31 Mile Road

Despite the name of 31 Mile Road, this well-maintained backcountry road stretches for nearly 60 miles, offering a pleasant transition from wide-open desert vistas to dense, mountainous woodlands of Santa Fe National Forest. It begins in the high desert area of Española, and gradually climbs into the cooler, pine-shaded forests flanking the northern and western edges of the Valles Caldera National Preserve. The trail itself is a smooth, graded, mostly gravel trail. However, many spur trails break off and offer more of a challenge if that's what you're looking for. There are plenty of campsites along the trail, ranging in size from single-site to large group campsites. More shaded sites can be found along the many spur trails.