Review Date
September 20, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: weedf16 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
As a non-local, I was frustrated that I couldn't find decent directions to the trailhead online. Any other non-locals reading this should know you need to take 130 south out of Cloudcroft, a right on 6563, and there will be a sign for the trailhead on the right in less than half a mile.

The trail looks like it has a lot of potential but I was just passing through and tried to ride it after it'd been rained on for two days. Slick rocks, roots and mud made the downhills sketchy and nearly impassable uphill.

Recommended Route:
You can get a trail sketch at the ranger station on highway 130 before you turn on to 6563. There are 8 access points for this trail adjacent to road 6563. Get on the trail on one end and have a bud pick you up at the other to make it a nice one-way ride.

Review Date
May 17, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: boisebomber ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
there is a hand drawn map available at RS in cloudcorft. it works only for orientation. the are also mile markers in various stages of disrepair.

i rate it a strong intermediate trail in the section i rode due to rocky trail.

i rode from Slide CG(Pt.1) to FR 636 road (pt.3) about 5 miles. & coasted back on Hwy 6563 to make 8 mile loop. 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

you ride out to white sands overlook (about 1-1/12 mi) then down a canyon and up to FR. it is my guestimate that the elevation gain on this section is 700-800'.

the trail is rocky as described in other places although i didn't find roots to be much of a problem. just a tuff rocky grind up to the FR.

there are 15 other miles on this trail that go up to sunspot obersvatory that i did not explore.

2 notes:

1) the entire trail parallels HWY. 6563 so you can drop off trail at many points.

2). elevation is 8600'.

Review Date
June 12, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3 votes

Reviewed by: Team Pro Laps ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Fun single track at high altitude (average 9000') We rode this trail the first week of June, 2005. Heavily impacted by motorcycle riders; however,five or six trees that had fallen on the trail may have been limiting trail use in this section since we didn't see any motorcycles during our ride. We parked at the pullout at the Slide Campground and rode our bikes up the highway to Karr Canyon Road around mile maker 6. A quick zip down the Karr Canyon dirt road and we were at the trail head, which was well marked. A somewhat steep start with a lot of loose rock dictated that I carry up this section. We were then rewarded with a nice cruise on level trail for awhile. The remainder of the trail was a mellow grade either up or down as the route headed around various drainages. The grade on most of the uphill sections was pretty easy -- usually just a long uphill pull. To deal with the altitude (we had just come from 600' elevation to 9000') I would shift into the easiest gear and spin my way up in sections of about 50 to 100 yards, stop to catch my breath, and then start again. There was a long uphill section to Slide Campground, and finally we were back at the car. Good fun. We started the ride around 12:30, and on the last uphill section to Slide Campground later in the afternoon, we were on a west-facing slope with a lot of sun -- not completely exposed but still pretty warm. With the exception of the first uphill carry, we were able to ride the remainder of the trail, although we had to carry over the trees across the trail.

The main challenges on this trail are altitude, roots and rocks.

We are both older, expereinced riders (56 and 60). It took us about 4 hours to do this 10-mile section, including one stop of about 15 minutes for some energy bars. (To compare this to our Central Texas trails -- you can knock out that distance in 45 to 90 minutes). I took a 70 oz Lobo Camelback and a regular bike bottle with Accelerade and finished both. My husband didn't drink quite as much and ended the ride with extra water.

Recommended Route:
The folks at High Altitude recommended riding this section of the Rim Trail from south to north. Park at Slide Campground pullout and ride up the Sunspot Highway (NM6563)to Karr Canyon road around mile marker 6. Ride down Karr Canyon to the well marked trail intersection. There are several other options to access the trail for a shorter ride, including one pullout. At one place the trail comes back up to a highway pullout; if you have tired riders in your group, they can ride back down the highway to the car instead of completing the next section of trail. Several other options to get back to the highway were marked as well. While on the trail, you will see several unmarked dirt tracks coming in from the east; these are probably coming in from private property and may or may not go back to the highway.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
To get a sense of riding at altitude, ride the Race Course trail fist; you can get a free map at High Altitude. The trail leaves from right in Cloudcroft. Instead of doing the part that incorporates the Osha Trail, we headed through the highway tunnel and went up the old auto road/Could Climbing Trail. The grade on this section of the trail approximates the grades on the Rim Trail.

Review Date
July 28, 2003

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Review Date
May 30, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once