Socorro Field Office, Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge
Highlights
Breathtaking skies and fascinating geological features are the hallmarks of this trail.
A sandstone masterpiece, San Lorenzo Canyon is home to caves, slots, hoodoos, pillars, springs and "slickensides", a geological term for the angular striations in the rock, formed when moving fault blocks ground against each other 7-10 million years ago.
A short drive up the San Lorenzo Arroyo brings you into the lower canyon box, with a spring at its end. San Lorenzo, a desert canyon, hosts saltbush, rabbitbrush, yucca, tree cholla and prickly pear cacti as well as desert bighorn sheep, many bird species including roadrunners, and five (yes, five) types of rattlesnake. So, keep your hands and feet out of places you can't see!
There are countless opportunities for hiking and primitive camping along this pleasant desert trail. There are also many side canyons, slots, niches and crevices making it a great place to get out and explore.
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From Interstate 25, take Exit 156 west at Lemitar, NM. On the west side of I-25, turn right and drive north on Frontage Road 2046 for approximately 5 miles, then turn left on to a well-maintained dirt road. Head west and follow signs to San Lorenzo Canyon.
For a little variation -- on your return where you exit arroyo at way point 2, just continue east down the arroyo. Easy arroyo drive that takes you to the I-25 Frontage road (high clearance 2WD/4WD). Or, at way point 2, instead of return to the east on bladed road, turn right (west) for a short drive into another spectacular canyon, 2WD. Photos of alternate Las Cabras Canyon.
Very pretty and unique trail. Took a rental car down there on my trip to White Sands and no issues. Just wash boards. Not off-roading by any means but pretty.
Simple trail 2wd and passenger car friendly. A great place to pull off the freeway if going through this area and find a wonderful campsite. Area was clean, considerate people/campers, and no graffiti on any rocks we saw. Would recommend as a great place to stretch legs take a few photos or camp in anything RV, Van, rig, or ground tent.
Extremely extremely easy Trail went while there was snow on the ground which made it even more enjoyable. It was a nice easy trip. It was nice to get out there end just enjoy the scenery. If you have anything that has a little bit of clearance you will have no issues with this Trail.
This is a great trail if you're looking for an easy drive through a scenic area. Lots of opportunities along the way to hike, picnic, photograph, or explore.
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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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