Review Date
May 27, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: uofabill ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
My riding buddy and I just got back from a riding trip to Gallup last night. I can't say enough good things about the High Desert Trail System. I am sure not the best rider in the world but I have been on a lot of trails in a lot of places and have done a lot of trail work myself, these are some of the best trails I have ever ridden.
I don't know who designed/surveyed/laid out the trails but I would like to. Whoever it was sure knows that they are doing. Perfect grades IMHO. The construction of the trails is exceptional. We had read quite a bit about the riding scene that the Gallup Mayor and mtn biking community are working on developing and they have done a fantastic job.
When you go, get the Gallup Waypoints by Stan Smith, I think he had a role in laying out the trails and his book is right on the money. Follow his recommendation on which direction to ride and you will enjoy it. If you go the opposite direction it will be much more "challenging."
The High Desert trails are in the scrub cedar and brush country and most of the area is sandy. We were there just after some slow rain and they were perfect. I can see how when it dries out that some places would get very sandy (soft.) Being the kind of vegetation that it is, you are in direct sun most of the time and in hottest part of the year you would be well advised to ride early or late.
The trails climb up to and then follow the rim around three mesas giving you some spectacular views of the entire area.
There is some slick rock in places and some interesting switchbacks up and down some of the rimrock.
You can tell that a "lot of love," went into building these trails. There are silhouettes of animals scattered around the system to catch your attention as you ride. There are also some very cool petroglyph figures on the bike cattle guards installed in the fences that are crossed.
If you are travelling anywhere near Gallup it would be a waste not to stop and ride these trails. There is a lot of other riding in the area that is described in the Gallup Waypoints Guidebook.

Recommended Route:
Get the Gallup Waypoints Guidebook and do what it says.
We rode 1st Mesa the first afternoon which is an eight mile out and back kind of loop and was a perfect warm up ride.
We rode Dawn to Dusk the next morning and it is 13 miles.
Riding both of those in a day would be a pretty full day's ride for most people.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Quaking Aspen

Review Date
October 20, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: jane ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
These trails are rippin' twistin' amazing flat out xc FUN! SINFULLY fun. WICKEDLY fun. Get it?

Recommended Route:
First purchase a copy of Mr. Smith's "Gallup Waypoints" online or at the LBS. Follow his directions for "Dawn til Dusk" (2nd and 3rd Mesa Loops). I recommend adding the "lollipop" of the 1st Mesa loop for a satisfying number of miles, so at Post #5 TURN LEFT onto the connector then straight passing by the flags on your left then slight right at the quick fork for the loop. At the flags return the way you came to Post #5 and TURN LEFT to complete the circuit as written. (All you'll miss of the 1st Mesa is the stem of the lollipop--R at the flags--over to the Gamerco Trailhead which, though plenty fun as a speedway, is relatively nondescript.)

Review Date
April 27, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: James Perry ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Used to go through Gallup to Flag and Gooseberry riding- no more.
the riding in Gallup area is great!
we rode the high desert trail and the quaking aspens trail system and I can't wait to get back will ride it again this year and bring friends.
the LBS is nice and informative.
I would say Gallup is getting on teh MTB map.

Recommended Route:
east or west trail head on high desert works.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
quaking aspens area.

Review Date
November 19, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: boisebomber ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
this is an excellent trail system. first it is perfecly signed with all crossings marked and mileges indicated. second it is 2 minutes from downtown. third is is a long a moderately challenging single track from the begining to end. you circle 3 rims and can skip any rim or ride straight back missing the rim side routes. so your out can be 11 or 13 mi. and your back can be 7. this trail has stream crossing , meadows,cow pastures , short climbs, swoops and woops, overlooks, tight turns , switchbacks. the overall elvetion gain for full trail is proabaly about 750' considering real elvation gain and hills and valleys. you will be very tired at end of ride if you are intermediate rider.

hats of to the guys who built this great trail. one of the best intermediate single traks i have experienced.

Review Date
September 12, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: IbisBreezer ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
As the name suggests this is a high desert trail that transverses three mesas north of Gallup, NM. It is an excellent set of loops, extremely well marked and expertly designed. I rode on a 29" SS with 32x20 gearing and had to walk a couple of sections simply because they were too steep for me but I would have probably had to walk even if riding a geared bike. I don't think this place gets very much traffic except for locals, which is a shame because this is one fun place to ride. I was there a couple of days after a week of rain and the facility was slightly sandy but very rideable. I am told by a local rider Eric that 2 hours is considered the "holy grail" but I was nowhere near that. All loops are exposed to the elements but shade can be had every few meters from trees along the way. Local supporters of this trail have placed southwestern artwork in the form of metal silhouettes of various indigenous critters (hawk, mountain lion, bunnies, etc.) along the way and I especially liked the goofy owl adorning one of several gates that divide the pieces of property here. No facilities at the trailhead but since this place is so close to town it is no problem to get supplies just a few miles away. Again, fast and fun and VERY well marked. Thanx you New Mexicans, you guys do marvelous trail.

I definitely give this place two thumbs up for fun and challenge and the scenery is pretty darn nice (this coming from a Texan, BTW).

Recommended Route:
I always go right at trail intersections, just out of habit. The locals seem to prefer swapping around on which direction they approach the loops but I think that is from asthetic reasons. There are two spots along the way where my "go right" approach would take you to one of the trailheads or the gravel road on the boundary but looking at the maps will keep you oriented properly.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Road riding from Grants down toward the "Ice Cave" on NM53 is a really nice ride. Wide shoulder and little traffic.