Chamisoso Canyon

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4.6/5 (26 reviews)
Tijeras, New Mexico (Bernalillo County)
Last Updated: 04/30/2022

Trail Information

Highlights

Altitude Category Icon Altitude
Camping Category Icon Camping
Forest Category Icon Forest
Mud Category Icon Mud
Rock Category Icon Rock
Snow Wheeling Category Icon Snow Wheeling
The Manzanita Mountains Trail System provides access to a number of wooded canyons, open meadows and limestone pavements in a multi-use area consisting of hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, OHV, and 4WD use trails. The towers atop the 7,767-foot Cedro Peak are visible for miles and they provide an easy point of reference as you explore a landscape where high mountain desert meets forest - pinon pine, juniper, and cedar coexist with yucca, cholla and prickly pear cacti. Within 15 minutes of Albuquerque and easy access to the clean air of the Cibola National Forest, this trail a natural destination for offroad enthusiasts.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

FR462 is an easy, hard packed dirt surface with seasonal ruts and loose rock suitable for most high clearance vehicles. Rain or snow may make 4WD necessary. At six miles in length, Forest Road 462 is the longest 4WD trail in the Manzanita Mountains Trail System and it intersects with two others, FR12 and FR13.

Trail Reviews

4.6/5 (26)
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 09/24/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

Some very rocky inclines where wheel placement was important makes me believe a 2WD without high ground clearance would have difficulty. Additionally, some sections had very deep 9" or more ruts, which 2WD would have difficulty climbing out of if a wheel slid into one. I would steer 2 WD to other trails.
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 08/26/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Couple mild climbs, very rocky for most of the trail. Hit a good stretch of some deep sloppy ruts, nothing 4x4 can’t handle. Was fun and practically empty, took my time and enjoyed it over an hour or so.
Trail Review: Chamisoso Canyon - Jett MALLAS
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200
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 01/09/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

I love this trail but it can get way harder when wet so be prepared
Trail Review: Chamisoso Canyon - Ahmed
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 12/03/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

My first off road trail with a Tacoma, I have no experience in overlanding or so and I made it to the end, it was fun and it make me want to keep exploring more trail in the app, thanks to the previews review to make my first experience more easy to understand what I was about to find
Trail Review: Chamisoso Canyon - Leishlamir Valle
Trail Review: Chamisoso Canyon - Leishlamir Valle
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Official Crew
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13250
Temporary Closure
Rated 4/5
Visited: 04/30/2022

We ran the Manzanitas trails in late April before the fire closures. At the time, trails were as expected but some stretches of FR 12 have become heavily rutted with lots of evidence of people going off the trail. These trails are currently closed under the Cibola National Forest fire closure order.
Trail Review: Chamisoso Canyon - Scott Mitchell
Trail Review: Chamisoso Canyon - Scott Mitchell

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