In addition to beautiful vistas and the fresh, pine scented air of the Manzanita Mountains, Meadow Ridge provides some of the most challenging and interesting 4WD terrain in the Manzanitas Trail System. This connector trail allows you to combine parts of the area's multiple interconnected trails in a single run.
Some have called Meadow Ridge the only true 4WD trail in the Manzanita Mountains as its rocky, narrow and deeply rutted path demand high clearance and close attention paid by those who traverse it.
Just 15 minutes from Albuquerque, it's very easy to quickly get out of the city and into the Cedro OHV area with hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, OHV and 4WD use trails, including this interesting little gem.
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East Trailhead: via FR462 and FR12: From Albuquerque, drive east on I-40, take Exit 175 south and keep right on to NM 337. At the bottom of the off ramp there is a traffic light. Continue straight through the light on NM 337 for 1.3 miles. Turn left on Chamiso Canyon Road for 0.8 miles. There will be a staging area on your left and the start of NM462 is just past the staging area on the right. Travel up FR462 for 2.4 miles and you will see a marker for FR12. Head south on FR12 1.6 miles and FR12 will end at the east trailhead of 05627 Meadow Ridge.
West Trailhead: via FR252 and FR13: From the west (Albuquerque), drive east on I-40 and take Exit 175. At the bottom of the ramp there is a traffic light. Continue south, straight through the light on NM 337 for 5 miles. Turn left on Juan Tomas Road for 0.5 miles. Turn left onto Forest Road 252 for 1.7 miles. You will arrive at a "T" intersection with FR542 to your left as FR252 continues to your right. Continue right up FR252 and the trailhead for FR13 will be on your right. Travel east on FR13 for 1 mile and you will arrive in an area with two apparent directions to go - bearing right here will put you on 05627 Meadow Ridge though there is no signage to mark the trail.
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.
Warm, dry and fun. Meadow Ridge connects the south end of Forest Road 12 to Forest Road 13 at about its midpoint. I started the trail from the east (FR12) end, which is recommended.
Nearest Camping will be motorized dispersed camping off of FR542 (coordinates provided) or the Cedro Peak Group Camping Sites.
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Scott Mitchell is a Personal Defense and Defensive Tactics Instructor in Albuquerque. A New Mexico native, Scott lives in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains, adjacent to the Sandia Mountain Wilderness Area in the Cibola National Forest.
Scott likes to get out at every opportunity to explore his state's off-road trails. As a Trailsoffroad contributor, his goal is to find and share as much reliable information as possible to help others navigate and enjoy the great New Mexico outdoors.
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