If you're heading towards Cloudcroft, don't miss this beautiful, well-groomed hiking trail along the way, behind High Rolls, NM. This is an out and back trail built on an old railroad bed roughly 1.5 miles each way. There are two entrance points - one takes you up a short, rocky incline. The other lets you get started on a wide, slightly inclined trail. You'll see beautiful views of the Sacramento mountains and White Sands National Monument. Wildlife and geologic interpretive signs along the way. There is a shelter that is perfect for a picnic break. Visit: http://www.traillink.com/trail/grand-view-trail.aspx
An amazing volunteer group that does wonderful things. Several sections of trails are open to the public across the US, and the hike at High Rolls is no exception. Keep up the good work.
Forest and desert. If you love to hike, then you will like these trails. I was suprised that there is so much to see in New Mexico.
This is a little-discovered jewel in southern New Mexico. High above the desert, at 8-11,000 feet, you are in a completely different ecological zone than Alamogordo down in the basin, 35 miles away. The railroads that used to carry ore, coal, and people down and up the steep face of the Sacramento Mountains are long gone, but some of the trestles have been reconstructed, some of the collapsed ones are still there to be climbed on, and the experience of tracing these incredibly challenging routes on foot gives you new respect for those who built and used those rails.The town of Cloudcroft has everything you need for daytime explorations. For more involved adventures, basing down in Alamogordo is probably a good idea, though there are one or two rustic places to stay up high as well.The staff at the visitor's center is incredibly helpful and pleasant, and you are likely to run into tourists from across the globe as you walk the variety of trails. You can choose from very easy to quite strenuous, and the views from all are stunning at any time of the year.If you are anywhere near Cloudcroft, you owe it to yourself to at least get a taste of this lovely bit of mountain majesty.
Not hard to find please ask around not hard to find from town. Lot of information signs and good exercise. The Tressel Trail was a lot of fun
nice high altitude picnic and hiking area !we have hiked the The Tressel Trail many times its a nice little hike, lots of woods, wildlife, views, etc. we have had several cook outs here , this is a nice place to spend the day outside with family, friends, or just buy your self, its also a great place to get out of the heat in the summer !
I hike this 3-5 times a week every season but winter.if you get out early, it's not unusual to see deer or elk and it has a great view a few hundred yards above the Muchachita st parking lot. Too icy in the winter, but if you access the trail from the village via Osha Trail st, behind Remax, you'll have a fairly level 2 mile hike to the Pines Campground. This is my favorite trail in the village area.
Beautiful, scenic, a pretty good history lesson. If you are a flat - lander (live a sea level) remember to pace yourself and drink a lot of water. 10,000 ft. is hard on the lungs, muscles and brains!
Make sure to pick up the tourist brochure with picture maps of the various rail trails around Cloudcroft area. I visited both the Mexico and Salado Canyons trestles. Nice hike to both with various placards explaining history, wildlife and plants in the area.
On the way to Cloudcroft the views from this scenic pullover were breathtaking. The engineering and building of this railroad track - on the side of a mountain- must have been by fearless men. There was a lookout area that stuck out over the forest that was great for picture taking. If you are afraid of heights you might have an issue here. It was very warm when we left Alamagordo, 70's, and got chilly fast on the way to Cloudcroft, 50's. This was our second stop going up to Sunspot observatory and I am glad we had hoodies in the car.