Silver Spring, FR162, is a dirt road that winds through Lincoln Nation Forest near the small mountain town of Cloudcroft. The west portion is just over 6,600 feet in elevation and is primarily a graded gravel road with great views of the desert and valleys below. There are a couple of camping spots in this section.
The forest becomes denser in the central and eastern portions, with more opportunities for camping. The trail gains elevation towards the east end, peaking at over 8,700 feet.
There are no significant obstacles other than the possibility of snow or mud, depending on the season. Several other trails connect to FR 162, including a fire tower overlook on the east side. If camping, there are parcels of private land with signage dotted along this trail.
Camping spot on the west side: (32.97571, -105.82628)
In the Lincoln National Forest, Carr Gap Canyon, FR607, is a gravel road that twists through the Sacramento Mountains. There are endless mountain and valley views along the narrow, windy road.
There aren’t any difficult sections other than the possibility of weather. Carr Gap Canyon has many offshoot roads and trails for further exploration.
There are multiple opportunities for camping along this road.
Dispersed campsites:
Three Mile Canyon, FR 228, runs 10 miles through the Sacramento Mountains. It is a straight-through trail that connects US Highway 82 with Carr Gap Canyon, FR607.
Most of the southern portion is in a wooded forest, while the northeastern end is rolling hills and valleys. Three Mile Canyon is an ungraded dirt road that may have deep mud holes and ruts with no bypass after significant rain or snow. Cattle freely roam throughout the area with multiple unlocked gates.
There are several spur trails and roads to explore and plentiful dispersed campsites.
Boy Scout Road is a bumpy ride up into the New Mexico wilderness. The short trail meets up with a number of hiking trails, including the Captains Peak Trail. The rough road is not seasonal but does have gates in the event of bad weather or known washouts. The end of the trail is gated. Return the way you came.
T West Road runs north to south through the broad New Mexico desert. It's an easy graded road with scenic views in most directions. However, the real reason for driving this dirt road is that it connects the paved highway to the trail leading to Roswell UFO Crash Site. The alleged 1947 alien crash mystery still resonates today. Don your tinfoil hat and head on out.
The truth is out there.
Headlines In the summer of 1947, claimed a Flying Saucer crashed in the New Mexico desert. The story spawned an entire industry and put Roswell on the map. This skip site is said to have been the first impact location for the saucer before it bounced and landed a distance away on private land.
Traveling to the site is easy. The dirt T-West Road connects to this mildly bumpy dirt road. The site is just a hole in the ground that looks like something impacted there. Feel free to walk around and check it out since this is BLM land. However, you're reminded not to take anything.
The International UFO Museum in Roswell has more information on the alleged crash site, including detailed stories and evidence found at the site.
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