easy category. it has some exposure, but the trail it’s self is smooth and flowy. A lot of the trails around it are more technical and difficult.
Rainbow is another one I wound put in the easier side of the page. There are some rocky sections, but if we’re looking for challenging trails , rainbow os never in that discussion. I’d call it mostly flowy.
If you’re in the sargents area (other side of monarch pass from Salida), horseshoe is one of the more difficult trails out there. Some guys call it “the real 5 miles of hells”
Here’s my recent ride on monarch Crest.
woodsguy
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Not being the grammar police guy, but assume you mean "I would put Monarch".
woodsguy
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And I'm guessing this is Monarch Pass area? Never had a bike up there but have been in this area.
It is. Jason has been giving me some tips on trails and camping in the area. This guy knows his stuff around this area for sure. Monarch Crest looks to be fantastic, and one day I will 100% ride it, but probably not this trip. There just isn't enough beginner stuff in that area to make a trip of it. Once Rachel gets a little more seat time, maybe.
As it stands right now, we have two VERY good options for forest camping and riding. One in Cloudcroft thanks to the info from John, and then an area up in Colorado thanks to Jason. I'm actually leaning back towards Colorado at the moment, but I think it will all come down to what the weather is doing in a week. The good news is that we can really wait until the last minute to decide as it isn't like we have reservations anywhere.
Sorry to keep bothering you but what I am asking is where do you end up? Do you have to back track to Monarch on the same trail or do you make a big loop that includes some other locations?
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Oh sorry I misunderstood.
You can do it a lot of different ways.
We turned and went down Agate creek, hit the highway for like 3 miles to Tomichi creek (even though none of us are plated
). Then went up Tank 7 (has a long difficult rocky section, uo summit trail and back across monarch crest to the truck. 60 or 65ish miles IIRC.
But from Monarch crest you can turn on greens creek and do those out and back, or keep going all the way to marshal pass.
So you can do a big mileage loop, are an moderate mileage out n back.
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I definitely don’t know everything and I’m still learning, but I know enough to help outIt is. Jason has been giving me some tips on trails and camping in the area. This guy knows his stuff around this area for sure. Monarch Crest looks to be fantastic, and one day I will 100% ride it, but probably not this trip. There just isn't enough beginner stuff in that area to make a trip of it. Once Rachel gets a little more seat time, maybe.
As it stands right now, we have two VERY good options for forest camping and riding. One in Cloudcroft thanks to the info from John, and then an area up in Colorado thanks to Jason. I'm actually leaning back towards Colorado at the moment, but I think it will all come down to what the weather is doing in a week. The good news is that we can really wait until the last minute to decide as it isn't like we have reservations anywhere.
Oh sorry I misunderstood.
You can do it a lot of different ways.
We turned and went down Agate creek, hit the highway for like 3 miles to Tomichi creek (even though none of us are plated
Then went up Tank 7 (has a long difficult rocky section, uo summit trail and back across monarch crest to the truck. 60 or 65ish miles IIRC.
But from Monarch crest you can turn on greens creek and do those out and back, or keep going all the way to marshal pass.
So you can do a big mileage loop, are an moderate mileage out n back.
My favorite place to ride colorado is moffett county , hundreds of miles of county roads from graded gravel that’s not my favorite to trails that haven’t seen a grader in 20 years or more . And no people or traffic . Heards of elk in the little snake river valley . Dinosaur National park with 50 miles along the yampa river that’s the best . A city park for camping in Maybell with restrooms and showeres and a store and gas . The campground isn’t as nice as where I’m at in Wyoming but the riding was easier . The limits in Colorado were the amount of gas I could carry . A 150 mile range there was not enough at times . Some of the trails here in wyoming have never seen any kind of machinery , they can be a little tough at times .